People try to persuade us that the objections against Christianity spring from doubt. The objections against Christianity spring from insubordination, the dislike of obedience, rebellion against all authority. As a result people have hitherto been beating the air in their struggle against objections, because they have fought intellectually with doubt instead of fighting morally with rebellion.
(Soron Kierkegaard cited in Stephen Williams, Revelation and Reconciliation)
Of course the objections spring not just insubordination, but distrust, disordered loves etc. But, intellectual doubt is certainly not the wellspring.
3 reflections.
ReplyDelete1) this feels like posthoc rationalisation of the other. The sort of thing that only Christians say to excuse themselves from evangelism. As such I'd rather say that the other will never have a better reason not to be a Christian than the cross of the Christ. But that's the good news. His resurrection generates our faith in him!
2) if someone simply hasn't heard the gospel then they can't guess it, they must be told. And if in the process of being "told" they are never persuaded that Jesus rose bodily leaving an empty tomb, then the message of the cross will only appeal existentially, but it will have the hope necessary to generate Christian faith, because such is in the living lord Jesus who died for sins because he "loved me and gave himself for me".
3) Nietzsche says something similar about reason. The moderns said that reason IS a force, the postmoderns said that reason is a FORCE. And therefore we're left with violence inevitably imposed on the other. But if you ask me, just as the cross breaks the cycle of retribution, so the gospel of triune love breaks the circles of ultimate authorities - Jesus says "If I testify to myself my testimony is not valid"
That's not to say that the gospel demands nothing - the obedience of faith is called for. But on that you would enjoy John Barclay's talk from the recent Princeton conference on Christ, Cosmos & Conflict in Romans 5-8
*it can only appeal existentially - and that without the hope necessary to generate christian faith.
ReplyDeleteie if someone is not persuaded about the resurrection then we are preaching foolishness to them when we preach the cross. In the light of his resurrection we preach his cross as of first importance. It is the genius of God.
Hi Chris,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I particularly like how you have centred the discussion on Jesus' death and resurrection, which is all the great things you say.
Very interesting what you say about authority as well. Jesus' authority (both to testify and rule) is an authority given by the Father. That does change things.
I suppose Kierkegaard's context is important for the quote. He certainly didn't excuse himself from evangelism. He devoted himself to it and has been described as a "missionary to Christendom". That mission field has heard the Gospel, but rejected it. In our increasingly post-Christiandom age I suppose things should be put differently.
I'll definitely listen to John Barclay's talk. Thanks again Chris. You make me think!