Marking Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year

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Mark i ng T ime : Formi ng Sp i r i tua l i t y through the Chr i s t i an Year

2. Discomfort with the military and battle symbolism it produces

3. Modern cosmological problems with defining the Story in terms of malevolent, sentient evil personages which must be subdued

4. Gnawing theodicy issues: If Christ is victor, what has gone wrong with the world?

5. A perceived dualistic framework: God or the devil understanding, with little room for ambiguities or grayness

C. Jesus’ presence as the “Presence of the Future” in the here and now

1. The distinctiveness of Jesus’ Gospel: “The Kingdom is at hand,” Mark 1.14-15.

2. Jesus and the inauguration of the Age to Come into this present age

a. The coming of John the Baptist, Matt. 11.2-6

b. The inauguration of Jesus’ ministry, Luke 4.16-21

c. The confrontation of Jesus with demonic forces, Luke 10.18ff.; 11.20

3. The teaching of Jesus and his claim of absolute authority on earth, Mark 2.1-12; Matt. 21.27; 28.18