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Enclosed is your class newsletter MACM • Spring 2011
Friends University Issue 32 Spring 2011
Campus Connection
MACM
From Your Class Agent Susan Waters penguinrunner6@cox.net
I hope you had a blessed Christmas and have started what will be a Happy New Year. As I write this we have a forecast of 5-9 inches of snow for western Kansas. I think I’m ready for spring! I want to continue looking at the works of Dr. Chris Kettler, G’77, with a discussion of his second book, “The God Who Rejoices; Joy, Despair, and the Vicarious Humanity of Christ.” To quote Dr. Kettler, “This book is a continuing exploration of the doctrine of the vicarious humanity, building upon previous studies I have done. As the latest, The God Who Believes, dealt with faith and doubt, this one looks at joy and despair.” Dr. Kettler first defines despair (both personally and theologically), and then defines joy in the same respect. He says, “Life is full of despair. Can one really be joyful in the midst of despair, and where is Jesus Christ in this? This is the basic, gut-level, question of this book.” Dr. Kettler opens up areas of despair and joy of which I was not even aware. He credits MACM student case studies and several alumni by name who contributed greatly to his last two books. You will have to get the book to see if you know any of them. (I’m not one of them in case you were wondering if I was whistling my own tune!) Because despair and joy are often not discussed from a theological perspective, Dr. Kettler says, “I am seeking to push the envelope theologically and see how far we can open up the doctrine of the vicarious humanity of Christ to new implications,
pastorally, practically, and existentially.” Dr. Kettler says, “How can we experience joy when the world remains as it is? This, indeed, is the problem of joy living with despair. The Gospel of Luke, however, sees its resolution in nothing less than the joy Jesus brings (Luke 10:21). In other words, our joy and despair have already taken place in Christ and they continue, but only in him and in his perspective.” I would encourage you to get this book and support this man who has devoted his life to teaching theology. It was so amazing to read the book and actually remember how he taught those concepts during my classroom days. Maybe you did not struggle in his classes, but I did. It helped me to read his book after all these years and realize I actually “got it!” Dr. Kettler’s most recent book is titled, “Reading Ray S. Anderson; Theology as Ministry, Ministry as Theology.” From the brief description I found, it looks like a fantastic read. God willing, I will discuss this book in the next article. I would love to hear what you are doing and how you are using your Christian Ministry degree. If I beg you, will you e-mail me and let me know? Please?? God bless you and enjoy your snow days!
Susan Waters, M’04