'Thrown Back on Ourselves'

James Torrance's pastoral nature is evidenced by his concern for frail human beings "thrown back upon themselves" by theology, liturgy and pastors. Facing impossible demands, they either in pride foolishly believe they succeed, or, more likely, despairingly struggle. While the concern is soteriological, it is not anthropologically based. The revelation of Christ who stands in our place as our brother human, renders independent efforts ungrateful and disobedient. This dethrones us from the centre and reorientates us as drastically as Copernicus or Einstein. Our own worship, faith and repentance can only be a participation in Christ's completed work, mediated through the Spirit. The article ends with a plea for a confessional liturgy that recognises that only Christ can truly and earnestly repent of sins, rather than the burden being thrown back upon ourselves.