1/27-A Walk Through the Bible Response

Some key elements of the Biblical Story as deemed by Lesslie Newbigin are the importance of “Sacrifice”, the idea of being “Chosen by God,” and the concept of “Future revelation.”

Firstly, with the idea of Sacrifice, a foundational aspect of Catholicism and Christianity more broadly, lies the core sacrifice of Jesus’s life for the forgiveness of sins. The recognition of Eucharist as the literal embodiment of this ongoing sacrifice, as well as its role as culminating segment of the Mass both serve to underscore this key element. Newbigin writes, “[Jesus] is doing it not in order that they may be left behind, but in order that they may follow, that they may be with him, that they may be actual partakers in his act of final sacrifice,” (62,63). In this “final sacrifice” can Christians become aware of God’s everlasting love, and we can come to see the faith as being one for others. Newbigin’s choice of Sacrifice as a key element undoubtedly serves as wholehearted recognition of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, an irrefutably powerful force in the faith.

Just as the faith calls its followers to recognize the importance of sacrifice, it, and more specifically, God calls us to follow in the footsteps of many a chosen people before us. Newbigin follows the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the People (Israel, God’s first son) as laying the foundation of the Old Testament and the core of biblical foundations. This is a key element because it recognizes God’s revelation to people in history and the precedent it sets for human-God connection. 

Finally, to build off of Newbigin’s discussion of ongoing revelation in early times, the faith’s promise of Future revelation reveals Christianity’s concept of a final “day of judgement,” a day in which Jesus says, “There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed,” (81). God’s promise to us that one day the curiosity and truth-seeking tendencies he instilled in us will be finally fulfilled. Newbigin possibly chose to highlight this because it shows a promise of greater understanding of meaning that is achieved through God and relationship with God alone. It shows a future to us Christians as not only promised, but mysterious and faith-based.