There’s an interesting article by Robert Sanders in the latest Christianity Today (hat tip to “unpopular“). Sanders’ discussion of the orthodox view versus the “ecstatic” (liberal) view is thought-provoking. He offers a comparative summary of the two in respect of different theological issues; here’s a sample:
E1. In the ecstatic view, God in himself or in revelation as Word is never objective. He is always transcendent.
O1. In the orthodox view, God is transcendent as Father, but God the Word becomes objectively present as the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.
* * *
E6. In the ecstatic view, God does no miracles since God cannot objectively affect the world at particular points. Miracle working would make God an object and, as Tillich would claim, this is blasphemy.
O6. In the orthodox view, God does miracles when God becomes objective in the world of time and space. Every act of God is miraculous, including revelation in which God addresses the mind and will.
For most of the points in Sanders’ summary, it mystifies me how the opposing parties can claim to be in a position to know, one way or the other.
Someone once said, “we know more than we can say.” Well, sometimes people say more than they can know.
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