Dear Partner in Ministry,
Lent is the time in the Christian liturgical year when we begin formal preparation for Holy Week and Easter. As we venture into this season, it seems like a good time to consider one of the principle elements of our faith—the death of Jesus on the cross. The apostle Paul wrote that the center of his preaching was Christ crucified.
While the death of Jesus on the cross and the claim that this brought about a reconciliation between God and human beings (atonement) stands at the heart of Christian faith, Christians have never arrived at a uniform understanding of the meaning of Jesus’s death. Indeed, it has been understood in numerous and sometimes competing ways throughout the history of the church, often leading to intense debate and sometimes conflict.
This Sunday (March 8) we’ll begin a three week exploration of the cross through an examination of various “theories of atonement” that have been developed throughout the history of the church. In addition, we’ll consider an approach to biblical and theological interpretation that makes sense of these various conceptions of the cross in light of scripture, tradition, and culture.
Through our time together, we’ll grow in our knowledge of scripture, our understanding of theology, and our appreciation for the diversity of the Christian tradition, as well as the majesty and mystery of our faith. What better way to prepare Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter than to consider what the cross has meant to Christians through the ages and why it still matters.
We’ll meet this Sunday in the Washington Room at 9:45am. Also remember, this is the Sunday we “spring forward” for daylight savings time, so be sure to set your clocks ahead so you won’t be late!
John
