Tillich on Asking Questions

This month's quote says something I think we need to be reminded of, as Christians. Too often we've come to associate faith with placidly accepting the way things are, according to authorities (be it pastors, leaders or even a cursory examination of the Scriptures) and fail to really get to the meat of things. If we accept that what God says is true and what is in the Bible is what God has to say, then we should question what we read to really understand it.

“Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.”

If I passionately seek answers, not every answer is going to come back the way I want it to. Maybe some will shake my faith. Maybe some will strengthen my faith while going against what I want. Regardless of my preconceived notions, it is important to constantly ask the existential questions of life and be ready for the answers. It is only by not taking things for granted that I can finally come to know more about God.

Karl Barth on Jesus

I've been putting quotes on the side of my blog for awhile now, but I thought that they really aren't all that noticeable, so I am now going to start posting an entry each time the quote changes. The new quote is from the Reformed theologian Karl Barth:

“Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is himself the way.”

In his usual Barthian style, Karl Barth here says what others have said but does so in just such an elegant, powerful way that you stop and take notice. It is amazing that a man whose four volume magnum opus comes in twelve parts can make such compact quotes, but this is just the tip of the iceberg concerning what is amazing about Barth. I just happened to run across this little tidbit today and thought it would be a good quote to share.

Below you will find previous quotes that have been featured here on asisaid.

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