scholarly journals Christ, Reality, and Freedom: Trinitarian Metaphysics as a Theology of Culture

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-52
Author(s):  
Michael Brain
Keyword(s):  
Critical Distance ◽  
Cultural Form ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
God's People ◽  
Christian Culture ◽  
Theology Of Culture ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity ◽  
Rule Out

This essay explores the possibility of a narrative theology of culture by drawing on the trinitarian metaphysics of Robert W. Jenson. Postliberal or narrative theologies have often been said to hinder the intercultural translation of the gospel by promoting the cultural forms of Western Christianity as the ideal, but I argue here that Jenson’s theology (enlisting some distinctively postliberal themes) creates a critical distance between the church and Christian civilization, while also enabling the free creation and expression of diverse cultural expressions of the gospel. The first section of the paper is a critical project, using a trinitarian metaphysics to rule out any reduction of Christian culture to its Western expressions. Since the community of the Trinity is the one cultural form to which God’s people strive, and because the church’s full participation in this community is eschatological, Christian cultural expression cannot be reduced to one particular cultural form. This creates distance between the church and the world, preventing a strict identification of Christianity with Western culture. The second part of the paper then offers a constructive project, demonstrating how a trinitarian understanding of creaturely freedom enables the development of human culture. By grounding creation’s freedom in the freedom of the triune persons, a trinitarian metaphysics enables the free and loving development of creation in an infinite number of ways. In doing so, Jenson’s metaphysics does not compromise the diversity of human cultures, but instead allows human cultures to flourish in their endless variety.

scholarly journals Christ, Reality, and Freedom: Trinitarian Metaphysics as a Theology of Culture

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-52
Author(s):  
Michael Brain
Keyword(s):  
Critical Distance ◽  
Cultural Form ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
God's People ◽  
Christian Culture ◽  
Theology Of Culture ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity ◽  
Rule Out

This essay explores the possibility of a narrative theology of culture by drawing on the trinitarian metaphysics of Robert W. Jenson. Postliberal or narrative theologies have often been said to hinder the intercultural translation of the gospel by promoting the cultural forms of Western Christianity as the ideal, but I argue here that Jenson’s theology (enlisting some distinctively postliberal themes) creates a critical distance between the church and Christian civilization, while also enabling the free creation and expression of diverse cultural expressions of the gospel. The first section of the paper is a critical project, using a trinitarian metaphysics to rule out any reduction of Christian culture to its Western expressions. Since the community of the Trinity is the one cultural form to which God’s people strive, and because the church’s full participation in this community is eschatological, Christian cultural expression cannot be reduced to one particular cultural form. This creates distance between the church and the world, preventing a strict identification of Christianity with Western culture. The second part of the paper then offers a constructive project, demonstrating how a trinitarian understanding of creaturely freedom enables the development of human culture. By grounding creation’s freedom in the freedom of the triune persons, a trinitarian metaphysics enables the free and loving development of creation in an infinite number of ways. In doing so, Jenson’s metaphysics does not compromise the diversity of human cultures, but instead allows human cultures to flourish in their endless variety.

scholarly journals Igreja e Eucaristia, festa e sacrifício

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (261) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Pedro Carlos Cipolini
Keyword(s):  
Close Relation ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Free World ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Paschal Mystery ◽  
God's People ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
Fair Balance

