Imagining redemption

By David H. Kelsey

Book Description

When profound suffering strikes without warning, how do we make sense of redemption in the midst of devastating loss? Theologian David Kelsey tackles this fundamental question by examining the harrowing journey of eight-year-old Sam and his family as they navigate the aftermath of a life-altering illness.

Rather than offering abstract theological concepts, Kelsey grounds his exploration in raw human experience, weaving together personal narrative with biblical wisdom and contemporary understanding. He confronts the difficult reality of extraordinary suffering head-on, asking what it truly means to claim that God redeems even the most devastating circumstances through Jesus Christ.

Through careful examination of both family crisis and sacred text, Kelsey presents three distinct pathways for understanding redemption. He explores how Christ's earthly ministry might compensate for humanity's failures, how the crucifixion can liberate personal identity from destructive forces, and how resurrection offers hope that breaks cycles of despair that transform existence into a form of living death.

This thoughtful work bridges the gap between theological theory and lived experience, offering readers a framework for understanding divine redemption when confronted with life's most challenging moments. Kelsey's approach provides both intellectual depth and pastoral sensitivity for those wrestling with questions of meaning, suffering, and spiritual restoration in their own journeys.