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In my twenties, theology was the primary focus of my life.\u00a0 In my fifties it is still a focus in my life, but it is no longer primary \u2013 or is it?<\/p>\n
In Who Needs Theology: An Invitation to the Study of God<\/em> by Stanley J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson (1996), the field of Christian theology is introduced.\u00a0 The authors define theology as follows: \u201cChristian theology is reflecting on and articulating the God-centered life and beliefs that Christians share as followers of Jesus Christ, and it is done that God might be glorified in all Christians are and do.\u201d[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Frankly, when I read this definition, my first thoughts were, \u201cHere we go again!\u00a0 Another dry theology book just like college and seminary.\u201d<\/p>\n But then I came to Chapter 5.<\/p>\n I have been a Christian for 48 years.\u00a0 I came to Christ in a Conservative Baptist Sunday School class.\u00a0 That day, I fell in love with Jesus.\u00a0 Slowly, I grew in my faith until I felt a call to ministry, and at 21, I became a full-time pastor at a mega-church whose job it was to teach the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.\u00a0 Combine that with a biblical studies\/theology degree from a conservative Bible college, and I was now a walking theologian of the first degree!\u00a0 I was good in the pulpit, proficient at worship leading, and had all the answers!\u00a0 I had arrived and stayed in that state of bliss for almost six years.\u00a0 Then real life hit me.\u00a0 I got married and started having children, which forced me to look at my dysfunctional past.\u00a0 I sunk into a deep, black hole.\u00a0 Eventually, I climbed my way out and continued in ministry (which contained more real-life issues), this time with fewer answers.\u00a0 Slowly and unintentionally over the next 30 years, I was being converted from a conservative believer into a much more liberal believer.\u00a0 My list of non-negotiable issues began to shrink, the word \u201cmystery\u201d began to be included in my theological vocabulary, and I began to truly appreciate Jesus\u2019 greatest commandment in Matthew 22.<\/p>\n Back to Chapter 5.<\/p>\n Chapter 5 is titled, Theology\u2019s Tasks and Traditions.\u00a0 In it, Grenz and Olson talk about theology\u2019s critical task<\/em> and constructive task<\/em>.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 The first activity of the critical task of theology is to \u201c\u2026examine beliefs about God, ourselves and the world in light of Christian sources, especially the primary norm of the biblical message.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0 Here, the authors make a case that the early church and the church through the centuries defended the Gospel against false teachings and incorrect ideas and practices.\u00a0 The second activity of the critical task of theology is to \u201c\u2026divide Christian beliefs into categories based on levels of importance.\u201d[4]<\/a>\u00a0 The three main categories of Christian beliefs are dogma<\/em>, doctrine<\/em>, and opinion<\/em>.\u00a0 Those beliefs that are central to the Gospel are considered dogma<\/em>.\u00a0 Those beliefs that are important but not considered essential are doctrines<\/em>.\u00a0 Those beliefs that are interesting but are relatively unimportant to the faith of the church are opinion<\/em>.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 Thus, true Christian theology allows for diversity of thought without throwing out essential truth \u2013 particularly regarding the divinity of Christ.\u00a0 Christendom allows for a broad, inclusive family of believers.\u00a0 This is good news for my Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters.\u00a0 It is also very refreshing for at least one liberal, Episcopal lover of Jesus \u2013 me.<\/p>\n The authors ask a good question, \u201cWho needs theology?\u201d\u00a0 Their response to this question is as follows:<\/p>\n The contemporary church does.\u00a0 Why? So that we can indeed be God\u2019s people in our world.\u00a0 What kind of theology do we need?\u00a0 One that is truly scriptural, completely Christian and totally relevant.\u00a0 One that embodies the biblical message as proclaimed by the one people of God in a manner that interfaces with life in our specific context.\u00a0 Only this kind of theology can provide us the intellectual resources we need to live out our calling as Christ\u2019s disciples in our world.<\/em>[6]<\/a><\/p>\n If this is Christian theology, then I guess it is still primary in my life.\u00a0 There is hope after all!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n