Still Calvin’s Atonement Theology? A Lunchtime Lecture with Jaeseung Cha

How can we still talk about “punishment” and “sacrifice” with respect to the cross? Indeed, atonement theology starts with violence, the killing of Jesus (D. Weaver, The Nonviolent Atonement, 2). Victimization of Jesus within a ritual mechanism is too primitive: a system of retributive justice, as applied to the cross, is self-contradictory by the fact that the innocent Jesus was punished, and the image of the Father’s relation to the Son is closer to a child abuse or surrogacy. Furthermore, the idea of punishment and sacrifice lacks an ethical dimension. Calvin’s atonement view with his concepts of punishment, wrath, appeasement, obedience, satisfaction, condemnation, expiation, propitiation, and sacrifice can never be free from various critiques discussed above. Do we have to make a shift from Anselmian/Calvinistic view of the cross to a contemporary view focusing on forgiveness, love, and moral example? How can “love” be still love if love is done by “death”? In what way can “death as such” be a moral example, if we all die without any moral efforts?

Dr. Jaeseung Cha will help us understand issues of both traditional and contemporary atonement theology while addressing two themes. First, an appropriate hermeneutical paradigm will be discussed. Can we understand the reality and meaning of the cross by analyzing human contexts such as legal, commercial, ritual, and cultural systems and contexts? What if the reality of the cross goes beyond human contexts and ideology? How can we grasp the meaning that goes beyond our ability? Second, we will look at the holistic perspectives of Calvin’s atonement view, while acknowledging ways in which it seems to be lacking: simultaneity of God’s attributes–namely, punishment and forgiveness–simultaneity of “Christ is in us” and “we are in Christ,” and simultaneity of Christ’s divinity and his humanity on the cross. Touching on these critical matters, we may be able to come closer to the mystery, profundity, and complexity of Christ’s crucifixion.

The suggested donation for lunch will be $10.00; free for NBTS students, faculty, and staff. RSVP to jbrumm@nbts.edu by Monday, October 5, 2015.