THREE PROBLEMS OF THEOLOGY

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THREE PROBLEMS OF THEOLOGY

• BY
• TERRY A. CHRISOPE, Ph.D.

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THREE PROBLEMS

• In the recent past, there have been evident at
  least three problems connected with the study
  of theology
• 1. ABSTRACTION FROM LIFE
• 2. ACADEMIC ISOLATION
• 3. ACCESSION TO THE CULTURE

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THREE PROBLEMS

• 1. ABSTRACTION FROM LIFE
• The intellectual discipline known as theology has
  too often been separated from the human life that
  is to be lived before God. The ultimate concern
  of theology should be with God in his
  relationship with humans, and thus with human
  life as it is to be lived before God, hence my
  life as lived unto God.

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THREE PROBLEMS

• Theological study should involve not only correct
  thinking about God but also good living before
  God. It should involve a consideration of the
  question, How can we use what we learn to glorify
  God, to live well before him, to do his will, to
  cause his name to be honored in this world, to
  enjoy him ?

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THREE PROBLEMS

• 2. ACADEMIC ISOLATION
• Theological study has been relegated to the
  academy and divorced from the life of the church.
  At our distance of two millenia from the New
  Testament era, there may indeed be a need for
  special training for those who minister the Word
  of God but the New Testament itself does not
  envision any locus for such training apart from
  the local congregation.

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THREE PROBLEMS

• In our day of emphasis on professionalization and
  academic credentials, the study of theology needs
  to be undertaken as an adjunct of church life,
  with a concern for the church, and with the goal
  of feeding theological truth back into the
  church.

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THREE PROBLEMS

• 3. ACCESSION TO THE CULTURE
• Modern theological study has often taken its cues
  from the surrounding culture instead of occupying
  the ground established by divine revelation and
  thus speaking an alien word to the culture. In
  recent times this has meant surrendering the
  concept of truth and acceding to the relativism
  of modern thought,

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THREE PROBLEMS

• relegating religion to the realm of subjective
  personal preference. In contrast, the core of a
  common Christian theology must be seen as the
  expression of divinely-revealed truth, valid for
  and making claims upon all people.

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CONCLUSION

• This course has been designed in an effort to
  overcome these problems and to manifest, in
  contrast, applicability to life, orientation
  toward the church, and fidelity to the biblical
  revelation.