God of All Comfort: A Trinitarian Response to the Horrors of This World
God’s Restoration of Trauma
How does God respond to trauma in a world full of horrors?
Beyond their physical and emotional toll, the horrors of this world raise difficult theological and existential questions. Where is God in the darkest moments of the human experience? Is there any hope for recovery from the trauma generated by these horrors? There are no easy answers to these questions.
In God of All Comfort, Scott Harrower addresses these questions head on. Using the Gospel of Matthew as a backdrop, he argues for a Trinitarian approach to horrors, showing how God—in his triune nature—reveals himself to those who have experienced trauma. He explores the many ways God relates restoratively with humanity, showing how God’s light shines through the darkness of trauma.
Praise for God of All Comfort
Scott Harrower skillfully brings the pressing issue of trauma and horror into the realms of historic, Trinitarian, and creedal life of the church today. By leading us through ‘horror-attuned readings’ of the Gospels, he helps us to avoid the pitfalls of neglecting trauma as the present lens through which many of us read Scripture, but also without reducing trauma to the only lens. I initially thought this book would be an interesting read. But Harrower made me quickly realize how necessary this discussion is to understanding Scripture, theology, and our culture soaked in misappropriations of horror. Scripture as well as the church past and present have a horror-redeeming function, and Harrower aptly helps us navigate it.
—Dru Johnson, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, The King’s College
An impressive interdisciplinary, theological, and pastoral approach to horror and trauma. Scott Harrower invites us into the narratives of Scripture and the Gospel of Matthew to experience a triune God who meets those on the road towards recovering safety, a story, and community.
—Andrew Abernethy, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College
In God of All Comfort, Scott Harrower spells out the Bible’s audacious claim: God works all things together for good (Rom 8:28). Experiences of horror can be turned into grounds of hope. Harrower’s Trinitarian theology of the healing and redeeming process opens up the windows of faith, hope, and love, through which the Spirit of Jesus can transform our lives in the midst of the horror of the present age.
—Roland Werner, Professor of Theology, Evangelische Hochschule Tabor (Marburg, Germany)
Top Highlights
“As a result of being banished from the garden of Eden, people have since lived in a hostile world to which they are maladapted. They become horror makers, interested in their survival above the interests of others.” (Page 22)
“In order for these relationships to be life giving, they must be morally pure. Moral purity is the quality of holiness: intending the best for others and excellence in the expression of one’s intended nature. Without moral purity, relationships will be marred by selfishness, transgressive behaviors, failures of responsibilities, and unequal consumption of goods.” (Page 16)
“In contrast to developing a sense of self in light of our own imaginings—as in Descartes’s ‘I think, therefore I am’—humans can affirm ‘I am loved, therefore I am’ in light of God and his goodness toward people.” (Page 18)
“Therefore, the body of Christ must communicate to all members that trauma is ‘not just your problem. It’s our problem—my problem, the church’s problem, God’s problem. You don’t need to be alone, and I hope we can work on it together. That’s what faith communities do.’3 The place to start is to listen carefully to the ‘big three’ problems raised by horrors: the theological, the existential, and the anthropological ones.” (Page 46)
“The positive side of being images of God is that humans have relational, functional, and moral powers that can profoundly alter the state of affairs in the world and the perception of others. However, the shadow side is that when humans abuse their personhood, they damage each other and the world—even causing death, which is the opposite of life.” (Page 19)
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology is a peer-reviewed series of contemporary monographs exploring key figures, themes, and issues in historical and systematic theology from an evangelical perspective.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
Contents
- Introduction
- Part 1: Horrors and Skepticisms
- The Backstory of Horrors: Shalom and Blessedness
- Horrors and Trauma
- Theological, Anthropological, and Existential Problems Stemming From Horrors
- Part 2: Horrors and Hermeneutics
- Addressing Horrors Through Real World Stories
- The Horror-Attuned Reader and Perception
- The Gospel of Matthew: A Horror Reading
- The Gospel of Matthew: A Blessed Reading
- Part 3: Horrors and Trinity
- Recovering Safety: Reestablishing Trust in God’s Character
- Recovering Story: Reestablishing Hope
- Recovering Community: Reestablishing Meaning
- Conclusion
Product Details
- Title: God of All Comfort: A Trinitarian Response to the Horrors of This World
- Author: Scott Harrower
- Series: Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 240
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 6x9
- ISBN: 9781683592303
About Scott Harrower
Scott Harrower (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is Associate Professor of Theology and History at Ridley College, Melbourne. He is also an ordained Anglican pastor with previous experience in medical research and trauma rooms. He is author of Trinitarian Self and Salvation.
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