Dear Friends:

Last week, we sent out the newsletter to those who did not have internet and sent out the weekly email a day early so we could notify the congregation of the death and impending services of Cynthia Outlaw’s mother. It felt right to send out the information earlier in the week so we will try and do so from now on. We do not always have all the information for the bulletin on Wednesday but we send out what we have because sometimes, you need information more immediately.

 

Last night we tackled Chapter two in our Lenten study, Why Did Jesus Have to Die? We had such a great discussion that I would like to share some of the insights. This week’s lesson tackled two of the theologies surrounding the death of Jesus. They are named penal substitution atonement and sacrificial atonement offering. If you grew up in an evangelical conservative church, you are very familiar with these two theories. If you grew up in a mainline domination like a Lutheran or a Methodist church, these may be foreign to you. Why is this important? Your understanding of God

will define how you treat your neighbor.

 

Penal Substitution Theory – This theory recognizes that God is just and is angered by sin. We have all sinned and justly deserve death for our sins. Someone has to be punished so God sent Jesus to suffer in our place.

           What does this say about God? – God demands punishment, not grace, for the forgiveness of sins.

           What is the problem with this theory? – It is not Biblical. God forgives without punishment all through the Bible. Check out the stories of the patriarchs, or Moses, or Kind David. If you want an example of God’s grace, go read Jonah. God forgives the violent culture of Nineveh which makes Jonah really mad. Give one example in the New Testament where Jesus requires punishment before he forgives. It is not there.

           Christians who believe in penal substitution theory believe in punishment before grace. They may approve the cruelty currently being inflicted on people who may be in the country as an immigrant even if they have lived as a good employee raising a family and even if they may have legal status. They may have difficulty accepting that they are truly forgiven if God does not exact a punishment on them.

 

Sacrificial Atonement Theory – God required a sacrifice to atone for humanity’s sins. Jesus offered himself to be that sacrifice.

           What does this say about God? Once again, a God who is cruel and petty – requiring his own Son to be laid on the altar.

           What is the problem with this theory? – This takes the understanding of atonement found in the Hebrew bible and applies it to Jesus. Rabbi Art in the video that accompanied the study explained that on the day of atonement, the sacrifice brought was a way for the recipient to express their gratitude. It was symbolic. After the destruction of the second Temple, they stopped the practice of sacrifice. God still forgave God’s people. This has many of the same problems as the penal substitution theory in that it believes God required the cruelty of the crucifixion.

 

As United Methodists, we believe the crucifixion was a message about Jesus as the Incarnate Word of God, coming to earth to be who he is, to show us how much we are loved, and to die a wretched death that we devised rather than change his message of grace and love and forgiveness. Once you accept that message, as a follower of Christ, you have a commitment to show others the same grace and compassion and forgiveness as Jesus has shown you. It makes off the difference in the world in how we interact with the world.

 

I hope this helps you with your struggles in understanding the crucifixion. Let’s continue on our journey to the cross this Lenten season.



Grace and peace,

Beth