Spiritual Complaint: The Theology and Practice of Lament - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0227174348 ISBN 13: 9780227174340

Publisher: James Clarke and Co Ltd, 2014

Synopsis

Personal and communal tragedies provoke intense emotions. In Scripture, these emotions were given expression in complaints or laments, the latter being the most frequent genre of psalm. Laments are found throughout the Bible, also appearing in Prophets (the book of Lamentations is in fact named for this human response to tragedy). Yet neither lament nor complaint seems to be widely practiced in churches today, except at times of extreme communal catastrophe. Bringing together biblical scholars, liturgists, and practical theologians, this book begins to provide bridges between the Biblical and contemporary worlds in order to enrich our ability to respond appropriately to personal and communal tragedy and to understand those responses. Miriam J. Bier teaches Old Testament at the London School of Theology. Tim Bulkeley has taught Old Testament at the Université Protestante du Congo, the University of Auckland, and at Carey Baptist College. 'An intriguing and helpful exploration of the biblical traditions of lament and penitential prayer, and their relevance to contemporary church and society. The context of the Christchurch earthquakes gives the book a particular poignancy.' Iain Provan, Professor of Biblical Studies, Regent College, Vancouver. 'Suffering is part of life, and there are times when pain faces us with such gruesome fierceness we are rocked to the core. . . . "Spiritual Complaint" is a salve for those who are wounded in a broken world. It teaches us how to wrestle with God faithfully, in prayer and tears and worship. Far from being simplistic in its instruction, however, this provides nuance and depth on how to negotiate pain on the foundation of biblical exemplars. I highly recommend this much-needed resource.' Heath A. Thomas, Associate Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

About this title

About the Authors

Miriam J. Bier, Lecturer in Old Testament, London School of Theology, London, U.K. Elizabeth Boase, Lecturer in Old Testament, Department of Theology, Flinders University; Co-Director of Biblical Studies, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, Adelaide, Australia. Colin Buchanan, formerly the Bishop of Aston and then of Woolwich; former Principal, St John's College, Nottingham, UK. Tim Bulkeley, Freelance Biblical Scholar teaching as Visitor at Laidlaw Graduate School, Auckland, New Zealand; and Colombo Theological Seminary, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Stephen Garner, Lecturer in Theology in the School of Theology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Yael Klangwisan, Senior Lecturer in Education, Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand. Will Kynes, Departmental Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, Stipendiary Lecturer at St Peter's College, and Liddon Research Fellow and Tutor of Theology at Keble College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. Alistair J. Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer, School of Theology, Mission and Ministry, Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus, New Zealand. Jeanette Mathews, Lecturer in Old Testament, Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia.

Miriam J. Bier, Lecturer in Old Testament, London School of Theology, London, U.K. Elizabeth Boase, Lecturer in Old Testament, Department of Theology, Flinders University; Co-Director of Biblical Studies, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, Adelaide, Australia. Colin Buchanan, formerly the Bishop of Aston and then of Woolwich; former Principal, St John's College, Nottingham, UK. Tim Bulkeley, Freelance Biblical Scholar teaching as Visitor at Laidlaw Graduate School, Auckland, New Zealand; and Colombo Theological Seminary, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Stephen Garner, Lecturer in Theology in the School of Theology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Yael Klangwisan, Senior Lecturer in Education, Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand. Will Kynes, Departmental Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, Stipendiary Lecturer at St Peter's College, and Liddon Research Fellow and Tutor of Theology at Keble College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. Alistair J. Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer, School of Theology, Mission and Ministry, Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus, New Zealand. Jeanette Mathews, Lecturer in Old Testament, Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia.

Edition details

• Publisher: James Clarke and Co Ltd
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0227174348
• ISBN 13: 9780227174340
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 294
• Editor: Bulkeley Tim, Bier Miriam J.