BEING PEACEMAKERS

“Like many Christians, progressive and evangelical, I was grateful (and continue to be so) for the founding and prospering of the state of Israel as an embodiment of God’s chosen people.” 

WALTER BRUEGGEMANN

Questions

For easy reference a summary of the talk can be found here.

1. How does understanding the election of Abraham as God’s means of creating an alternative human community that embodies justice and righteousness (Gen 18:18-19) – as distinct from understanding race or ethnicity as the basis for election – engage with your understanding of election

2. Consider John 15:1-2’s assertion that Jesus is the true vine – the true Israel and the promised land. With this in mind, discuss Tony Deik’s assertion that “the idea that the state of Israel is a sign of God’s faithfulness or an embodiment of God’s chosen people is ethically outrageous and theologically scandalous.” 

3. How might theological clarity around concepts of election, justice and righteousness help us dismantle harmful theologies and ideologies that equate might with right? 

4. If Jesus were to walk into your church (or home) tomorrow, what kind of fruit would he find? Where might he need to do some pruning and where would he see a flourishing people embodying justice and righteousness? Consider this question with your local, national, and global contexts in mind.