{"id":91106,"date":"2020-03-30T12:30:33","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T16:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=91106"},"modified":"2020-03-30T14:40:45","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T18:40:45","slug":"time-tom-wright-christianity-offers-no-answers-about-the-coronavirus-its-not-supposed-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=91106","title":{"rendered":"(Time) Tom Wright–Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It’s Not Supposed To"},"content":{"rendered":"

The point of lament, woven thus into the fabric of the biblical tradition, is not just that it\u2019s an outlet for our frustration, sorrow, loneliness and sheer inability to understand what is happening or why. The mystery of the biblical story is that God also laments<\/em>. Some Christians like to think of God as above all that, knowing everything, in charge of everything, calm and unaffected by the troubles in his world. That\u2019s not the picture we get in the Bible.<\/p>\n

God was grieved to his heart, Genesis declares, over the violent wickedness of his human creatures. He was devastated when his own bride, the people of Israel, turned away from him. And when God came back to his people in person\u2014the story of Jesus is meaningless unless that\u2019s what it\u2019s about\u2014he wept at the tomb of his friend. St. Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit \u201cgroaning\u201d within us, as we ourselves groan within the pain of the whole creation. The ancient doctrine of the Trinity teaches us to recognize the One God in the tears of Jesus and the anguish of the Spirit.<\/p>\n

It is no part of the Christian vocation, then, to be able to explain what\u2019s happening and why. In fact, it is <\/em>part of the Christian vocation not to be able <\/em>to explain\u2014and to lament instead. As the Spirit laments within us, so we become, even in our self-isolation, small shrines where the presence and healing love of God can dwell. And out of that there can emerge new possibilities, new acts of kindness, new scientific understanding, new hope. New wisdom for our leaders? Now there\u2019s a thought.<\/div>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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As a person of faith, the wisdom of N.T. Wright has often been a balm for my anxious heart. May we create space for grief and lament. \/\/ “Christianity offers no answers about the coronavirus. It’s not supposed to” https:\/\/t.co\/IhzDltpk6P<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Olivia Blinn (@oblinn) March 30, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n