A Theology of Gratitude

Matt, Derek, and Alastair unpack the role of gratitude in theology and in Christian practice.

Every year Americans celebrate Thanksgiving as a secular, not a Christian, holiday. But gratitude is baked into the very foundation of Christianity, and even of Creation itself. On this episode, Matt, Derek, and Alastair unpack the role of gratitude in theology and in Christian practice. One could even say Christianity is gratitude. And at the end, they enjoy an awkward moment of traditional sharing.

Resources mentioned:

Gratitude: An Intellectual History by Peter Leithart

Timestamps

2:23
Awkward Thanksgiving Dinner Practices
3:24
Gratitude as Obligation
5:22
The Christian Life is Gratitude; Karl Barth Cribs Heidelberg
7:45
Power Dynamics in a Gift Economy
9:41
The Circle of Gratitude of Creation
14:06
Avatars of Barth and Bavinck
14:52
We receive so we can give
16:32
Gratitude: An Intellectual History, by Peter Leithart
17:14
Is it appropriate to thank anyone other than God?
21:18
Honor and Shame and Gratitude
25:02
Propagation of Gratitude in Paul’s Ministry
26:13
The Harm of Ingratitude
28:55
The structure of Deuteronomy connects the 10 Commandments to gratitude.
31:22
Unattachment enables gratitude. Ingratitude diminishes the ability to do good.
33:00
Ingratitude corrupts human relationships.
36:09
Continual Practice of Thanksgiving in the New Testament and in Our Life
38:16
What are the Mere Fi guys thankful for?

Follow Derek, Andrew, and Alastair for more tweet-sized brilliance. Thanks to Timothy Crouch for keeping us organized. Special thanks to Tim Motte for sound editing. And thanks to The Joy Eternal for lending us their music, which everybody should download out of gratitude for their kindness.

Gratitude
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