Thursday, October 27, 2005
Being A Good Theologian
Jollyblogger has an excellent piece on the role of theology in the "average" christian's life. He concludes this way
By the definition granted here, theology is nothing more than the application of study and reason, to gain understanding. It is the standard academic process, and the question David leaves us with is, bascially, are we going to be good students or bad students?
The argument against theology, that of false authority, is really simply too much reliance on our own understanding.
The line between dogma and reasoned faith is a fine one. But more, the distinction between passion and dogma is hard to find. To me, the key is to find a way to be passionate about Christ and at the same time reasoned in my faith. Note, I did not say "passionate about being reasonable" -- that produces someone who is almost purely academic. No, what I seek is to be a person that is as "on fire for the Lord" as a newly initiated Pentecostal with all the reason and thought of a wizened old Presbyterian.
You see, when it gets down to it, when people object to theology, they generally aren't objecting to its contents, they are objecting to its dryness.
David's right here, we are all theologians, and we should all be good theologians. The trick here is to learn how to be theologians empassioned for Jesus Christ, and to communicate that passion in all that we do and say.
When John Frame defines theology as "the application of the Word of God by persons to all areas of life," he is, in a very real sense, describing what Christians have always done throughout the ages.I could not agree more. David begins by citing one of the more common complaints about theology, namely that it is easy to grant theology authority not its due.
Thus, the question is not "will I be a theologian?" Rather it is "will I be a good theologian?"
By the definition granted here, theology is nothing more than the application of study and reason, to gain understanding. It is the standard academic process, and the question David leaves us with is, bascially, are we going to be good students or bad students?
The argument against theology, that of false authority, is really simply too much reliance on our own understanding.
Prov 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (NAS)I have had that verse thrown in my face numerous times as an argument against "thinking too much" about my faith. The question is really how to build our understanding on trust in the Lord.
The line between dogma and reasoned faith is a fine one. But more, the distinction between passion and dogma is hard to find. To me, the key is to find a way to be passionate about Christ and at the same time reasoned in my faith. Note, I did not say "passionate about being reasonable" -- that produces someone who is almost purely academic. No, what I seek is to be a person that is as "on fire for the Lord" as a newly initiated Pentecostal with all the reason and thought of a wizened old Presbyterian.
You see, when it gets down to it, when people object to theology, they generally aren't objecting to its contents, they are objecting to its dryness.
David's right here, we are all theologians, and we should all be good theologians. The trick here is to learn how to be theologians empassioned for Jesus Christ, and to communicate that passion in all that we do and say.
