Theology is Important

Theology is important. It is central to our faith as followers of Jesus, the Anointed One. Our theology forms our worldview at all levels or at least it should. So, our first question in asking or developing what Jesus’ Theology is “What is Theology.” Here is the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition – (I use this source because it is the most accessible definition people will access) -

Theology: noun the·ol·o·gy   \thē-ˈä-lə-jē\:

The study of religious faith, practice, and experience: the study of God and God's relation to the world: a system of religious beliefs or ideas

Full Definition of THEOLOGY

1: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world

2:

A: a theological theory or system <Thomist theology> <a theology of atonement>

B: a distinctive body of theological opinion <Catholic theology>

3: a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminar 
Was this definition helpful to you or not? For some of you yes, others no.

    Okay, so what do we do with this definition? Most of you are not like me. In fact I have multiple university degree. I have graduated with a Bachelors of Arts, Master of Theological Studies, Masters of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Ministry. Yet, at the same time you are like me. Personally, I do not find the above definition very helpful at all. I live in the real world with real people. They all have a theology, but do not recognize it. The fact is from the definition we learn that Theology maybe confusing and at times very boring. What can I say after twelve years in university, I feel like I may have earned the privilege make this statement.

    Fear not – theology does not have to be confusing and boring.

I advocate that when theology is properly taught, theology is anything other then confusing and boring. Especially, when the theology you’re learning is Jesus’ theology. When theology is properly studied, it engages the heart and the mind. The heart leaps with excitement and opens the mind to incredible imagination and wonder. Jesus, the Anointed One – his person and activities carries such incredible depth of meaning and significance to our existence as the human race.

    It is my desire to help you engage Jesus as the SOURCE of our theology and to write about this subject in an interesting and engaging manner for you. Our theology should inform our lives – it should effect our lives here and now.

Let’s begin with answering our question that started this blog post, “What is Theology?”

    The simplest definition of Theology literally means “the study of God.” Okay, that sounds good, but is it informative, not as much as I would like it to be. So, “What is theology?” Try this definition - Theology is entering into a lifelong conversation with God about Himself, ourselves, and how He wants to live life with us. This is more informative. I like it, but I don’t think this fully describes or engages what theology is.

“What is Theology?” – Maybe it is as simple as learning to engage God as our best friend.

    So far this is developing into something that sounds so much better than the Merriam-Webster definition. Isn't there more to the theology then this? I am glad you asked because, yes there is more.

    Theology is ultimately an adventure with God. This is how I feel about  Therefore, if theology is an adventure with God it is more than just knowing something or simply belief – for many people theology is all about just having the right beliefs (orthodoxy). So, if theology is an adventure with God it is something that has to be experienced, as well as known. Learning theology comes through experiencing theology.

    The first step in learning theology is experiencing theology. How do we experience theology? This is where we begin to explore Jesus’ theology. As we read the narrative of Jesus’ interactions with the Pharisees, Scribes and the people who encountered him experienced his theology. Jesus made many corrections of the Pharisees and the scribes through his actions and their experience of the miracles he performed. The narrative of the witnesses (the Gospels) are critical to our understanding. I appreciate the exegesis of texts, (breaking down and out the meaning of words from the text of the scripture), even more I appreciate the exegesis of the narrative of the story. The recorded narrative is critical and important to bring out Jesus’ theology.

    I don’t know how many post this series will take. One of the things important to me is knowing if these blog posts are helpful to you. Please subscribe and leave comments and questions.

I am looking forward to tackling this subject with you.

    May you become a Jesus’ Theologian by experiencing the presence of Christ within your life.

Dr. Doug

Developing a Jesus Theology

Developing a Jesus Theology:

When I read the Gospels it strikes me how different Christians do theology in comparison to how Jesus does theology. The narrative of the witnesses (the Gospels) presents Jesus’ theology as holistic and applicable in daily life. When he was challenged by the teachers, the Pharisees and the scribes – essentially all the experts in the Torah and the Law, he always had an answer for them. His answers had more to do with heart of the Law then letter of the Law. He clearly challenged the ideologies and propositional positions presented by his detractors. Jesus challenged the prevailing sentiments with a people centrist theology.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe the modernist and contemporary theology is good for the mind, but has no application in daily living. Why? Because there is loss of connection between Jesus’ way of living theology and our way. Our challenge is to bridge the gap in order to live a holistic Christian life. This idea resonates with my soul and I hope it does with your soul as well. I have come to the conclusion that right beliefs, orthodoxy, is not enough. For me theology is only real when it is lived out or practiced. Our theology needs to be fleshed out and the only way we are able to accomplish this to fully embrace our theology, for me this is a Wesleyan Theology. The embrace needs to be a loving embrace because this is where we will are able to become fully human and engage our callings as the image bearers of the creator, Jesus Christ. This is the point of critical mass for believers is Christ. It is the point, place, time where a huge difference is made, a transformational process begins within us both individuals and as a communities of faith.

Developing a Jesus Theology is an area I am going to explore deeper in the following posts to this blog. Now, I am not sure how many post it will take up, but I am looking forward to producing them. I admit this resonates with who I am as a follower of Jesus the Anointed One, He who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Dr. Doug