Entertaining Angels

19.  I understand the staff's viewpoint and I also think it is a rational one. Had I been in the same situation, I can imagine feeling the same way. Working toward an almost unachievable goal with little resources can feel impossible and would make anyone want to give up and some point. And focusing on solely the paper would have placated the land lord, in addition to relieving some difficulties of taking care of the poor guests. I don't think they were able to accept their role as fools for Christ. They want to give up doing the work of God to make their lives easier, even though they know the right thing to do would have been to continue helping the poor. The Church becomes a place of refuge for Dorothy. She feels like God is ignoring her strife and turns to the Church for comfort. It is there that she lets out all her frustrations and then becomes even more resolute in her cause to continue her work.
I think there are people that are hard to love, but not impossible. Yes some people may stink, or are homeless, but that does not make them less worth of love. If anything it makes them more worthy. People that are alone like the ones Dorothy helped are in need of a person who will show them that they are worth something; that they mean something to someone. I don't really like the term "undeserved love" because it implies that people aren't worthy of being loved. Everyone is worthy, it just takes extra effort to show love for some. As far as how we can obtain grace, I think we can only receive it from God. As humans, we all make mistakes and sin, but God will never stop loving or forgiving us. This is how we can obtain grace, but we can also grant our own level of grace to others by accepting people and loving them even when it is a struggle.

Theology of Suffering

1. Jesus tried to eliminate suffering by going out and teaching people that the Kingdom of God can heal them. He cured diseases and disabilities  show that God's love can heal those who are suffering and keep them from suffering in the future.
2. Jesus also taught that suffering is not a direct punishment for sin. People believed in this tradition that they would be severely punished for sin with suffering, but Jesus wanted to ensure that people understood this was not the case. He made sure people knew that God did not punish people when they made mistakes.
3. Jesus also taught that God is present, loving, and compassionate. He called God "Abba" which implied that he had a very close relationship and that God really cares about His people.  Jesus sends the message that God the father loves his people unconditionally and will forgive them for any sins that they repent for.


The theology of Atonement/Ransom expresses the view that the crucifixion and death of Jesus was supposed to be a catalyst for people to follow in his faith and support his beliefs. This event made people more aware of the practices that were already present in their lives that were examples of Jesus' teachings and tried to look for deeper meanings. This view also reached that sin  is an infinite offense against God that demands atonement, but that only God has the power to actually complete this perfect atonement. Therefore, humanity will always be indebted to the Lord.
The other view is the Theology of Incarnation. This teaches the core purpose of creation is for the Incarnation, God's sharing of life and love with humanity. Jesus was sent to us to be a human representative of God's love in out lives. The God that presides over this view is not angry or vindictive, but merciful and loving. He does not was suffering and death as repayment for sin but rather to love his people. This view allows us to come away from the perception that God is something to be feared and move toward the idea that God loves us all and will never stop loving us.


Personally, I like the second view better because it is what I believe God to be. I would not want to be living under a God that wants me to suffer or die if I make a mistake, rather I want my God to be able to forgive me if I do trip up and have a lapse in judgment.