Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times ST86: The Scandal of Particularity: Why the Incarnation is Good News for Each One of Us
Nov 22, 2025
Dive into the profound implications of the Incarnation as AJ and Nijay explore how God chose a specific human form to intimately know and love each of us. They draw compelling analogies, such as the importance of diverse voices in leadership, emphasizing that Jesus' humanity enables us to approach God confidently. The hosts contrast this with other religious traditions, underscoring the scandalous nature of particularity in Jesus’ life. They illustrate how genuine love and presence are paramount, reminding us that empathy stems from shared experiences.
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Incarnation Makes Prayer Relational
- The incarnation makes prayer relational by placing God in our shoes rather than keeping God distant and abstract.
- A.J. Swoboda argues that Jesus' particular embodied life gives us confidence to approach God with boldness and familiarity.
The Downward Motion Of Christ
- Jesus' descent in Philippians 2 reverses the usual religious trajectory of humans climbing toward the divine.
- Nijay Gupta highlights that Christ comes down to the lowest status, even to death on a cross, embodying humility and solidarity.
The Power Of Seeing Someone Like You
- Nijay Gupta recounts preaching at a multi-ethnic church where Indian Americans flocked to him with joy because he looked like them.
- Their reaction showed the dignity and connection that come when religious leaders reflect congregants' particular identities.
