In the evangelical church I grew up in, there was no space for wounded God. I remember the Pastor saying that Jesus defeated death and the cross which is why we shouldn’t portray him on the cross. The church was entrenched with prosperity gospel theology and struggled to face humanity’s own suffering in the world, let alone God’s.
It’s a shame because this perspective of God has more depth and is so much more comforting.
It reminds me of a quote by C.S. Lewis, “ If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.“
In the evangelical church I grew up in, there was no space for wounded God. I remember the Pastor saying that Jesus defeated death and the cross which is why we shouldn’t portray him on the cross. The church was entrenched with prosperity gospel theology and struggled to face humanity’s own suffering in the world, let alone God’s.
It’s a shame because this perspective of God has more depth and is so much more comforting.
It reminds me of a quote by C.S. Lewis, “ If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.“
Great Lewis quote. Suffering is hard to look in the face. This is something I've learned so much about from medieval Christians.
Profound! I loved reading and stewing on this!
Thank you!
I have the same ambivalence toward Bernard, but love his sermons on the Song of Songs.
Loved the quote of St. Catherine to Raymond of Capua. Beautiful prayer from the Carmina. Thank you!
Yes, ambivalence is a good word. Those sermons are so lovely.
I was so close to attending that symposium in Houston! Sad to have missed it 🥲
Bummer! It was great!