Theology of the Cross (Make Up for February 3)
On February 3rd, we learned about the Theology of the Cross but first, what is theology?
THEOLOGY: thinking about God. It comes from Greek THEOS = God, OLOGY = study of. Anytime we talk about or think about God, we are theologians. (You don’t have to be a pastor to be a theologian!)
There are many different theologies about God, but in class we talked about two:
THEOLOGY OF GLORY: thinking about God that emphasizes human effort. It assumes beauty, wealth, and success are signs of God’s favor and blessing and suffering is a sign of God’s displeasure. A Theologian of Glory asks the question: What can I do to earn God’s favor?
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS: thinking about God that emphasizes God's work—rather than human work. It recognizes God is present in good times and bad. It’s called theology of the cross because on the cross, we most fully know who God is: Jesus, the one who suffered with and for us. A Theologian of the Cross asks: What has God done and what is God doing now?
1. How is this song about the Theology of Glory? Where do you see that in the lyrics?
2. How would you describe the artist’s relationship with God?
3. How is this song about the Theology of the Cross? Where do you see that in the
lyrics?
4. How would you describe the artist’s relationship with God?
Pick one of the following acts of God to read and answer the question:
A) Solidarity: One thing the cross always shows us is that God actively pursues
solidarity with humanity through Christ. Believing in a God who dies on a cross
means we believe in a God who enters into our world to be with us. Read Luke
22:14-23.
1. How does Jesus show solidarity with humanity in this passage?
2. How have you experienced Christ’s solidarity in your life?
B) Suffering: Another thing we learn in the cross is that God suffers with us and for us.
Human suffering might be the place where Christ is most present and active. Read \
Luke 23:1-49.
1. How does Jesus suffer with and for us?
2. Where do you see suffering in your life?
C) Reality: The cross shows us the depth and reality of evil. It prevents us from sugar- coating or ignoring the evil we see in our world. It demands our attention. Read
Luke 22:24-34 and Luke 24:54-62
1. How does the reality of fear affect Peter and his relationship with Jesus?
2. What evil realities do we tend to ignore?
D) Resurrection: The cross also teaches us that life comes out of death. The world
sees the cross as a defeat, but we see it as a victory. Read Luke 24:1-12
1. How does Peter experience life out of death? What does hope look like for
Peter?
2. Where do you see hope in your life? Where do you see hope in the world?
THEOLOGY: thinking about God. It comes from Greek THEOS = God, OLOGY = study of. Anytime we talk about or think about God, we are theologians. (You don’t have to be a pastor to be a theologian!)
There are many different theologies about God, but in class we talked about two:
THEOLOGY OF GLORY and THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
THEOLOGY OF GLORY: thinking about God that emphasizes human effort. It assumes beauty, wealth, and success are signs of God’s favor and blessing and suffering is a sign of God’s displeasure. A Theologian of Glory asks the question: What can I do to earn God’s favor?
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS: thinking about God that emphasizes God's work—rather than human work. It recognizes God is present in good times and bad. It’s called theology of the cross because on the cross, we most fully know who God is: Jesus, the one who suffered with and for us. A Theologian of the Cross asks: What has God done and what is God doing now?
Listen to the following song and look at the lyrics.
God Must Really Love Me by Craig Morgan
1. How is this song about the Theology of Glory? Where do you see that in the lyrics?
2. How would you describe the artist’s relationship with God?
Listen to the following song and look at the lyrics.
Brave by Skillet
lyrics?
4. How would you describe the artist’s relationship with God?
The Theology of the Cross is based on these four acts of God:
- Solidarity: God actively pursues solidarity (that is, togetherness and mutual support) with humanity in Christ.
- Suffering: Christ intentionally suffers with, for and because of us.
- Reality: Christ’s solidarity and suffering exposes the reality of evil.
- Resurrection: In Christ, God redeems and brings new life and hope from suffering and death.
Pick one of the following acts of God to read and answer the question:
A) Solidarity: One thing the cross always shows us is that God actively pursues
solidarity with humanity through Christ. Believing in a God who dies on a cross
means we believe in a God who enters into our world to be with us. Read Luke
22:14-23.
1. How does Jesus show solidarity with humanity in this passage?
2. How have you experienced Christ’s solidarity in your life?
B) Suffering: Another thing we learn in the cross is that God suffers with us and for us.
Human suffering might be the place where Christ is most present and active. Read \
Luke 23:1-49.
