Contextualizing Theology
In Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson’s book “Who Needs Theology?”, the question that is asked, is not rhetorical, or unanswerable. The authors set out to show that “everybody” needs theology. They orient themselves in this helpful, beginner’s guide, by suggesting that “everyone is a theologian”. They write that, “every person must at some point in life face and wrestle with the questions that point to the ultimate question of God… in this sense every thinking person is a theologian.”[1]
From this broad, opening point, the book proceeds to define theology, to defend theology, to share tasks and tools that theologians of every kind can use as we do this “God-talk” that is an essential part of being human.
One outcome that the authors hope to see, as people read this book, is to help everyday Christians learn to “think theologically”. They assert that, “Good theology assists Christians because it grounds their lives in biblically informed, Christian truth.”[2]
However, while theology always includes a deep interaction with scripture or biblical texts, it is also always done in some place, by some people, with some culture. Because of this, “our theology must be contextually constructive”[3] or to put it another way, we must take into account who we are, where we are, and the cultural context in which we are “doing” theology.
This call for a contextualized theology is also really a plea for self-knowledge and the awareness of one’s own natural instincts and biases as we begin to do theology. The authors reference the Athenian philosopher Socrates who held the motto “The unexamined life is not worth living.” As they explain, “By ‘unexamined life’ he meant unreflective living—living moment-to-moment without thinking critically about what one believes and how one behaves.”[4]
In other words, part of the process of maturing in Christian faith is examining and reflecting critically on, one’s own context as a step toward seeing more clearly how to speak about God (doing theology) in a particular time and place.
A local congregation is one of the key centers for this kind of reflection, and can be the locus for doing the kind of theology that Grenz and Olson are suggesting. But, we don’t reflect in a vacuum, or only on our own in some idealized, sealed off space. When we do theology, or when we think about or talk about faith and life with God, we always do it as part of families, tribes, traditions, and cultures.
In a recent article in Christianity Today, Marcus Dean discussed this nexus between theology and culture. He says that just like the American Express slogan, “don’t leave home without it”, when it comes to our own culture and cultural assumptions, “we can’t leave home without it.”[5] Whether we are aware of it or not, even our reflections on theology and what it means to follow Christ in the world, is always affected by our cultural outlook.
As Richard Brislin puts it, culture, “includes the ideals, values, and assumptions that one’s group has modeled for us and that guide our responses in one way or another.”[6]
Recently, in my church, our Session (board of Elders) has taken on a monthly practice of reflecting together on one key aspect of our identity as a church. Over the past year, we have developed these identity markers, and we are now intentionally working through them each month. The questions that we asked were essentially theological questions: who are we? And given who we are, how has God called us to serve in this place?
Our reflection time each month, is meant to help flesh out the answers, to remind us of who we are as God’s people in this place, and to share together about how we can live out our identity even more.
This past month, the topic was our growing edge around becoming a more “multi-cultural” church. We talked about biblical examples, people shared personal stories, and we “noticed” together the way that our church has already started to engage and involve more Asian-Americans from our local area.
In a very real sense, our church leaders were doing what Grenz and Olson are talking about. Doing theology together, not in as an academic exercise or cut off from the “realities” of life. But located right where we are. With the people in the room, seeking to tie God’s story to the story of our church and the ways we are learning to do ministry.
Every context is different, and that’s why “everybody needs theology”. Because there is no “one size fits all” answer to life’s biggest questions. Grounded in our shared faith, in God’s word, in the gift of reason, and the fruit of honest self-reflection, we are able to be everyday theologians, even as we live our lives as everyday followers of Christ.
In the end, this book offers both helpful theory and practice. The “theology” it describes is a living conversation, between people, the witness of scripture and the particular place where these three intersect. This has been referred to as a “trialogue—the interaction among Bible, heritage and culture—(it) provides theology with a creative edge.”[7]
It is that creative edge that the church will need to live faithfully into the future. With theology as a hearty companion and resource, rather than a weight or adversary, there is good and faithful ministry ahead, as we come with faith and seek understanding.
