One Body: Theology of Glory Vs. Theology of the Cross

Lesson 06 in our series (series began September 7, 2025)

⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to view the lesson slides⁠⁠

Lesson Summary:

We conclude the “foundational distinctions” series in One Body with Luther’s contrast between a theology of glory and a theology of the cross (see the Heidelberg Disputation). A theologian of glory tries to make God reasonable—reshaping Him by human expectations, performance, and emotion. A theologian of the cross receives God as He reveals Himself—chiefly in the cross of Christ—accepting creaturely limits and refusing to speculate about God’s hidden will.

We name the modern pitfalls (self-made gods of wrath or permissiveness, cinematic hero-myths, churchy theodicies that say “If God were good, then…”), and offer a better path: confession over speculation, the Psalms of lament as biblical speech for confusing seasons, and the sure center—Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:18–2:9). Along the way, we connect this distinction back to the others we’ve covered: Creator–creature, Law/Gospel, and Two Kinds of Righteousness.

Key takeaways:

• Glory-thinking demands God meet my definitions of good (power, fairness, timing); it breeds theodicy (arguments that attempt to “make God look good”).

• Cross-thinking trusts God where He’s promised to be known—the cross, Word, and Sacraments—especially when life contradicts our expectations.

• Replace “If God were good…” with confession of what God says about Himself.

• Use lament psalms to pray honestly when God’s goodness seems hidden.

Scripture referenced: 1 Cor 1:18–2:9; Psalms (esp. laments, e.g., Ps 3); Job 13:15; Heb 12:1–3; Gen 3; Rom 3–5.

This class is taught by: Rev. Matt Doebler, pastor of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norfolk, VA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (LCMS)⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TLCnorfolk.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our mission is to make disciples and make them stronger through Word and Sacrament. (Mt. 28: 18-20)