O artigo reflete sobre a íntima relação que vigora entre a Igreja e a Eucaristia: a Eucaristia une o povo fiel, faz o povo de Deus participar na vitória de Cristo, bem como o introduz na dimensão do Reino de Deus. Explora também o rico simbolismo do pão e do vinho, de origem bíblica, e aprofunda o sentido destas duas dimensões do mistério pascal celebrado na Eucaristia: refeição/convívio e sacrifício/entrega. Recorda a necessidade de um justo equilíbrio entre as dimensões de festa e sacrifício do mistério eucarístico. Mostra, por fim, que a participação na Eucaristia torna os fiéis missionários da Boa-Nova do Reino de fraternidade e paz, anunciadores de um mundo novo e liberto, criado pela “fração do pão”, e da vitória do “Ressuscitado”, penhor de nossa ressurreição, a festa que não tem fim.Abstract: The article deals with the close relation that prevails between the Church and the Eucharist: the Eucharist brings together the faithful, encourages God’s people to participate in Christ’s victory and introduces them into the dimension of God’s Kingdom. It also explores the rich symbolism of the bread and wine, originated in the Bible, and strengthens the meaning of these two dimensions of the paschal mystery celebrated in the Eucharist: meals/convivial spirit and sacrifice/surrender. It reminds us of the need for a fair balance between the dimensions of festivity and sacrifice in the Eucharistic mystery. Finally its shows that participation in the Eucharist turns the faithful into missionaries of the Good Tidings of the Kingdom i. e. the fraternity and peace that herald a new, free world, created by the “fraction of the bread” and the victory of “the one who resurrected”, the pledge of our resurrection, the endless feast.

The Spirit

2019 ◽  
pp. 293-308
Author(s):  
Wolf Krötke
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Karl Barth ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Doctrine Of The Trinity ◽  
The One ◽  
Bear Witness ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

This chapter presents Barth’s understanding of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It demonstrates the way in which Barth’s pneumatology is anchored in his doctrine of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit is understood as the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, the One whose essence is love. But Barth can also speak of the Holy Spirit in such a way that it seems as if the Holy Spirit is identical to the work of the risen Jesus Christ and his ‘prophetic’ work. The reception of the pneumatology of Karl Barth thus confronts the task of relating these dimensions of Barth’s understanding of the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit’s distinct work is preserved. For Barth, this work consists in enabling human beings to respond in faith, with their human possibilities and their freedom, to God’s reconciliation in Jesus Christ. In this faith, the Holy Spirit incorporates human beings into the community of Jesus Christ—the community participates in the reconciling work of God in order to bear witness to God’s work to human beings, all of whom have been elected to ‘partnership’ with God. Barth also understood the ‘solidarity’ of the community with, and the advocacy of the community for, the non-believing world to be a nota ecclesiae (mark of the church). Further, to live from the Holy Spirit, according to Barth, is only possible in praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

scholarly journals The Challenge of the Unity of Christ Based on the Letters of 1 Corinthians 3:3-9 Its Relevance in Local Church Ministry

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Enny Irawati
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Body Of Christ ◽  
1 Corinthians ◽  
Church Ministry ◽  
The Core ◽  
God's People ◽  
Differences Of Opinion ◽  
Corinthians 3 ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

The research objective that the author means is to find out how the unity of the body of Christ in the church can be carried out properly according to 1 Corinthians 3: 3-9. moving on from the core written in the text above, the author wants the whole congregation to understand the unity of the body of Christ correctly today, given the importance of the unity of the body of Christ in the church, so that some of the more mature congregations in the faith must support the congregation that is not yet mature faith. This writing is intended so that all God's people understand well that the unity of the body of Christ is not to become divided because of disagreements, divisions and differences of opinion. but the body of Christ is the one that brings God's people better together. Some of the things that concern the author in this study are how the congregation can understand the unity of the body of Christ correctly.

Religion, Church, and Public Space

2016 ◽  
pp. 136-148
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Petraru
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The State ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Religious Dimension ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity ◽  
Ontological Relationship ◽  
Present Text

