With this post I begin a series that considers a number of statements from the blog that was posted on April 26, 2013.

In this post we give further consideration to these words: God brings all things into being by the Word . . . people respond to that divine initiative through the language of worship.

I admit that I have very much enjoyed my study of the writings of Karl Barth (1886-1968 – see information below). As complicated complex as Barth’s writing may be, I know that this is partly true due to the close relationship that Barth had with the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (more about that in a later post) – and – partly as a result that one of my primary mentors was a student of Barth in Basel, Switzerland – (somehow, I guess, it sort of made me feel like a grand-student). Barth did not believe that it was proper for people to say, “I wonder what questions I should ask God” – stating that this expression of the relationship between God and the human creature moved in the wrong direction. Barth insisted that everything begins with God – and – until God reveals some of Godself the human creature does not possess enough information to even pose a question. Barth believed that the order is as follows – God reveals and THEN and only THEN the information that God reveals provokes the human questions. Barth would say, “It all begins with God!”

In my opinion Robert Shaw said it as well as anyone (surely that is not a surprise to anyone who reads this blog) when he observed that we say we believe in an omnipotent, omniscient Creator but have not allowed God to do anything since day six!

There are many things that I am uncertain about but one of the is not this – I believe with all that I am that God offers infinite love, grace, and mercy – and – continuing creation!!

As a result – our language about God – including the language of worship – is a language of response. Further, our language of response is not appropriate when it seems to place limits on or around God – that is why the language of worship must display the rich variety of all peoples. That will be the focus of the our next post – please join in our community conversation and make others aware of http://www.humanbeingsanon.com so they may join the conversation as well.

Grace and peace

Karl Barth, (born May 10, 1886, Basel, Switzerland—died December 9/10, 1968, Basel), Swiss Protestant theologian, probably the most influential of the 20th century. Closely supported by his lifelong friend and colleague, the theologian Eduard Thurneysen, he initiated a radical change in Protestant thought, stressing the “wholly otherness of God” over the anthropocentrism of 19th-century liberal theology. Barth recovered the centrality of the doctrine of the Trinity within the dynamic and rational structure of Christian dogmatics; of particular importance was his reappropriation of the Christology of the ancient church. His vigorous opposition to German National Socialism led to his suspension as professor of theology at the University of Bonn. Subsequently, at Basel, he continued work on his monumental Church Dogmatics (completing four volumes) and delivered more than 500 sermons. (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/54293/Karl-Barth)