May 5 – Take That, Liberalism!
Liberal thought permeated all of society. Science removed the mysteries of life, people recognized their own power – separate from God, supernatural intervention by God was questioned. If we can control nature, why do we need God? Liberal theology gave us a ‘wrathless’ God, ethics of Christ and a kingdom of this world.
When World War I hit, though, people began to question all of that. If we were so advanced, how could we allow a world war to occur, why would an advanced man turn the benefits of science into war and the destruction of others?
A liberal pastor, Karl Barth began to explore Paul’s letter to the Romans, as he sought to understand war. His “Commentary on Romans” changed everything, challenging his fellow liberals by stating that man’s fall in Genesis 3 is real and that mankind is destroyed by sin and without God, he is nothing. Man can’t discover God’s truth on his own, God must disclose Himself to man and He chose to do this through Jesus Christ. God is sovereign and transcendent.
With these thoughts, Karl Barth began a movement called ‘neo-orthodoxy’ and the beginnings of the ‘Confessing Movement.’ The emphasis transitioned back to the study of Scriptures, God’s sovereignty and mankind’s sin. However, neo-orthodoxy allows for critics of events in the Bible, that many may not necessarily have occurred, but were told to affirm strong teaching.
Surrounded by two world wars, Karl Barth’s ideas helped the church return to itself with themes of sin and God’s sovereignty. He encouraged Bible study, preaching and returning man to his need for an Almighty God. When the world was in chaos, Barth showed it Christ as a means of hope.
Liberal thought permeated all of society. Science removed the mysteries of life, people recognized their own power – separate from God, supernatural intervention by God was questioned. If we can control nature, why do we need God? Liberal theology gave us a ‘wrathless’ God, ethics of Christ and a kingdom of this world.
When World War I hit, though, people began to question all of that. If we were so advanced, how could we allow a world war to occur, why would an advanced man turn the benefits of science into war and the destruction of others?
A liberal pastor, Karl Barth began to explore Paul’s letter to the Romans, as he sought to understand war. His “Commentary on Romans” changed everything, challenging his fellow liberals by stating that man’s fall in Genesis 3 is real and that mankind is destroyed by sin and without God, he is nothing. Man can’t discover God’s truth on his own, God must disclose Himself to man and He chose to do this through Jesus Christ. God is sovereign and transcendent.
With these thoughts, Karl Barth began a movement called ‘neo-orthodoxy’ and the beginnings of the ‘Confessing Movement.’ The emphasis transitioned back to the study of Scriptures, God’s sovereignty and mankind’s sin. However, neo-orthodoxy allows for critics of events in the Bible, that many may not necessarily have occurred, but were told to affirm strong teaching.
Surrounded by two world wars, Karl Barth’s ideas helped the church return to itself with themes of sin and God’s sovereignty. He encouraged Bible study, preaching and returning man to his need for an Almighty God. When the world was in chaos, Barth showed it Christ as a means of hope.
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