I'm currnetly making a detailed outline of Miroslav Volf's book, Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace .
In this book, Volf puts forward the idea that "Questioning God's giving" is a sin. He then elaborates that "questioning God's giving" consists of believing that God's intentions toward humanity are not all good.
This hit home because, as many who know me will be aware, I grew up believing that God's intentions towards humanity were not oriented toward the good of humanity, but that they were oriented toward the preservation of God's own honour and righteousness. I grew up believing that God was quite prepared to hurt, torture and eternally damn anyone who failed to "honour" him properly.
It's an interesting idea that Volf thinks that such a belief about God is "sinful".
I don't want to bore for England on this subject. I do know that there are still many people who believe as I did and I hope that it's liberating to think that we are "supposed" to believe that God's intentions for us are good.
Joyfully accept all the gifts that God gives to you and then don't try to hold on to them - pass them on!
And woe to those who place before others the stumbling-block idea that God is more concerned with his own honour than he is with the good of his creatures.
About Me
- PamBG
- I am Pam Berardinelli Garrud (PamBG), a 54 year old wife, daughter and beloved child of God. Ordained as a minister (pastor) in the Methodist Church of Great Britain, in 2009 I re-immigrated back to Northeast Ohio with my London-born husband after 20 years residence in the UK. I am seeking to serve God by loving God and my neighbor in the ministry of hospital chaplaincy. Prior to becoming a minister, I worked in the pensions industry. The views expressed in this Blog are purely my own and do not represent the official views of any denomination, group or organization.
7 comments:
To term the questioning of God's goodness a sin - I hadn't heard that one. I guess it would be the authoratarian approach to "solving" the problem of evil - how there can be evil in a world under the control of an all good, all powerful Entity.
Not trying to hang onto things and acknowledging life's complexities, as you suggest-to me that's a more honest approach to faith.
:-) I guess it is a fairly "authoritarian" way of putting it!
From the tone of the book, I suspect that he'd see it as "definitional" rather than "authoritarian".
Thanks for stopping to comment.
it is a great book, look forward to reading more of your thoughts
What's interesting is that I found reading the book quite depressing. However, going through it and outlining it, I've found the ideas very helpful.
I'm actually wondering whether Paul's comment has something to do with how I felt. I think he's right that it's written in quite an authoritarian way - although I don't think Volf intended that. I suspect that might be the cause of the mood that it induced in me.
Sounds like a book I need to read, thanks for the info. Pam O, USA
"questioning God's giving" consists of believing that God's intentions toward humanity are not all good.
What then do you think about the context of - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you ... (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV)
Unless you are implying that "good" is not good in the short-term sense of the word but in all things in the long term, all things work for good - caveat being for those who are called according to his purpose.
God's intentions towards humanity were not oriented toward the good of humanity, but that they were oriented toward the preservation of God's own honour and righteousness. I grew up believing that God was quite prepared to hurt, torture and eternally damn anyone who failed to "honour" him properly.
I am in agreement with the first statement. Are you saying that you no longer believe the second statement?
And woe to those who place before others the stumbling-block idea that God is more concerned with his own honour than he is with the good of his creatures.
Oh, I think this answers my question :)
I can't say that I am all ready to dismiss that though, (woe to me :)
it comes hand in hand -- his holiness and his love.
pearlie: I think we'll have to agree to disagree.
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