Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for sin

How Can We Make Sense of God’s “Wrath”? A Parable

July 8, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Once there was, and once there was not, an artist. He was good — very good. He painted beautiful scenes and portraits. He had some wit and whimsy about him: Always, whether at the center or somewhere hidden, his paintings included the faces of those he loved. His wife and children. Or his dog. His […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Uncategorized Tagged With: Creation, Fall, Image of God, sin, Wrath of God

How Can the Gospel be Good News Again? St. Athanasius of Alexandria

May 2, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

We Christians proclaim “the gospel.” The word means “good news.” What happens when what we tell the world sounds old and worn — not “news” at all. Worse still, what happens when what we say doesn’t actually sound “good” to people? Sometimes looking away from our tracts and truisms, looking back to what Christians used to […]

Filed Under: Saints, Theology Tagged With: Athanasius of Alexandria, Corruption, Decay, Jesus, sin, St. Athanasius

My Problem. Whose Fault? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 7)

March 19, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

In Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” members of an urban gang consider the source of their problems. They sing it all to their favorite cop, Officer Krupke. Here’s their first theory. I’ll call it “Krupke, 1”: Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,  You gotta understand,  It’s just our bringin’ up-ke  That gets us out of hand.” Many […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Adam and Eve, Fall, Flip Wilson, Gee Officer Krupke, heidelberg catechism, Lent, Officer Krupke, Self-examination, sin, The Devil made me do it., West Side Story

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall: Heidelberg Catechism and the Law of God

August 6, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

You see someone looking in the mirror. Looking. Looking. What is he thinking? Better still, what are you thinking? Too much attention to his reflection — easy to suppose he likes what he sees. We mock the self-absorption of mythical Narcissus, falling in love with his reflection in a pond. But we also fear what […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Calvin, Catechism, Heidelberg, law, mirror, Misery, sin, theology

Where Did That Mess Come From?

February 8, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

In the novel Leaven of Malice Robertson Davies has one character tell another You are in a richly varied mess, true enough.  But, much as I like you, I am clear-eyed enough to see that it is the outward and visible reflection of the inward and invisible mess which is your soul. What fascinates me is Davies’ […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Catechism, Heidelberg, Leaven of Malice, Misery, Robertson Davies, sacrament, sin

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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