The present text is divided into three chapters and deals with the intrinsic religious dimension of man as being of communion from an ontological viewpoint and in relation with God, her Creator and Supporter in this mundane existence. This existence is open to eternity as a real personal and communitarian communion in the dynamics of spiritual growth. For Christians, the Church is the path of genuine and redeeming communion with God the Trinity as shown in the foundational biblical metanarrative, typologically interpreted by Christian theology, and spiritually experienced by practicing believers. Sacramentally, this happens through prayer, through the reading of the holy text, and the liturgical and Eucharistic gathering that celebrates the real sacrament of God's presence for us. The relation between the Church with the State in modern and postmodern times testifies to the change in mindset that has occurred by means of the ideological absolutisation of the state and the theoretical marginalization or atomization of religion. On the one hand, this shows the inconsistency of the project and on the other hand, the impossibility to fight with the religious soul of humanity, the religious dimension inherently and intrinsically structured in the ontological relationship between human and divine, in any mundane historical context.

scholarly journals ROH KUDUS DALAM TRINITAS DAN KOMUNITAS UMAT TUHAN (HOLY SPIRIT IN THE TRINITY AND COMMUNITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE)

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-95
Author(s):  
Steven Tubagus ◽  
Timotius Bakti Sarono
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Community Life ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
Personality Difference ◽  
God's People ◽  
Critical Method ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
God The Father ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

The doctrine of the Holy Spirit and its praxis has been controversial among God's people. This controversy has even emerged since the beginning of the church about the person and position of the Holy Spirit with God the Father and the Son. This article aims to briefly explore the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and its praxis into the community of God's people. The writing method used is a praxis systematic critical method to examine the various nuances of the argument against the Holy Spirit with the aim of placing it in a proper understanding of the trinity concept. The result of this writing is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit there is no personality difference between God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, because humans meet these "persons" in every spiritual aspect. By conceptualizing God in the realm of the Spirit of God, it will be a more practical way to describe activities in community life.   Doktrin Roh Kudus dan praksisnya telah memberikan kontroversi selama ini di antara umat Tuhan. Kontroversi ini bahkan sudah muncul mulai permulaan gereja bagaimana pribadi dan posisi Roh Kudus dengan Allah Bapa dan Putra. Artikel ini bertujuan mengeksplorasi secara singkat doktrin Roh Kudus dan praksisnya ke dalam komunitas umat Tuhan. Metode penulisan yang digunakan adalah metode kritis sistematis praksis untuk menelaah berbagai nuansa argumen terhadap Roh Kudus dengan tujuan menempatkannya dalam pemahaman yang tepat tentang konsep trinitas. Hasil dari penulisan ini adalah doktrin Roh Kudus tidak ada perbedaan kepribadian antara Allah Bapa, Anak dan Roh Kudus, karena manusia bertemu dengan “pribadi-pribadi” ini dalam setiap aspek rohani. Dengan mengkonseptualisasikan Tuhan dalam alam Roh Allah akan menjadi cara yang lebih praktis untuk menggambarkan aktivitas secara kehidupan komunitas.

Religion, Church, and Public Space

2020 ◽  
pp. 147-159
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Petraru
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The State ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Religious Dimension ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity ◽  
Ontological Relationship ◽  
Present Text

The present text is divided into three chapters and deals with the intrinsic religious dimension of man as being of communion from an ontological viewpoint and in relation with God, her Creator and Supporter in this mundane existence. This existence is open to eternity as a real personal and communitarian communion in the dynamics of spiritual growth. For Christians, the Church is the path of genuine and redeeming communion with God the Trinity as shown in the foundational biblical metanarrative, typologically interpreted by Christian theology, and spiritually experienced by practicing believers. Sacramentally, this happens through prayer, through the reading of the holy text, and the liturgical and Eucharistic gathering that celebrates the real sacrament of God's presence for us. The relation between the Church with the State in modern and postmodern times testifies to the change in mindset that has occurred by means of the ideological absolutisation of the state and the theoretical marginalization or atomization of religion. On the one hand, this shows the inconsistency of the project and on the other hand, the impossibility to fight with the religious soul of humanity, the religious dimension inherently and intrinsically structured in the ontological relationship between human and divine, in any mundane historical context.

