space to think it through

several recent events/conversations have forced me to seriously consider what i believe about the atonement.

it's definitely not "thank you for the cross" (which is the equivalent of saying, "thank you, God, for killing your son." my God is not a divine child abuser.)

it's not "Jesus, you gave your life for me, therefore i will give my life for you" in an even exchange transaction.

it's more like this: thank you, God, for redemption, for sending your son to redeem us--your creations, your children--who have ignored our brothers' and sisters' needs emotionally, socially, economically, materially, spiritually, etc. we are far from how you have created us to live. but through the prophets, through Jesus, through the early church, you have shown us what you desire of us, how you desire us to live.


the thing is, in my "field" of "work" (or simply my area of interest), substitutionary atonement is not at all useful. "Jesus died for me--wow! i should spend all my time praising him" in an entirely vertical relationship. this says nothing of redemption or redistribution or our responsibility to love our brothers and sisters.

i find it much more helpful to consider the entirety of God's story--from creation to the fall and all the way through redemption. this gives me concrete examples of how God intended for God's creation to live in harmony, in shalom. certainly plead the case of the widow and the fatherless and care for the alien in your land. this is how i have to understand the atonement; nothing else moves me to care for others.