At-one-ment With God
Torrance defines atonement as, “the divine work of covering and putting away sin, thus creating ‘at-one-ment’ between God and man” (Torrance & Walker, 2009, p. 453). William Tyndale, a Bible scholar and translator in the sixteenth century, created the word atonement. At that time, no word existed in the early English language that adequately defined the Hebrew understanding of “the process of pardoning before God” (Brazier, 2015, p. 285). It is from this understanding that brought about a variety of theories of atonement in the early church. Brazier continues to explain that these theories are more than just merely explanations of reconciliation, but rather attempts to explain propitiation, punishment, debt and other …show more content…
Similar to the Satisfaction Theory in that it relies on substitution, there are significant differences between the two theories. As the Protestant Reformation began, the medieval concepts of satisfaction and honor were replaced with thoughts of law and justice. The social and political climate of the times encouraged a juridical understanding of atonement. As such, the Penal Substitution Theory was born (Stoltzfus, 2012). Essentially, this theory says Christ’s suffering was necessary in order for God to forgive the sins of humanity and thus restore their relationship. Put another way, God punishes his Son for the sins of mankind. A person must suffer the wrath of God and be punished (Stoltzfus, 2012): “Christ willingly assumes the legal responsibility (i.e. the penal consequences) for the sin(s) of particular human persons…and by his substitutionary death pays their debt of punishment in order to satisfy God’s retributive justice (Hamilton, 2015, p 49). In this role, Jesus acts as priest fulfilling the law in the Word make flesh (John 1:14). He abided by the law in his life and ministry on earth (Luke 2:21,22 and 24) and it was Jesus who offered himself as the sacrificial lamb of God, ascended into heaven to be with the Father, and returned with the peace of reconciliation …show more content…
Rene Girard, a Christian anthropologist, interpreted Jesus death based on his theory of mimetic violence. Girard discovered that people are “mimetic”; that is to say, they copy one another’s behaviors. This includes outward mannerisms as well as thoughts, desires, and feelings. Mimesis initiates conflict of rivalry and eventually puts many against one, triggering what Girard calls the “scapegoating mechanism” and contends, “cultural, social, and even religious institutions are founded overwhelmingly on myths, prohibitions, and rituals that stem from the sacrifice of the single victim or scapegoat” (Maddix, 2015, p. 76). He views Jesus death on the cross as the unveiling of this scapegoating mechanism and by the unveiling, stripped it of its powers. Girard contends that God sent Jesus in human form for two reasons. First, to rid the mechanism from it power and two, to reveal God’s nonviolent love (Maddix, 2015). Moreover, Girard argues that Christ invites all to imitate the love of His father. His life and ministry centered on love, focused on the marginalized, the poor, those victimized by scapegoating. He countered violence with love. It is here that Girard’s theory is important to Christian discipleship. Accordingly, Christians are called to “participate in God’s atoning activity in Christ” (Maddix, 2015, p. 78) by imitating the love of Christ by showing love and
Torrance defines atonement as, “the divine work of covering and putting away sin, thus creating ‘at-one-ment’ between God and man” (Torrance & Walker, 2009, p. 453). William Tyndale, a Bible scholar and translator in the sixteenth century, created the word atonement. At that time, no word existed in the early English language that adequately defined the Hebrew understanding of “the process of pardoning before God” (Brazier, 2015, p. 285). It is from this understanding that brought about a variety of theories of atonement in the early church. Brazier continues to explain that these theories are more than just merely explanations of reconciliation, but rather attempts to explain propitiation, punishment, debt and other …show more content…
Similar to the Satisfaction Theory in that it relies on substitution, there are significant differences between the two theories. As the Protestant Reformation began, the medieval concepts of satisfaction and honor were replaced with thoughts of law and justice. The social and political climate of the times encouraged a juridical understanding of atonement. As such, the Penal Substitution Theory was born (Stoltzfus, 2012). Essentially, this theory says Christ’s suffering was necessary in order for God to forgive the sins of humanity and thus restore their relationship. Put another way, God punishes his Son for the sins of mankind. A person must suffer the wrath of God and be punished (Stoltzfus, 2012): “Christ willingly assumes the legal responsibility (i.e. the penal consequences) for the sin(s) of particular human persons…and by his substitutionary death pays their debt of punishment in order to satisfy God’s retributive justice (Hamilton, 2015, p 49). In this role, Jesus acts as priest fulfilling the law in the Word make flesh (John 1:14). He abided by the law in his life and ministry on earth (Luke 2:21,22 and 24) and it was Jesus who offered himself as the sacrificial lamb of God, ascended into heaven to be with the Father, and returned with the peace of reconciliation …show more content…
Rene Girard, a Christian anthropologist, interpreted Jesus death based on his theory of mimetic violence. Girard discovered that people are “mimetic”; that is to say, they copy one another’s behaviors. This includes outward mannerisms as well as thoughts, desires, and feelings. Mimesis initiates conflict of rivalry and eventually puts many against one, triggering what Girard calls the “scapegoating mechanism” and contends, “cultural, social, and even religious institutions are founded overwhelmingly on myths, prohibitions, and rituals that stem from the sacrifice of the single victim or scapegoat” (Maddix, 2015, p. 76). He views Jesus death on the cross as the unveiling of this scapegoating mechanism and by the unveiling, stripped it of its powers. Girard contends that God sent Jesus in human form for two reasons. First, to rid the mechanism from it power and two, to reveal God’s nonviolent love (Maddix, 2015). Moreover, Girard argues that Christ invites all to imitate the love of His father. His life and ministry centered on love, focused on the marginalized, the poor, those victimized by scapegoating. He countered violence with love. It is here that Girard’s theory is important to Christian discipleship. Accordingly, Christians are called to “participate in God’s atoning activity in Christ” (Maddix, 2015, p. 78) by imitating the love of Christ by showing love and