God Doesn’t Glorify Violence, Man Does | Lent Devotional Day 28

Exploring the Meaning of Jesus’ Death
March 17, 2026
Written by Sarah Rugenstone

God Doesn’t Glorify Violence, Man Does

Scripture:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.
God will dwell with them;
they will be God’s peoples,
and Godself will be with them and be their God;
God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”

Revelation 21:3-5

Reflection:

Alright, so many atonement theories can actually show up in some really harmful ways in our world, and also can sometimes glorify and amplify the violence around the cross in some really gross and negative ways. They highlight some really toxic and dangerous understandings of the character of God. What happened to Jesus on the cross was horrific, violent, evil, and steeped in the worst things man has to offer. We tend to gloss over that in a lot of these theories, but you’ll find that within Liberation, Queer, Womanist and Feminist understandings of the cross, there is no desire to glorify that violence. Because for a lot of folks who adhere to those understandings, they know the lived realities of the world breaking, torturing, vilifying, shaming, and killing their bodies.

I’d argue the theories I listed, theories that don’t emphasize the violence and the depravity of every created thing, these theories would be in my opinion, much more aligned with God’s characteristics of divine love, mercy, justice, hope, and peace. The victory within the feminist  understanding of the cross is won not by grotesque violence but instead by God’s overwhelming love and the ability to not only stand with those who are suffering, but to have also suffered at the hands of the broken sinful world. What is revealed about God in this understanding of the cross is that it is a risk, in this off kilter world, to live into the kindom of God we’re all moving towards, and yet it’s a risk we’ve vowed to make as Christ followers. This theory highlights that we are called into the work of dismantling harmful systems that keep us far off from the kindom of God.  A Feminist understanding of the cross represents God’s solidarity with those who have suffered, and also represents there are no ends to what God will go through for us, and with us.

Prayer:

God who never abandons us, remind us of that reality as we go forth this week. Be with us as we go out into the world, may you show us your light, your love and may it inspire us to share it with others. Give us the strength, courage and wisdom it takes to do your holy work of rebuilding in this world. Amen.

Reflection Question:

How does it make you feel to know we have a God who suffers too?

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