A Theology Rooted in Love
Apr.16, 2012 in
Podcast Episodes
In this episode Steve and Ray discuss living with a theology rooted and grounded in love instead of one driven by fear or even hatred of the other. What are the practical implications? What does it look like? We aren’t exactly sure ourselves, but join us for a good discussion starter!
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April 21st, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Ray and Steve,
Amazing Podcast! I have been listening to your Podcasts ever since you began years ago. I must say, this is one of your most amazing and best ones yet.
Can I just recommend something though? The Podcasts have gradually become longer and longer. Honestly, 2.5 hours for a Podcast, is just a bit too long. I would much more appreciate it if you could “split” the Podcasts into 45 min or at least 1 hour increments, and perhaps just “post” them that way. When I download them onto my iPod, listening to 2.5 hours is just too long. If you “split” them into shorter increments, it’s easier to listen to them, then come back and listen to the 2nd or even 3rd parts.
In any event, you both are doing so well…as well as the recent Interviews you have had with Kevin Miller, Brian McLaren, and Brad Jersak, amoung others.
Oh…and finally…welcome “back” Steve! It’s so great to hear you back!
~Amy
May 6th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Your podcast stimulated much thought so I put on my thinking cap (a device similar to the time machine in the movie Napoleon Dynamite, but placed less centrally). Flipped the on switch and fiddled with some equalizers that resulted in a power surge, and after the smell of burning hair and frying brain cells had subsided the following thoughts popped.
Humans were designed in the image of God and for many this includes a certain inherent measure of God’s love. An example is the love of a parent for their children. I am speculating however that we can’t attain the God level (i.e. totally love your enemy) on our own. Thus, the idea that we should model Jesus’s sermon on the mount is in reality an impossible dream. I’m speculating that the “love those that persecute/hate you” level of love is attainable through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is actually something that happens to you not by you (i.e. internally during the process of the formation of the mind of God). Some argue that since Jesus stopped the progression of violence by forgiving those who killed Him (and that’s true) that we should likewise emulate Him. But He is God and IS love and we aren’t. I am not totally convinced that we are capable of emulating anything close to this level of love and in my opinion, only the Holy Spirit can guide us to both will it and do it.
On a related topic, the idea of forgiving an enemy versus the “War on Terrorism” approach seems practical in a one on one situation, but how about cases where there are potential victims in the mix (like those affected by the terrorist actions). What of defending the rights of potential victims even if it means forceful action against perpetrators of violent crimes? It seems that God is also concerned with the victimized. In this regard it is inadequate to view an approach like the War on Terrorism in light of the Mimetic Theory alone, as the former contains some element of concern (even if small) for the future of those victimized. Not saying that I totally agree with the war approach, but that the solution is more complex than just loving your enemy. I think that your comments in the podcast related to living from a heart of love are insightful.
Just an opinion from someone who fried his brain cells.
May 10th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Jim,
Great thoughts; I hope that after all you have been through (with the brain popping), there still exists some level of intellectual capacity (I think you have demonstrated this quite well, actually).
Right or wrong, here is my 2 cents: If someone breaks into my home and attacks one of my family members- I am going to stop them by whatever means necessary (even if that means killing them). I own guns, and I am not at all afraid to use them. Forget the gun; if I was at the grocery store, and someone tried to kidnap one of my kids, or harm my wife, I am going to do whatever is necessary to remedy the situation, and in all honesty, if that means the assailant dies in the process, I’m OK with that. If I die in the process, that’s OK too. I rather be dead, and have to answer to the Lord Jesus Christ, (who I think will be fully understanding by the way), than live with my pathetic self, in light of not doing anything to the aggressor (who was harming my family), because I believed that “love” meant I was supposed to allow another person to inflict harm on someone else. I don’t think so. If I’m wrong, then so be it. I know that the Lord will deal with each one of us personally, and until I believe that He is the One telling me to allow innocent people to suffer (when I can do something about it), I will not agree with any kind of theology that says otherwise.
Think about it, if God is concerned, as James says (1:27), with orphans and widows, then are we not to be concerned (and thus protect) those who are in our direct care?
May 11th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Thanks for your thoughts Chris. I think that your comments highlight an important aspect of the discussion that I’m not well versed enough in Mimetic Theory to know how this theory fits in – i.e. the use of force regarding protection of potential victims.
I’m like you, if I ever encounter the scenarios that you describe, I‘d pop the bast@rd as well (sorry to all the bast@rds out there, but hey, just being real). I probably wouldn’t got out for a pizza right afterwards, but your comment “I rather be dead, and have to answer to the Lord Jesus Christ … than live with my pathetic self, in light of not doing anything to the aggressor” says a lot.
I suppose I shouldn’t be so flippant on this issue, but this is the age old question of what should a nonviolent Christian approach look like in an aggressor/victim scenario. I guess all we can do is daily live our lives from a heart of love and not aggression. If such a situation does present itself, I hope the Holy Spirit provides rapid guidance and then whatever happens, happens – even if it means that I’m the one who needs forgiveness.
June 26th, 2014 at 9:47 pm
[…] to a podcast this morning from 2012 where Raborn Johnson and Steve Sensenig talked about a Theology Rooted in Love, and they were saying many of the same things as […]