1. How does Jesus suffer with and for us?
2. Where do you see suffering in your life?
C) Reality: The cross shows us the depth and reality of evil. It prevents us from sugar- coating or ignoring the evil we see in our world. It demands our attention. Read
Luke 22:24-34 and Luke 24:54-62
1. How does the reality of fear affect Peter and his relationship with Jesus?
2. What evil realities do we tend to ignore?
D) Resurrection: The cross also teaches us that life comes out of death. The world
sees the cross as a defeat, but we see it as a victory. Read Luke 24:1-12
1. How does Peter experience life out of death? What does hope look like for
Peter?
2. Where do you see hope in your life? Where do you see hope in the world?
As Lutherans, our theology, our understanding of who God is, is centered in the cross of Jesus Christ.
Congratulations! You are a Theologian of the Cross!
Anthony gentile
ReplyDelete1. I think this song is the opposite of thoologys of glory because this person does not have wealth and is doing some bad things. So there for I do not see it in the lyrics.
2. I think he has done things that good could have approved of and things he did not approve of.
3. I think they hit song is very good example of theology of god. It can be found in the song when he says I will never walk alone and when he says you call me to be brave.
4. He has a relationship with God is very textbook and is you are never alone and good is always with you.
D
1. He experienced life comes out of death when he remembered the words of mary magdalene. His hope comes from her words.
2. I see hope in my life when something good comes out of the worst case scenario. I see hope in the world when people come together for what is right.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteErin Grunfelder
ReplyDelete1) I think this song is not about the theology of glory because he is not wealthy. He also is suffering because of the bad things he did. I see this in the lyrics where he says "After all the trouble I've been in, I'da gave up on me", which shows that he didn't think that God would have forgiven him.
2) I think the artist's relationship with God was at first not good, because he didn't expect God to forgive him for the things he did, but since God forgives our sins, their relationship got better.
3) I think this song is about theology of the cross because it talks about how the person is believing in God. I see this in the lyrics when he says "You call me to be brave" because it shows he is trusting God.
4) I think the artist's relationship with God is very good because he clearly isn't hesitant or afraid.
B
1) Jesus suffers with and for us because he died on the cross for us and then came back for us.
2) I see suffering in my life when something bad happens to me, or I am worried about something.
Kyle Gentile
ReplyDelete1. This song is about theology of Glory because the singer describes why God loves him. During the opening of the song, the singer describes times where he wasnt the best he could be. "There's been times where I let my faith run thin." However, the singer later describes things God has sent him. "and the gift that he gives."
2. I would describe the artists relationship with God as close. It seems that artist loves God very much.
3. The second song is about Theology of the cross because the artist describes that he knows God is always with him. We see this in the lines, "I never walk alone, Your spirit is with me."
4. This artist seems to be very faithful. He seems to be very close with God.
C
1. Peter sees life in death when the men remember God's word.
2. I see hope in the wold whenever I see someone helping someone. Whether it be holding the door, helping someone pick up their books in the hall, or anything, I see hope.
Gavin Post
ReplyDelete1. This song does not relate to theology because theology is the study of learning and thinking about God. But, in this song it states about how the artist really wasn't ever thinking about God although, God still loved the artist after the mistakes he made .
2. The artist had a poor relationship with God. He believed that since he created a terrible sin he would not be loved by God but, this was not true because in the end God forgave him for his sins and continued to love him. After God forgave his sins the artist was grateful for him.
3. The song definetly relates to theology because in the song the artist stated,"I'll never walk alone. spirit is with me." This shows how the artist has devoted his life to praise God. This is Theology because the artist is constantly thinking about God and how he can worship him.
4.The artist's relationship with God is very powerful and deep. The artist praises God and God is always on his mind. The artist is praising God because he believes in theology and what God has done for him.
B.1 Suffering. Jesus suffered with and for us by being crucified on the cross. He was crucified because Pontius Pilate was persuaded by the people that Jesus was lying about being the Messiah. For this he has suffered for us to take away the sins of the world.
2. I see suffering in the world in Africa where children are forced to work at a young age to mine for minerals which then get put into batteries for electric cars. I pray for these suffering children.
For me this song didn’t relate to theology. He sings about how he hasn’t been the best person he can be but God still loves him anyway
ReplyDeleteThe second song definitely talks about theology. He thinks of god often and thinks of ways to make his relationship better
DeleteWhere have you seen Jesus?
ReplyDeleteGood work, all!!
ReplyDelete