"Theology of the Cross"
Lutheranism emphasizes that God is found in suffering and the lowly, not just in success or emotional highs.
Theology of the cross, formulated by Martin Luther, teaches that God is revealed not in power or glory, but through the weakness, suffering, and shame of Jesus on the cross. It emphasizes that salvation is a free gift received through faith alone, rejecting the idea that human effort, works, or worldly success can earn God's favor.
This is different from the Theology of Glory, which often seeks to avoid suffering, emphasizes human strength, and expects worldly success or power as signs of God's blessing.
Click on this link for a good essay on the Theology of the Cross, you might find it interesting. https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/essays/theology-of-the-cross
When we believe or understand that God comes to us in our suffering, we can let go of the idea that if I just pray hard enough, or sin…less, my prayers will be worthy of God's “positive” answer. My belief is that God cannot stop bad things from happening, but God is with us all the time, every day, every hour, every second, whether we ask for help or not. God knows our suffering and opens ways for our prayers to be answered.
The Theology of the Cross is a gateway to ridding ourselves of shame, anger, and regret. Thanks be to God!
With Joy & Peace,
+Pastor Teri
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so we may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”