Is the Message of Sin and the Cross Immoral and Outdated? How to Communicate the Power, Truth, and Beauty of the Gospel in the 21st Century
The message of the cross is at the core of Christian belief. However, for most people today, the atonement is not necessarily good news but rather morally questionable. Why does God need blood and violence in order to forgive? How does atonement work? If I am a good person, why do I need the cross? How can what happened 2,000 years ago be relevant for me today? In this Master Class, we will explore how we can communicate about sin and atonement in a way that shows the power, the truth, and the beauty of the cross and resurrection.
1. How to Explain the Concept of Sin to a Postmodern Culture
In the absence of objective morality, the notion of sin is perceived as immoral and unfair by many. In this session, we will explore how to talk about the biblical idea of sin in a way that helps make sense of the experiences of people today.
2. How to Communicate the Idea of Original Sin and God’s Wrath
Postmodernity is all about relationships, which are at the core of our human experience. In this session, we will discuss how both the ideas of original sin and God’s wrath make sense in light of the broken relationships we perceive in our world and lives.
3. How the Cross Redeems Brokenness and Guilt
In the biblical understanding of atonement, our guilt is handed over to Jesus. Many postmodern people today would resonate with Kant’s criticism that this idea is ultimately unfair and immoral. What does it actually mean that Jesus saved us on the cross, and how can we make sense of this in the 21st century?
4. How the Cross Redeems Hurt, Shame, and Entanglement
How can the cross be good news for a hurting, traumatized world that has in many ways exchanged the idea of guilt for a feeling of deep shame? And how does the cross provide an answer for our growing awareness of systemic evil and injustice?
5. How Can We Talk About the Cross? Some Practical Ideas
This session will provide practical ideas on how to communicate the message of sin and the cross in different ministry contexts.
Speaker Biography:
Julia Garschagen is a theologian and serves as the director of the Pontes Institut for Science, Culture and Faith in the German-speaking region. She speaks at universities and in business contexts across Europe and loves to be in dialogue about a faith that is both intellectually credible and existentially satisfying. Julia co-leads the biggest evangelistic youth outreach in the German-speaking world and teaches apologetics at a theological seminary. She is also co-founder of the charity Dios te ve, which helps young people in Peru to get a higher education. Julia lives in Cologne, Germany and loves the mountains.
