Atonement

Last night I (and many others) received an email from Jonathan Walton, the new minister at Harvard's Memorial Church.  In it, he provided a link to an article in the Christian Century about atonement, a complicated, and even confusing, proposition that is nevertheless central to making sense of what happened on the cross.  The piece is definitely worth your time.

Introducing the story, Prof. Walton wrote:

Lo and behold, I received this article in my inbox today from Christian Century. Entitled "Why the Cross? God's at-one-ment with humanity," it provides a comprehensive summary of the varying theories of atonement. It also raises and wrestles with many of the questions we engaged on Sunday. Give it a read. I'm confident you will find it enlightening.

http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2013-02/why-cross

The talk of "wrestling with many of the questions" strikes me as being dead on.  Lent is meant to be a season of honest, open engagement with God and what it means to follow the way of Jesus.  When we encounter our Creator, when we grapple with the reality of life in his kingdom, we will find ourselves taking risks.  Think of Jacob, who was injured when he wrestled with the angel.  But we can also be transformed, made new, just as Jacob - Israel - was.

So happy reading and blessed wrestling.  Through both I pray you will encounter the living, loving God.

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