Living with Holy Tension: Faith Amidst Pandemic - with Dr. Walter Brueggemann
Voxology
Is God's Raw Holiness in the World a Problem?
"I don't think we ought to commit intellectual Harry Kerry in order to make the Bible relevant," he says. "We are created to ask ultimate questions, that pushes us even beyond our scientific certitudes or our scientific wonderments." The book's first chapter describes three different ways of explaining divine force. 'God is presented as doing these harsh things in order to accomplish God's purpose'
How the pandemic exposes our certainty, drives us deeper into faith, and invites us to rediscover God's mercy, justice, and holiness with biblical theologian Walter Brueggemann. In this rich and heartfelt episode, Mike, Tim, and Bonnie welcome Dr. Brueggemann—one of the most prolific theological voices of our time—for an unforgettable conversation on God, suffering, community, and courageous imagination. At 87, Brueggemann challenges us to reconsider what we think we know about the Bible, divine judgment, white supremacy, and the role of lament and protest in spiritual life—all while sharing poetic insights that spark introspection and hope.
Key Takeaways: • Virus as a Summons to Faith – Drawing on the biblical concept of pestilence to explore the pandemic as a deep spiritual call to repentance, humility, and renewed purpose. • God’s Holiness Beyond Formulas – Understanding divine action through three biblical frameworks: retributive justice, divine intent for liberation, and the mysterious, unsearchable holiness of God. • Reading the Bible for Transformation, Not Certainty – Why we must resist transactional readings of Scripture that serve empire and instead engage in playful, imaginative interpretation steeped in community. • Protest as Hope – How biblical lament differs from resignation and how authentic groaning becomes the birthplace of new creation. • Racial Justice and Theological Responsibility – Brueggemann’s call to dismantle white supremacy in policy, culture, and biblical interpretation, and to embody gratitude for God’s mercy through redistribution and justice. • Recovering the Language of Prayer – How to pray truthfully in crisis, with “no-holds-barred” honesty, expressing both suffering and hope as acts of faith.
Guest Highlights: Dr. Walter Brueggemann – One of the world’s most respected Old Testament scholars and the author of over 100 books, including the featured work of this episode, Virus as a Summons to Faith. Brueggemann brings a rare blend of poetic insight, deep scholarship, and prophetic imagination to the most urgent questions of our time.
Resources Mentioned: • Virus as a Summons to Faith by Walter Brueggemann – Amazon • Dr. Brueggemann's Website – walterbrueggemann.com • Romans 5 – “Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” • Elijah and Elisha narratives in 1 & 2 Kings – Examples of subversive oral theology • Psalmic Lament – Models of protest-filled praise in the Hebrew Scriptures
Join the conversation and reflect on how the unknowable holiness of God invites us not into fear, but into community, mercy, and faithful resistance. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media to stay connected.
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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.
We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.
Our Merch Store! ETSY
Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy
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