Friday, September 02, 2005

Do you believe in "Ambush Theology?"

An article in American Catholic talks about the prevalence of "Ambush Theology" in the world today. This is especially true in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Those who hold to this theory think that God is always waiting in the wings to ambush us for everything we do wrong. Those who believe this point to places in Scripture such as the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy where God lays out a blessing to those who do good and a curse to those who do wrong.

But, as the article points out, "The Bible takes people where they are, with later books often correcting the incomplete views of earlier ones." Later in the Old Testament, Jeremiah asks God why He doesn't strike down evil men. "But God answers in effect, 'You are in over your head, Jeremiah; you have to get beyond the old tit-for-tat theology.'"

Man's understanding of God's ways has developed as the centuries have passed. Jesus addressed this question further in the example of the man born blind. His followers were sure that either the man himself or his parents had sinned in order to merit him being born blind. He tells the crowd:

"His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents' sins. He is blind so that God's power might be seen at work in him" (John 9:2-3).


In this case, "God's power" meant that the man was cured. Is that always the case? Of course not.

Tragedies happen. Where is God then? Sometimes God's power has to work through others (that means us). We can show God's love to those in need.

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which he looks
Compassion on the world
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good
Yours are the hands with which he blesses the world
Yours are the hands
Yours are the feet
Yours are the eyes.
You are his Body.

Therese of Avila

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed reading this, although I know already that God isnt ready to ambush it feels so good to hear it again.
Many people could use reading more of this kind of stuff and know that our God loves his children.

Staying in Balance said...

Yes! I really love the Divine Mercy devotion for that reason. Its great to be reminded that God loves us!

Saint Peter's helpers said...

Thank you for this post. It helps us to remember that God's mercy and love is more powerful than all sin combined - that we ought to trust in His Mercy and never to despair.

Deacon Mike said...

If God behaved as Ambush Theology would have us believe I doubt any one would be left to write about it. Contrary to this concept, Gods greatest power is not in His ablility to punish but in His capacity for forgivness.

Mike

Staying in Balance said...

"Gods greatest power is not in His ablility to punish but in His capacity for forgivness."

Amen!!

Staying in Balance said...
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"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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