Fear of Forgiveness

-

This last Sunday the story of Jonah appeared in the lectionary readings. Specifically, it was John 3:1-10, which is the part of the story where the Ninevites express their belief in God. More importantly, they expressed that belief in a performed way.

In my PhD I drew upon theo-dramatic theology (Hans Urs von Balthasar and others) and performance theory (Richard Schechner and others). In this part of the story, the Ninevites are warned about their behaviour and respond by seeking forgiveness. Actually, they want God to change God's mind. 

In classical theism God doesn't change. It's one of the defining characteristics of the divine nature. Here, though, the King of the Ninevites expresses something that seems to contradict that kind of theology; "Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish" (3:9). 

To seek this change they perform what we would call, in performance theory, an "offer." In improvisation, an "offer" is extended between two or more performers and there are three possible responses. "No," "Yes [but]," or "Yes, and." The first to function to block the offer, either explicitly or implicitly (respectively). The third option accepts the offer and takes it in a new direction. New meaning is created and the story advances. Here, the offer consists of a fast, putting on sackcloth, and crying out collectively to God. It is an embodied offer that is performed fully by all people in the city. 

The offer is extended to God... "who knows?" It is up to God as to what response God provides. Classical theism points towards a God that doesn't change. That God would respond with a "No" since the word of the Lord was given that the Ninevites would be "overthrown" (3:4). 

Yet, that is not how God actually responds. The passage states that "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it" (3:10).

"Yes, and..."

The story is taken in a new direction. Where punishment was threatened, grace was given. 

And Jonah didn't like it.

When I was a kid, hearing the story of Jonah in Sunday School, it was always framed that Jonah was running away in fear of the Ninevites. He was told to go to Ninevah to proclaim the message of destruction and, fearing for his life, Jonah goes in the opposite direction. 

But that's not what the text says. In reality, Jonah was running away from God. Seeing God change God's mind, Jonah was displeased and "he became angry" (4:1). He even says "This is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment" (4:2).

He knew what God was like and he knew that God would change God's mind. He'd be embarrassed and made to look like a fool... or so he thought. 

He feared forgiveness. Not for himself, but for those who he considered his enemies. He wanted them to feel the wrath of God but he also knew that God is not that sort of God. God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love. 

And that's what God did. 

Interesting. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inerrent, Infallible, Inspired... Interpreted?

-
Image
I love Chopin. I love listening to his music, but I especially love playing his music. His Nocturnes in particular. There's something very satisfying about playing Chopin. He was a pianist, and every piece of music he wrote was for the piano, and so he "gets" what it's like to sit at a piano and wrestle with those 88 keys in front of you. He was a genius who knew how to get the most out of this instrument, and to challenge those who would want to call themselves a pianist (ever tried playing 12 notes at once with 10 fingers?). Perhaps what I like best, though, is the opportunity that playing Chopin gives me to really express myself through the music. It's like nothing else that I know and taps right into the depths of my emotions and indeed my soul. For me, it's very much a kind of prayer to play this music. Anyone who plays a musical instrument well understands (or should understand) that it's so much more than just the notes on the page. In fact, the b
Read more

An Exercise in Self-Deception

-
Image
The Salvation Army in Australia is in the midst of an historic journey. Since 1880 the Army has been active in this country, doing all it can to see God’s Kingdom come and his will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. For much of that time, for functional and practical reasons, there have been two territories; Australia Southern and Australia Eastern. Earlier this year it was announced that this would change. The two would become one. As at 1 June the Australia One project was launched and work was begun on joining the two territories together into one unified structure. This move excites me. Not just for the practical reasons, but for theological ones as well. This has the potential to be a symbol of unity to the rest of the Army and, indeed, the world. A symbol of how two different things can come together to form something new and, through that new thing, reform society. This can be a symbol of the incarnation; that moment in time and space when the divine and human were u
Read more