scholarly journals Perichoresis and Ubuntu within the African Christian context

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jele S. Manganyi ◽  
Johan Buitendag
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Cappadocian Fathers ◽  
Spiritual Perspectives ◽  
The Many ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

This article is about the juxtaposition of the notion of perichoresis in the work and theology of the Cappadocian Fathers and the notion of Ubuntu in the African Traditional Religion (ATR). Perichoresis was a result of an attempt to understand and to resolve the relationships within the Trinity. The issue at hand was how to make sense between the one and the many at the same time. The Cappadocian Fathers understood the oneness of God as unity in plurality, not a singularity. One Ousia and three hypostases were based on the understanding of the relationships within the trinity. The question of three yet one God (the church in Jerusalem continued worship of God the Father and Jesus Christ in the Power of the Holy Spirit), the apostles according to the information we have never question nor try to resolve the position and status of Jesus within the oneness. It appears as though they celebrated the tension rather than resolving it. They heard from Jesus, who said to them ‘you believe in God believe also in me’ and ‘if you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him … whoever has seen me has seen the Father’. They also heard him when he said ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me’. The article is going to investigate and analyse the two notions, Perichoresis and Ubuntu, within the African Christian context. Yet there is a tension between Jesus and the ancestors. Can this tension be resolved? The notion of Ubuntu is based upon the understanding that a person becomes fully a person in the presence of other persons. It is a notion that deals with the relationships from an individual to the community and from physical to spiritual perspectives. The article shall also attempt to analyse any categories of thinking that are within the ATR that may better explain the relationship within the Trinity.

scholarly journals N. F. S. Grundtvigs trinitariske folkekirketeologi i nordisk kontekst

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-108
Author(s):  
Hans Raun Iversen
Keyword(s):  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Trinitarian Theology ◽  
The One ◽  
Heaven And Earth ◽  
Folk Church ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

N.F.S. Grundtvigs trinitariske folkekirketeologi i nordisk kontekst[Trinitarian Folk Church Ecclesiology by N. F. S. Grundtvig in a Nordic Context]By Hans Raun IversenIn the theological writings of N. F. S. Grundtvig we find a unique balance and interaction between what Grundtvig labels the first and the second creation (creation of heaven and earth and creation of salvation) by the one and same Trinitarian God. This makes Grundtvig outstanding in terms of the significance of the theology of creation in his profoundly elaborated Trinitarian theology. On this background Grundtvig is also offering a Trinitarian balanced ecclesiological understanding of the church which is decisive but still only rarely found in the Nordic Folk Churches. In the same breath Grundtvig offers a comprehensive contribution to a Trinitarian theology of participation in the communication of the Trinity where there is a living interaction not only between the primary theology found in God’s own living words in creation and in liturgy, but also between this primary theology and the secondary theological reflection of the two forms of primary theology

scholarly journals A Eclesiologia do Código de Direito Canônico

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (265) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Geraldo Luiz Borges Hackmann
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Specific Nature ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
God's People ◽  
Institutional Aspect ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Church

O artigo reflete sobre a relação entre o Código de Direito Canônico e a Eclesiologia, mostrando que o ordenamento jurídico da Igreja é uma dimensão necessária da natureza e da missão da Igreja. Dois aspectos mostram essa relação: o mistério da Igreja e a imagem bíblica de Povo de Deus. Mas é preciso, ainda, aludir às categorias de sacramentalidade e de comunhão, além da dimensão institucional, para estabelecer mais profundamente a natureza e a missão específicas do Direito na Igreja.Abstract: This paper deals with the relation between the Code of Canonical Right and the Ecclesiology, showing that the Church’s juridical order is a necessary dimension belonging to the Church’s nature and dimension. By two aspects is shown this relation, namely the mystery and the biblical image of God’s people. But is also necessary, on the one hand, to allude to the categories of sacramentality and communion, and on the other hand to the institutional aspect, in order to establish more profundly the specific nature and mission of the Right of the Church.

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