Just remember to analyze the critiques. Copy an important quote and comment on it. Ask questions. Evaluate the critiques. As you evaluate the critiques of your classmates, you should consistently be looking for ways to (politely and gently) suggest areas where your classmates should look for additional consideration in their posts. ("Have you considered...?" or "Did you think about...?" or other similar questions are good ones to ask.)
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Lehman Strauss, the author of "Why God Became Man," begins a superb discussion on the reasoning's and logic of Deity becoming a man with a precise definition of just exactly what it means to actually "become" something. For God to simply become man is a simple enough in of itself to say, but to describe how (and, much later, why) is a slightly different story. He dives headlong into the word "incarnation" and its Latin etymology and states, immediately, how he understands that it is not a term found in Scripture. However, he does quickly provide supporting statements and follow-ups for his use of the term. This is important because for someone to understand why something happens, you must first understand how. It is easy to say that "God became man" but how? Did God simply turn into a man one day? Transform? Is it possible for God to do that? Of course it is. But that's not the point of what the author is saying here. God chose to become man "incarnate", literally "in the flesh." Starting off an article in such a poignant fashion is testament and testimony to the authors grasp and skill on the article is an excellent indicator for the article, also, as a whole.
Following up the detailed account of how God became man, the author does another excellent flow of information with supporting how God became man, and the evidence for such, by using Paul in Scripture. Having used both correct terminology and Scripture for his proof of research, the author sets an informative and educated tone for the rest of the article before the meat and depth of the article has really even begun.
Following the initial Scripture use in Timothy by the Apostle Paul, the author uses further Scripture verses from Paul to set up a solid reference resource list of seven ways that God did indeed become man. By doing this, he sets apart that God became man not "just" in the flesh, but also: ''He made Himself of no reputation.", "He humbled Himself.", "He became obedient unto death" and others equally impactful.
The author continues this educated trend until the completion of the article, after going through and describing in many details how God became man, why, and the theological underpinnings and reasons, causes, and what God did and why. Excellent theological points and wonderful and insightful arguments culminated in a well-crafted academic piece that was an enjoyable academic exercise.
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The article in discussion in titled "Why God Became Man" and it was authored by Lehman Strauss. In his article, he discusses the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the ramifications of that action. Lehman Strauss was born in 1911 and passed away in 1997. During his years on earth, he was a nationally recognized preacher and teacher. He was formerly a professor at the Philadelphia Bible Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also served as the pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church in Highland Park, Michigan. In addition to his roles as a professor and a pastor, he was a distinguished author and radio show host. The key doctrine that is interwoven in his article is the belief in the deity of Jesus Christ. Throughout the entire article, this key theme is evident.
I personally believe that his understanding of the topic is very conclusive. His statements are matter of fact and he provides verses and passages that expound upon his beliefs. His arguments are constructed in a topical manner. He begins with a conclusion then separates his article into seven points. In each point, he makes a statement and then explains his views regarding that specific statement. He addresses these topics with biblical knowledge refutes possible counter arguments. His article does address conflicting viewpoints. However, his beliefs and his mission are clear. He does not sway in his viewpoints. His article is very focused, straightforward, and detailed. I personally believe that his article is well written and is very convincing for the length of the article. Due to the complexity of the topic, there are questions left unaddressed. However, his article was a great summary of an intricate topic. My reasons for supporting his paper greatly relate to his usage of scripture. This article is packed with scripture. My only drawback with the extensive use of scripture references is that he is not able to delve into the context of each verse. However, I do support the use of scripture in his article. The verses are also clearly presented and tied into the article. If the reader has a question pertaining to the usage of the verse, the reader is capable of researching the verse. Overall, I believe that the article was well written and accomplished the purpose of discussing the incarnation of Christ.