Jan-Olav Henriksen joins us this week to discuss his new book, Gift, Desire, and Recognition: Christology and Postmodern Philosophy (Google preview here). If you have wondered just how (or if) Derrida and company could be 
appropriated by a Christian theologian for a vibrant postmodern Christology, then wait no longer. Jan does a remarkable job in the book and made for an amazing podcast full of theology, philosophy, ethics, and the invitation to think about Jesus in a new way.
Get the book, but you don’t have to take my word for it, listen to LeRon Shults:
From the Intro…
- Everyday Theology Podcast\Blog
- Get a free Homebrewed Christianity sticker!
- Order Transforming Christian Theology by Philip Clayton in collaboration with Tripp Fuller
“Emergent is like catnip.” Best quote ever.
I have learned a lot from many of the other pod casts but this one really got my attention. I took so many notes there is no way I can respond here as I would like because there is just not enough space. At the end he asks us to focus on what Jesus DID. Olav Henriksen says, and I agree, that it is more about relationship. Our relationship with God is essential. He relates faith to desire. It is more than abstract. He talks about the story of Zacheus. How he was so locked up, so into self but when Jesus called him down and talked with him he was opened up to something he did not know was there all along. He was able to see things with a new light. God through Jesus is the guide that helps us to recognize that we are God’s children made in God’s image and we should get to know ourselves. When that happens you want more, a much deeper relationship and that is why he says that faith is desire. Like the Psalmist who hungered and thirsted after God, that is what Jesus did for Zacheus and will do for us. He talked about seeing others not through ethics but look for God in the others as they are made in God’s image. We will see more clearly when we are able to see God in others. Now we only see their actions. We do not see them as gift, a person made in God’s image. If we did we would be more inclusive. He explained how we can never totally understand resurrection. It is about a gift from a God who never gives up on us. Another point I liked, he says the Church is not the Kingdom of God, it is a sign of the Kingdom of God. So much more good stuff. Once again thank you Tripp and Chad.