A simple definition of Theology that I have used says, “Theology is an all-encompassing philosophy of life that puts God in His proper place.” It’s more of a statement to be preached, than a formal Systematic Theology definition. That’s why I allow an obvious problem with the statement to stand. Nobody puts God anywhere; we can only recognize where He chooses to be. The little proverb-like definition seems to have more punch, though, worded as it is. It tells me that there is something I need to do.
We find out about God from the Bible, the book where God reveals Himself. Bringing God’s truth into the realm where I live and thus recognizing the place that God totally deserves to occupy in my little world involves answering some questions. Millard Erickson calls this process “contemporizing the Christian message.” At this level everyone who has any concern at all for living a life that is pleasing to the Lord is a Theologian—we need to “put” God in the right place. Erickson identifies three ways that would-be Theologians do this.
There is the group that was quite prevalent in the culture in which I grew up. Little, if any, effort is put into making the “old, old story” relevant to today’s culture. The fact is the Bible has universal relevance. The way we package it, not so much. These folk recognize that God is in control, but they erect a wall of tradition and obscurity around Him so that contemporary people have little chance of seeing which way He is pointing.
Other’s allow the culture to be in the pilot’s chair. If some affirmation or prohibition found in scripture is not palatable to the ears of the culture in which these so-called Theologians are operating, they simply declare that word to be old-fashioned, irrelevant, or to be based on a primitive view of life. In essence they say, “Move over God. We know better about these things.”
Erickson rightly points out that the task of the true Theologian is to “retain the essential content of the biblical teaching,” while, “translat[ing] into more modern concepts.”
The first group is loud but irrelevant. The second is friendly, and pseudo-relevant. Those who speak to the real needs of real people are those who do the hard work of asking, “What does the Word of God have to say to people today, and how do I best say it?” Kind of like the leaders in the Book of Ezra who, “read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.” (Ezra 8:8, NIV)
It’s Something to Think About.
Today’s STTA is drawn from Introducing Christian Doctrine, Millard Erickson, chapter 2.
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today's Breakpoint. The gist of his commentary is no matter how hard we--conservative Christians--try to fit in, we won't. The leaders of the world scene around us will just keep moving the goalposts, and demanding more. I encourage you to listen to or read the piece.