No More Politically Correct Theology

I have perused this board now without posting for the last several months. I am willing to say that I enjoyed most of the exchanges that I have read. It is always good to take in another person's view in order to expand your own understanding. I find that the benefit of studying theology, from the undergraduate level all the way through the PhD level, has been that it has allowed me to better appreciate what I believed and to be able to better appreciate what others believe. Most believe something without any notion of why they believe what they believe. Bible believing Christians say they believe the Bible. When asked what the Bible is, they say it is what we believe. Round and round we go in our various debates about what the Bible teaches. Yet seldom do we appreciate what others have to say and yet still since we ourselves mostly do not know why believe what we do, we surely never venture to try and understand what others believe much less why they believe what they do.

In this thread, I would like for you to tell me not only what you believe but why you believe what you believe.

For starters let's deal with the most important topic of any that I can imagine that we could discuss. I would like for you to tell me why you think Jesus died on the cross. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross?

 

Thanks for such a prompt rely Helen. That is what you believe, but I also want to know why you believe what you do.

 

I am going to use Joseph's answer as an example for why I am asking this question. Joseph, I have no doubt that you believe the Bible. I have no doubt that you are sincere in your belief. But what concerns me is the circular nature of your logic. Take for example, your first answer states that you believe Jesus died on the cross because the Bible says he did. Then you follow that assertion with a separate assertion that you believe the Bible to be the true Word of God by faith. If you go back and look at my OP you will find that this logic is the type of logic that I am wanting to go beyond. I offered the typical statement that we believe the Bible and what is the Bible when asked, "It is what we believe." Moreover I did not ask you if you believed Jesus died on the cross, I asked you why he died on the cross. No offense is intended here, I am really wanting you to share with me the essence of what you believe about the passion of Christ and your reason for believing what you do.

StraightAndNarrow asked a poignant question when he asked me to define what I mean by politically correct theology. Let me hold off at this point as to why I believe it exists. One could say that I am wanting to get beyond dogmatic rhetoric and get down to heart felt vulnerability. We mostly do not know each other in here. I would think that you have all the anonymity that you need to be honest. If you do not know why you believe what you do then that is okay. I served as a youth pastor along the way. While serving as a youth pastor I told my youth I am not nearly as concerned that you know what you believe as that you know why you believe what you do.

Paul said "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

Why was Paul so passionate about the passion of Christ? There must be something substantial to the work of Christ on the cross. So what is the substance of what you believe and why do you believe it?

 

MB thanks for the openness. You kind of shared why you believe what you do before you shared what you actually believed. This is fun though. The nature of this discussion is personal for everyone. We all are entitled to our beliefs. The reason I have asked for this discussion is because I think that expressing what you believe and then explaining why you believe what you do is very difficult. But I am also convinced that we need to be able to give an explanation for why we believe what we do. Another way of wording the question in the OP could have been to tell me what you believe and why I should believe like you do.

 

Since you were not born with this knowledge, I am going to assume that you came to this position by reasoning through the evidence of what you have now professed to believe. If so, then I would certainly welcome your explanation of why you have come to believe that Christ death was necessary.

This is not a two sentence answer kind of thing, keep in mind that Paul wanting to know nothing else.

Has the nature of God anything to do with why Christ died? Has the nature of man anything to do with Christ died? Could there not have been another way? Why was this way the only way? Why would Christ die for those who are by nature at war with the very one who created them? These are but a few of the more substantive issues that we must contend in giving a reasonable account of why Christ was ordained to the cross.

Moreover, do you not have an understanding that is equally substantive for why you believe what you do? Why you believe what you do may sound something like a testimony. Why you believe what you do may sound something like a sermon. Or why you believe what you do may sound something like a philosophical argument. But whatever it is that has driven you to the point of decision, that is what is the essence of your belief.

Let me share something about what I am asking for, not that anyone cared to ask but I do not want to keep harping on what I am asking for without being willing to give in return. I do believe that Christ's death was necessary, for several reasons. On the hand it was in order to address the very real problem of sin. On the other hand it was necessary for it to be God who addressed that very real problem. The problem arises from the nature of God believe it or not. God is by nature flawless, perfect, unchanging, and immovable. His character is immutable and unwavering. The Bible refers to that as holiness or otherness. God is in his own league. Can I understand that? No. Can I believe that? I in truth do believe that God is holy. Out of God's character or holiness issues forth principles or laws. These principles or laws are paradigms or axioms that are consistent with the very nature and character of God. Because God is holy or other then his character was mirrored or reflected in the very laws that issue forth from his character. The laws stem back from the very nature of God. Now in terms of those attributes and the aspects of the character God, they are difficult at times to reconcile. For example, God is loving and merciful. Yet, God is also just and true. His justice demands truth and punishment. His love and mercy demand forgiveness. How can God reveal both or demonstrate both at the same time and in the same instance? On the one hand if man is sinful and in violation of God's moral norms, then he deserves justice and punishment according to the just nature of God. Yet on the other hand God is loving and merciful and his mercy requires him to demonstrate forgiveness. However, if he forgives at the expense of his just nature then he is not being true to himself. One of the attributes of God is that he is consistent with himself or he is immutable in his character. Now this is where Jesus comes in to the picture. He is the solution to man's problem of sin. Christ is a sufficient atonement for all who would believe. This atonement satisfies the wrath of God and deals out justice. This atonement also makes possible forgiveness without compromising the just nature of God. Now why I believe this is a relatively long story. Yet, for now I will tell you that I believe this because the evidence points in that direction. I am convinced through the power of persuasion that God has revealed himself to us through the Bible. Based on my own investigation of the truth claims of the Bible, I have found them to be trustworthy on a number of levels. I am also persuaded by the personal testimony of others who have come to the same conclusion. I am ultimately persuaded through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The very things that the Bible speaks of have come to life in my own time through faith in the risen Savior.

 

So Joseph, maybe, if I were a Muslim and wanted you to please explain to me the reason that I must put my faith in the death of a prophet, you might be more forthcoming.