More on KB
May 30, 2008
Just received these helpful additions to my earlier post on Barth from an interested reader:
Here are some things that would make my reasons-for-Barth list:
• Barth is more than a sparring partner, he seemed to be deeplydevoted to the church of Christ and its survival in the midst ofintellectual and political assault in Europe, and thus can be a greatexample to pastor-theologians of our age (his submission to the churchwas criticized by Altizer).
• He was an example of how to read one's enemies charitably and stillwork to destroy their errors (I'm thinking of Schleiermacher).
• As wrong as he was, Barth shows us evangelicals the necessity ofbeing connected to historic Christian orthodoxy for the purposes ofexegesis, dogmatics and preaching.
• His (in my mind) botching of the biblical account of the covenants,and how he connects it to his other positions, is helpful in navigatingthe current problems that churches are facing.
Here are some things that would make my reasons-for-Barth list:
• Barth is more than a sparring partner, he seemed to be deeplydevoted to the church of Christ and its survival in the midst ofintellectual and political assault in Europe, and thus can be a greatexample to pastor-theologians of our age (his submission to the churchwas criticized by Altizer).
• He was an example of how to read one's enemies charitably and stillwork to destroy their errors (I'm thinking of Schleiermacher).
• As wrong as he was, Barth shows us evangelicals the necessity ofbeing connected to historic Christian orthodoxy for the purposes ofexegesis, dogmatics and preaching.
• His (in my mind) botching of the biblical account of the covenants,and how he connects it to his other positions, is helpful in navigatingthe current problems that churches are facing.
