Christ's Love for the Church

Lahiri writes about the story of Gogol Ganguli, who confronts his desires in life while struggling with conflicts regarding his name and issues with his parents’ expectations, all affecting Gogol’s searches for his identity.

The ministry of Hosea took place between 780 and 725 B.C.E. During this time in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the people of God were prosperous but unfaithful (Tenney Vol. 3). It was a time of paganism, marital infidelity, and general disdain towards God. Hosea’s entire ministry was a reflection of the unfaithfulness of Israel and the love that God still had for her. Israel was the metaphorical bride of God. She was unfaithful, yet God constantly took her back and loved her. The message Hosea was trying to convey to the people would have been delivered near the time of the Assyrian take over. It reflects some of the warnings David had given Israel

They have never been on a date in their lives and therefore they see no reason to encourage Gogol, certainly not at his age." Both of Gogol's parents grew up learning the Bengali culture. They know that living in another country may change some of their traditions, but they still want to withhold the culture as much as possible. Nevertheless, Gogol doesn't so much care for his Bengali culture because it is now affecting his life. Gogol's relationships have been affected by his cultural collision, "His relationship with her is one accomplishment in his life about which they are not in the least bit proud or pleased... He wishes his parents could simply accept her as her family accepts him, without pressure of any kind." Both Gogol and his parents have been brought up differently about things. Because they don't see eye to eye their relationship isn't like it used to be. Now that Gogol is growing up, his diverse traditions are affecting his life with his girlfriend and his family. All of Gogol's life is not being afflicted because Gogol has stopped continuing the Bengali culture. It is just grasping the American culture more than he did in the past.

He doesn’t exactly choose the right people to be with in his life. His love life is a huge component of this struggle. One of the first girls that Gogol goes on a date is not exactly what his parents had in mind for him. The narrator explains this moment when they say “ He cannot imagine coming from such parents, such background, and when he describes his own upbringing it feels bland by comparison.”(Lahiri 111). In this moment, he is attracted to this girl, who’s name is Ruth, and he is attracted to her for her American essence. This makes her seem unique and exotic to him, which he really likes. As time goes on, Gogol becomes more interested in sexual experiences rather than building an actual relationship with a woman and getting married. The outside voice in the story explains this issue when it says “They’ve even gone so far as to point out examples of Bengali men they know who’ve married Americans...It only makes things worse when he says that marriage is the last thing on his mind.”(Lahiri 117). He is young and naive but he is going against normal customs for people of his culture. Gogol really tests his parents wishes with his relationships and sexual encounters. When Gogol does get married, he marries someone who is not really the right girl for him. He finds out that she cheated on him with another man and had an affair. What goes through Gogol’s mind after he finds all of

Therefore, the characterization of Gogol listening to Maxine over Ashima characterizes Gogol as wanting to distance himself from his culture and family in order to try and embrace a new period of independence and Western culture- this is symbolized by Maxine. Furthermore, the fact that Gogol will move into Maxine’s house reinforces the idea that Gogol wants to create distance away from his family because he will completely immerse himself in a family that is not his own. Overall, Lahiri uses situational irony created by characterization of symbolism to illustrate that humans will try and distance themselves from their family in order to try and establish independence- this is shown through Gogol only listening to Maxine. Later on in the novel, Moushumi displays a similar characterization of Gogol in a different way. While Moushumi was still married to Gogol, she started an affair with her the boy to whom she lost her virginity- Dimitri. However, after these dates, she would go back home to Gogol as if nothing happened- hence dramatic irony. The narrator explains this routine, “They begin seeing each other...The meals are ambitious: poached fish; creamy potato gratins; puffed chickens roasted with whole lemons in their cavities. There is always a bottle of wine… drink coffee and cognac and smoke”(263) The narrator then goes into more details about their dates until it is revealed that

Gogol uses relationships as a disguise for himself without even knowing he’s actually looking for himself. The women in Gogol's relationships

Ashoke teaches Gogol how to eat cultural food with his hands and speak Bengali. He also shows Gogol what it was like to live in India. One example of this is soon after Ashima learns she is pregnant with Sonia, Ashoke and Gogol are eating dinner together. Acting as a typical five year old, Gogol does not desire to finish his food and instead begins playing with it. “Ashoke shakes his head at Gogol, disapproving, unyielding. Each day Ashoke is pained by the half eaten sandwiches people toss into garbage cans on campus, apples abandoned after one or two bites. ‘Finish it, Gogol. At your age I ate tin.”(Lahin, 55). This exchange teaches Gogol about the poverty his relatives face in India. Ashoke also brings his family on frequent trips to Calcutta to visit their extended family. These trips show Gogol a different culture then the one he is used to. Gogol lives in a very in-between state, he does not consider himself completely Indian, nor does he consider himself a true American. This conflict, caused in part by his father, causes Gogol many grievances throughout his

