Speaking of Karl Barth and Paul Lehmann, Barth had completed his massive work Church Dogmatics and was speaking of it when Paul Lehmann was in his office one day. "I wonder what the angels think of my theology," Barth mused. "Karl," said Lehmann," the angels are the only ones with time enough to read your theology!" Lehmann said Barth just grunted and concluded, "You're probably right."
I think one of the things that always impressed me most was Paul Lehmann's ability to think on behalf of others. It is a characteristic I am still trying to develop. I am thinking of his final work entitled The Decalogue and a Human Future; Keeping Human Life Human. In that wonderful book he says that the Decalogue (or 10 Commandments) should be read as descriptive and not prescriptive; that is, it was never meant to be a list of rules but, rather, a source of judging oneself. The worry is not over breaking the Commandments but the Commandments reveal a brokenness inside of us which must be confronted and healed.
Truly, I don't mind breaking rules but what is difficult is to admit that I am broken in some way and my contrary behavior reveals that.
Lehmann addresses the Commandment regarding murder and he faces the question of abortion head-on. "Is abortion a sin?", he asks. "Yes, it is," he answers, "but the sin is not the mother's--it is our sin." We are guilty because we have judged and abandoned and robbed hope and comfort.
Paul Lehmann was a fire-breathing liberal; politically, socially and theologically. He gently challenged and corrected my categorical thinking. It is has been 16 years since he left us and I miss him every day.
© copyright 2011. All rights reserved.
I think one of the things that always impressed me most was Paul Lehmann's ability to think on behalf of others. It is a characteristic I am still trying to develop. I am thinking of his final work entitled The Decalogue and a Human Future; Keeping Human Life Human. In that wonderful book he says that the Decalogue (or 10 Commandments) should be read as descriptive and not prescriptive; that is, it was never meant to be a list of rules but, rather, a source of judging oneself. The worry is not over breaking the Commandments but the Commandments reveal a brokenness inside of us which must be confronted and healed.
Truly, I don't mind breaking rules but what is difficult is to admit that I am broken in some way and my contrary behavior reveals that.
Lehmann addresses the Commandment regarding murder and he faces the question of abortion head-on. "Is abortion a sin?", he asks. "Yes, it is," he answers, "but the sin is not the mother's--it is our sin." We are guilty because we have judged and abandoned and robbed hope and comfort.
Paul Lehmann was a fire-breathing liberal; politically, socially and theologically. He gently challenged and corrected my categorical thinking. It is has been 16 years since he left us and I miss him every day.
© copyright 2011. All rights reserved.
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