5th of February, 2007
theology
Posted by greglarson in theology at 2:19 pm | 
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Is theology something you do to escape this world or to live righteously in it?
-Dr. Richard Smith, Taylor University, Professor of OT Studies
5th of February, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Perhaps a more telling and pointed question: “Is theology something you learn to love God and regularly share faith with your neighborhood or something you use to earn a paycheck?”
When I hear from an authoritative source that a good number of seminary students are coming out not knowing how to effectively communicate their faith with the local barrista and when I look back and remember that I was in much the same boat coming out of Bible college, it concerns me.
5th of February, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Parke - I like that:
‘Is theology something you learn… to love God & share faith with the neighborhood…’
5th of February, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I used to think theology was primarily a tool of the former. It seemed a way of limiting God’s virtue to a very narrow prescription, a way of advancing particular hobbyhorses w/r/t eschatology, God’s sovreignty, God’s omniscience etc…
However, it seems to me (and this could simply be my awakening to an existing cultural phenomenon) that there are movements which have seized upon the relative theological ignorance of the contemporary Christian to promote a certain worldview.
At minimum, I am seeing a shift toward relativism with which I am not at all comfortable. In this respect, I am beginning to see theology as a means of retaining the shared wisdom of the Bible, and necessary for the continued vitality of the church.
7th of February, 2007 at 10:32 am
Kevin — nice hearing from you! Hope you are well.
I envy the gift God has given you, in your ability to write. I hope God will use that more & more. (I had to change this comment, because of my inability to write
I like your definition:
“I am beginning to see theology as a means of retaining the shared wisdom of the Bible, and necessary for the continued vitality of the church.”