In our fifth cliche of the series (for previous posts, see here, here, here, and here), I'd like to tackle a very common and very controversial idea. This post certainly ties back into some of the other issues already explored. Further, this idea is also deeply rooted in much Christian thinking. As with our other cliches, there is some biblical rooting for the idea, but the lack of nuancing with which it is portrayed is troublesome (at least to me. In this post I will address the question of whether God
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In my first post in this series, I addressed the common Christian cliche that "God has a wonderful plan for your life." As is the case with most faulty Christian cliches, I suggested there is an element of truth to the statement, though the context in which it is used generally does not fit the biblical pattern. In this post I would like to address a second, very common Christian cliche. But before we get there, I'd also like to remind that my intent with this series is not belittlement or mockery, but edification and instruction. With that said, the second faulty The death and resurrection of Jesus extends far beyond our individual eternal fates. It brings the defeat of all the evil powers which plague the world. As we see the ever-presence of evil in our world, we should be reminded of the story of Scripture which sets evil in proper perspective.
New Testament scholars frequently speak of the “powers” in the writings of the apostle Paul. By the powers, we refer to those spiritual forces which are invisibly at work in the world, holding sway over those who do not share in the victory of the Messiah. Probably the most well-known examples of the powers in Paul are Sin and Death, which Paul personifies, particularly in Romans 5-8. Sin and Death are not just consequences or ideas, they are active forces waging war upon the cosmos. Through human disobedience (Adam in particular), Sin enters |
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