I’m just starting on a new chapter (or maybe it will be a section) in my PhD and I am currently working on a paragraph in which I want to define what Christian theology is.
Here is what what my supervisor, Andrew Kirk, says in his book “The Mission of Theology and Theology as Mission“…
It is a reflective, intellectual process carried out by a community of faith whose concern is with God and his relationship to the entire universe. This process gives a privileged place to certain sources of knowledge, namely the Bible, the ecumenical creeds, and other historical confessions of faith. It has two fundamental tasks: to make sense of the whole of life by reference to God, and to be an agent of the transformation of the whole of life so that it may reflect God’s intentions. (p.8)
So… what do you think? Too academic? Too unacademic? Too practical? Too impractical?
Hmmmm….
What do you think Andrew Kirk means by God’s intentions, and do you think Christian Theology today reflects these?
Interested in what you think.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for the comment.
In terms of God’s intentions, Andrew Kirk is saying that one of the things that (Christian) theology should do is help transform the whole of life – so that “life” reflects God’s intentions.
As to God’s intentions we can think about contemporary/modern life in terms of “alienation”… and Andrew Kirk talks in this way. We are alienated from God, from one another, from creation and… ultimately from ourselves. If we look back to the Garden of Eden we see wholeness instead of alientation – humanity at one with God, one with each other and at one with creation.
Not sure if this helps?
I think the emphasis on being an agent of transformation of the whole of life is very neglected in theology in general in the west, especially in light of the pragmatically-driven church growth movement, which I believe has truncated the gospel in the area of its cosmic implications of the renewal and redemption of the created order- in short, restoration. To me, we must think more seriously about mission, ministry and evangelism, or the work of the church, as participation in the redemptive work of Christ as Christ’s body in the world and the power of the gospel to return human beings back to the garden, so to speak. This is reflected in the appearance of the tree in Revelation, the leaves of which will provide healing for the nations (ethnos). Missions is about healing the fallen creation, and in some sense we don’t need to talk very much about “our ministry,” but participation in the ongoing work of Christ who is now seated at the right hand of the Father but very active in the world.
I am VERY interested in this entire topic and would enjoy further discussion. My background is Baptist pastor, and now Director of Missions for a Baptist Association.
Thanks,
Don