The Ethics of Lament: Dereliction, Theodicy, Embodiment, and Discipleship

Abstract

One of the most important sets of texts for the church is the Passion narrative. A question of particular interest is the message behind Jesus’s words upon the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” By considering the shape and theology of Ps 22 as a lament, the reader becomes aware of the parallels between this psalm and Jesus’s crucifixion. These shared theological arcs give an intimate look into the death of Jesus and following his example. If disciples of Jesus are called to take up their crosses, the implication is that the theology of lament must be part of this embodied call. Thus, a proper understanding of the interaction of these two texts creates an ethic of lament resulting in a more holistic discipleship.