[1] Stanely J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 15.
[2] Stanely J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 39.
[3] Stanely J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 106.
[4] Stanely J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 26.
[5] Marcus Dean, “Cultural Self-Awareness: A Missing Element in Intercultural Service?,” Christianity Today, July 23, 2017. http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2017/july/cultural-self-awareness.html (accessed November 30, 2017).
[6] Brislin, Richard W. Understanding Culture’s Influence on Behavior. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, 1993.
[7] Stanely J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 113.
About the Author
Dave Watermulder
9 responses to “Contextualizing Theology”
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Dave, that so cool, the work you are doing with your Session around identity and calling. I know you have a vision to be more multi-cultural. How is this exercise impacting your Session and how do you hope to see that impact the congregation as a whole?
Thanks, Jen! Yea, for our Session, it is making people more aware that this is important to us and that we have work we need to do to grow as we feel God is leading us. It’s just an opening for people who don’t naturally want to talk about those kinds of issues! For our church, the fruit is still in the future. I think that in “leading the leaders”, I’m setting the stage for deeper and further movement in this area. So, check in again in another year 🙂
Hi Dave,
I envy the fact that you are in such a multi-cultural area. As you are studying the context of your region, is it encouraging or discouraging trying to figure out how to reach your community for Christ? My biggest question after I read your blog is how to contextualize the message and fit into the culture of the day, without watering down the truth? You don’t need to answer this, it is just something your blog made me think about in a positive way…
Thanks, Jay–
Yea, I think what you’re describing are the right questions. How do we “translate” or how do we “contextualize” the Good News of Jesus in a way that is both faithful and understandable. This is work that every church probably does on some level– whether explicit or implicit. As I look at our area, some things to notice are: it’s very affluent, tech and finance are the dominant sectors, it’s increasingly diverse (especially Asian and South Asian), and there are also lots of people kind of feeling “left behind” by the current era. So, it’s to those folks– the successful, the newly arrived, and the feeling left behind, that we are trying to reach out. A work in progress, for sure!
I love the imagery of theology done corporately. Something we get caught up in the thought that theology is for defense against apostasy rather than a community gathering time. Love the reflection time of your board on how to live our some of your core values. These are key features in allowing God and the vision you feel he has placed in your midst, to become alive in the lives of your leadership board. How can you naturally move these conversations to the laity and “grassroots” of the ministry so they can make it a part of there daily lives?
Thanks, Greg–
Yea, finding the ways to have broader conversations around these topics int he church is my goal. I’m starting with leaders (Elders and Staff) as well as with other influencers (I met with one of our older “fellowship groups”, of about 30 retired people, to talk about this topic), and we go from there… It’s so interesting– some people really want to avoid this topic, but many people kind of see it as a natural. Like, “duh”, of course we need to become more diverse as a church, since our whole area is becoming that way…
Dave,
The connection between cultural context and theology is an important one. I wonder how you think this cultural influence is altered by generational, gender, racial and experiential influences. Have you noticed any distinctions that you can define?
This part of your blog was my favorite…”Every context is different, and that’s why “everybody needs theology”. Because there is no “one size fits all” answer to life’s biggest questions. Grounded in our shared faith, in God’s word, in the gift of reason, and the fruit of honest self-reflection, we are able to be everyday theologians, even as we live our lives as everyday followers of Christ.” It describes the basics of the book and also highlights the fact that we all have to work out our theology with fear and trembling. I agree there is no “one size fits all” for each person on this journey. I’m curious what ideas you have to engage the members in your church in theological discussions. Great post Dave.
Dave, I think it’s great your church is doing public theology and that you are going through identity markers each month. Have you noticed any marked change in your church from the work of the Session? Have you seen any multi-cultural growth in your community, even if it’s primarily the change of perspective of those on the inside?