I recently came across a Q&A with Bishop Tom Wright. I found the imagery described in the first question to be beautiful in regards to atonement theories. I believe the same imagery can apply to many areas of belief and dogma. I’ve only included the imagery he uses, but the full answer can be read here.
QUESTION: There has been some recent debate over a controversial book by Steve Chalke which you have endorsed. Chalke has warned that some versions of penal substitution can reduce God to a “cosmic child abuser.†Would you agree with his analysis and do you see that as a danger?
ANSWER: Think of it like this. In a musical chord, the ‘third’ (in a chord of C major, this would be the note E) is the critical one that tells you many things, e.g. whether the music is major or minor, happy or sad. That E is vital if the music is to make the sense it does. But if the player plays the E and nothing else, the E no longer means what it’s meant to mean. Likewise, substitutionary atonement is a vital element in the gospel. Miss it out, and the music of the gospel is no longer what it should be. But if you only play that note you are in danger of setting up a different harmony altogether…
