Tag: theodicy
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Reassurance
On Sunday, we got an interesting take on the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23). We often read it as a parable about how we ought to hear the Word and respond to it. We get the message that we should try not to be those people who don’t understand, or who are shallow or…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Habakkuk 2 6-14
We are focusing on Habakkuk 2:6-14 for Sunday, March 15. [The last I heard, we were going to have worship, but would encourage people who consider themselves high-risk to stay home, leaving that determination to individuals’ judgment. Since the average age of our congregation is 60+, we will probably have a low-attendance Sunday this week.…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Habukkuk 1 1-4 and 12-14
We are studying Habukkuk 1:1-4 & 12-14 for Sunday, March 8; these are Habakkuk’s’ opening complaints about the evil situation in Judah before the invasion of the Babylonians, and the even worse situation in Judah after that invasion. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are a few questions on the text we might…
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Study Notes – Habakkuk 1 1-4, 12-14
We are studying Habakkuk 1:1-4, 12-14 for Sunday, March 8. This is Habakkuk’s complaint to God about rampant wickedness and injustice in sixth century BCE Judah, both on the part of the Judeans, and on the part of the Babylonian invaders who replace them. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are a few…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion – Genesis 18 9-15 & 21 1-7
The Uniform Series text we’re studying for Sunday, October 21 is Genesis 18:9-15 and Genesis 21:1-7, God’s promise of a child, Isaac, to Sarah, and the birth of Isaac. Here are a few questions we might want to consider before or during class: In v10, the speaker says to Abraham “your wife Sarah will have…
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Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
[Something like a sermon, on Genesis 9:8-17, the Uniform Series text for Sunday, September 3] Does God learn? That’s a hard question, and maybe a trick question. If God has the characteristics that classical theology has classically ascribed to God – like omniscience, full and complete knowledge of all that can be known, along with…
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Christian Doctrine (9)
Summary notes and comments on Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr., Christian Doctrine Chapter 9, “Why Doesn’t God Do Something About it? – The Doctrine of Providence and Evil”: The doctrine of providence is related to the doctrine of creation. Not only does God create everything that is, but God provides for it – taking care of…
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Thoughts on “separation from love”
Here’s an additional thought on what, upon reflection, is a peculiar statement in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35) Where does this statement come from? How would hardship or distress or…
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Fifth Sunday in Lent
Whose voice do we hear when we read Psalm 23? I don’t know how many people ask themselves this question; I have to admit, I don’t always notice this kind of thing myself … but I learned this week that this is an old question, that a lot of famous Christians, like Augustine and Calvin…
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1st Sunday in Advent
The focal text is the very brief remark made by one official of the ancient Roman Empire to another, after hearing the Apostle Paul’s testimony in his own defense, which was really his narration of his own recent story; I think it may make us notice the parallels between the Apostle Paul’s situation and our…
Matters of Interpretation 