In Bob Goudzwaard’s blog on the economic crisis, he raises the issue of idolatry. Could idolatry be at the heart of all of this? In this blog, Brian Walsh picks up on a targum that he had written some months ago on Romans 1 and continues the thread through Paul’s depiction of idolatry in Romans 1.18-25.
The following targum was presented at the British Columbia Christian Teacher’s Convention on October 9, 2008.
Romans 1.1-25: A targum in the face of economic collapse (amongst other things).
by Brian Walsh
A reflection on Romans 12:1-2
Wine Before Breakfast
Originally Delivered January 16, 2007
Brothers and Sisters:
If it is true that in the face of our disobedience
we have met a God rich in mercy;
if it true that this mercy extends to all of creation,
waiting in eager longing for the revelation of the children of God
if it is true that we ourselves , in concert with the Holy Spirit
await our adoption, the redemption of our very bodies;
by Brian Walsh
Paul, a slave of Jesus the Messiah, called to a ministry of authority in a world that is suspicious of all authority, set apart in a world that attempts to construct a bland consumerist sameness, proclaimer of nothing less then the gospel God, the good news of God’s radical kingdom.
This gospel, this kingdom proclamation, is nothing new. It was promised by the Hebrew prophets and it is the news of Jesus – the Son of God. This Jesus is a blood descendant of the infamous King David but was pronounced to be God’s Son by the explosive power of the Spirit of all that is pure, all that is deeply right, when he rose from the dead.
He isn’t the Son of God because he was elected, or because he has the most economic power, or because he commands great armies. No, he is the Son of God because he blew apart the power of death.
|
