John Swinton’s, “Raging with Compassion: Pastoral Responses to the Problem of Evil”, is the most informative book I have read regarding practical theodicy. Swinton’s pastoral theodicy does not try to explain or deny evil or suffering, but enables the Christian community to live faithfully despite the presence of evil. He explains that lament; forgiveness, thoughtfulness and hospitality are the four-core practices that form the bases of practical theodicy.
As I reflect on the four-core practices, which Swinton describes in his book, I can honestly say that I have not witnessed or observed all four-core practices continuously working in any of the churches that I have attended. While experiencing my own personal suffering and grief as well …show more content…
However. The corporate church and the small groups can benefit from the examples, stories, theological definitions and the practices of Swinton’s practical theodicy in order to fully reclaim the practice of lament. Swinton explains, “that small groups take us back to the community of the early church where small groups of people met, often in the midst of extreme tribulation, to share fellowship, joy, pain, and hope, and look forward to the time when evil would be no more” (124). He explains, as groups form and develop, friendships also form and develop, and friendship is a place where we practice lament. Swinton contends, “it is within the intimacy of our friendships that we can find a vital context to express the pain, the hurt, the agony, and the yearning for closeness to God that the lament psalms desire to instill in those who seek to love God and resist evil” (125). I do agree from my own experiences that friendships shaped by Christ are significant to the church.
As I theologically reflect on Swinton’s “Raging with Compassion”, I am reminded of Dr. Richard Lischer’s statement in, “Stations of the Heart” regarding the importance of the psalms to his son Adam and daughter-in law Jenny. He
As I reflect on the four-core practices, which Swinton describes in his book, I can honestly say that I have not witnessed or observed all four-core practices continuously working in any of the churches that I have attended. While experiencing my own personal suffering and grief as well …show more content…
However. The corporate church and the small groups can benefit from the examples, stories, theological definitions and the practices of Swinton’s practical theodicy in order to fully reclaim the practice of lament. Swinton explains, “that small groups take us back to the community of the early church where small groups of people met, often in the midst of extreme tribulation, to share fellowship, joy, pain, and hope, and look forward to the time when evil would be no more” (124). He explains, as groups form and develop, friendships also form and develop, and friendship is a place where we practice lament. Swinton contends, “it is within the intimacy of our friendships that we can find a vital context to express the pain, the hurt, the agony, and the yearning for closeness to God that the lament psalms desire to instill in those who seek to love God and resist evil” (125). I do agree from my own experiences that friendships shaped by Christ are significant to the church.
As I theologically reflect on Swinton’s “Raging with Compassion”, I am reminded of Dr. Richard Lischer’s statement in, “Stations of the Heart” regarding the importance of the psalms to his son Adam and daughter-in law Jenny. He