[Download] "Critically Reading the Other Hand." by Currents in Theology and Mission ~ Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Critically Reading the Other Hand.
- Author : Currents in Theology and Mission
- Release Date : January 01, 2005
- Genre: Politics & Current Events,Books,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 257 KB
Description
In one of the most cited comments by any theologian of the twentieth century, Karl Barth exhorted pastors to preach with the Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. Many have followed his advice, finding in newspapers and other news media a valuable resource for contextualizing the Word of God. They have done this out of a commitment to the God who has created this world and who still cares passionately about it. The events that take place in our own time and place are matters of utmost concern to the Creator. As God's creatures we are called to think through our relationship to events that happen in the sphere that God has brought into being. The incarnation of Jesus also demands that our own theology be an incarnate one. Since God so loved the world that the Word took on flesh in the world, how can the community that calls itself by Jesus' name not be utterly engaged in the issues around us? Finally, the God who creates and redeems us remains present among us in the Holy Spirit who makes all things new. (1) Christians therefore listen and watch for signs of the times that indicate the contemporary movement of the Spirit. Karl Barth would applaud attentiveness to the movement of God in our midst, but he would also undoubtedly offer stringent warnings to us. He would be grieved that, while biblical scholarship has maintained a growing critical awareness in relationship to the reading of Scriptures, the script in the other hand--or, more often these days, the television-channel changer--is often taken in naively with little critical sensibility at all. Temptation bids us to take the mainstream media at their word and to hold to their version of the truth as an uncritically accepted source for theological reflection.