He is bewildered as to why his father named him Gogol as it not Bengali nor a normal American name which leads him to struggle to understand himself and his identity. In Bengali families, "individual names are sacred, inviolable. They are not meant to be inherited or shared" (28). However, Gogol grows up living in America, where children are often ashamed of their differences from others. As a teenager, Gogol desires to blend in and to live unnoticed. This presents a struggle between two cultures. Ashima and Ashoke want to raise Gogol and his younger sister with Bengali culture and values. On the other hand Gogol grew wanting to belong by relating mostly to peers and the surrounding culture in America. It is only much later in their lives that they begin to truly value their Bengali heritage and that Gogol finds the importance in his name. During high school Gogol struggles to accept his name as he sees it has no real significance not him. When Gogol heads for college he rejects his identity completely and legally changes his name to Nikhil which allows him to somewhat feel a sense of belonging as this name relates to his Bengali roots, even though he had been ashamed of those exact roots in schooling. Gogol dreads having to go visit home and return to a life where he is "Gogol". To him, Gogol is not only his name; it bears all his discomfort and struggles to fit into two different cultures as he grew up. His life at college makes it easy for Gogol to live as

I think Gogol will keep working as an architect and perhaps in some future he will meet a decent woman. It’s hard to preserve your self-esteem when you been cheated. Gogol will make new friends, so he can boost his confidence and self-esteem. After the betrayed of Moushumi, Gogol had a hard time dealing this problem. He was on his 30’s when he got married and divorced at the same time. On the next page during the party, his mother will introduce him to new candidates for a wife. But he will refuse to marry one of them. After serval years passed, Gogol will find himself with the necessity of finding

He first clings to enchanting white women, hoping to adopt their identities so he can escape the perplexity of his own, but the cultural clashes pervade both relationships. While dating Maxine, a wealthy New Yorker, Gogol notes, “She has the gift of accepting her life…he realizes that she never wished she were anyone other than her herself…This, in his opinion, is the biggest difference between them,” highlighting his personal struggle with accepting his heritage (138). Gogol’s glamorous romance with Maxine is juxtaposed to the humiliation he feels for his family to stress his longing to cast-off his Bengali identity. Judith Ceaser observes, “[Gogol and Maxine’s relationship] is a lovely, expensive, comfortable identity, given to him as a love-token…to him it seems a rejection of [his parents] …He hasn’t yet realized that instead of being an identity imposed on him from outside, they are a part of the pattern of key relationships in his life through which he can define himself,” provoking the idea that Gogol’s stubborn naïveté is the source of his unhappiness (Ceasar). When Maxine’s unwillingness to adapt to Bengali culture drives them apart, Gogol searches for a more ordinary love. Moushimi, the daughter of Bengali family friends, should be mundane and comfortable to Gogol, yet their relationship is plagued by complexities. Both view each other as

She was a second generation Bengali like himself. At first Gogol was timid but ended up falling for her. The two of them got married and expected life to be perfect and full of lust. But after getting to know each other better they see how different their personalities are. Moushumi ends up cheating on Gogol, ending their marriage. Throughout the whole movie, Gogol is struggling to find himself and where he belongs. After his failed marriage Gogol realizes that he must be alone to embrace who he really is. Gogol chooses stays in the U.S. when Ashima makes the decision to return to her homeland. She offers to stay and help him but Gogol refuses. He insists she return to India while he lives happier then ever in the U.S. by himself.

The also possibility message was for Hosea is to marry who is already known as whore. or also can be said “God told to Hosea to marry with an unfaithful wife. God also wanted to show the Greatness of his grace” (Hosea 3:1) What does God promise to Israel if they do not repent from their covenant infidelity?

In the end, they break up, their differences too great to overcome. The same differences that once drew Gogol to Maxine. A year passes and eventually Gogol starts dating another girl who reminds him of his youth, Moushumi. She has shared a past with him, been to the same Christmas and Birthday parties as

Lohfink, Gerhard. Jesus and Community: The Social Dimension of Christian Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984. Kindle.

In his hardback titled The Church: Contours of Christian Theology, Edmund P. Clowney writes a systematic presentation about concerning the doctrine of the church. In chapter eight of his book, he describes the Marks of the Church. Clowney writes about the marks of a true church of Christ, which include the true preaching of the Word of God; the proper observation of the sacraments; and the faithful exercise of church discipline.