John Frame argues in his Systematic Theology that there are different types of theologies: Biblical, Exegetical, Systematic, Historical, and Practical. Nevertheless, every theology “should be Bible-centered” (9). Further, if we are to apply the Scriptures, “we must be in constant conversation with the Bible” (9).
He notes that the reason this kind of thinking is no longer acceptable is that modern scholarship functions autonomously. The authority of the Scriptures is no longer viewed as supreme, and therefore its normativity is viewed as unrespectable.
Any form of theological enterprise must build its case from the Bible (11), whether explicitly or in principle (11). We aim to point out the obvious (12) and allow the Scriptures to speak on matters of faith and practice.
I am honored to serve on the board of the Theopolis Institute for a few years now. By some bizarre logic, the powers that be think I am a benefit to the institute. Of course, in my estimation, serving the institute is more of a happy obligation to me. Virtually everything that comes out of my mouth, including the incessant display of words, is a direct result of the kind of fascination they instilled in me for biblical language.
Those theological provocateurs, starting with old my old mentor, James B. Jordan, led me on a path to explore new vistas that my poor hermeneutical brain had never contemplated. It changed everything about me. If I read a book, it’s there. If I watch a movie, it’s there.
I remember spending some time in Jordan’s office some years ago sharing my frustration with how difficult it is to convey theological truth in our age. He gently rebuked me and said that the point is not how much we convey, but how it is conveyed. We can bombard the evangelical culture with youtube videos of Josh McDowell fragments, but if we don’t change the hermeneutic of the church, we will always be behind the times.
I learned my lesson early on and my job is to popularize a biblical mindset that slowly consumes your brain. I have often said that a small congregation with committed thinkers can easily out-culture a church five times its size. The Christian’s call is to plod along. Numerical success is a blessing, but discipleship through biblical enculturation is even better. If I can teach my son that Jael is a picture of our intellectual responsibility, then we have ourselves an army.
A quick glance at Theopolis’ vision is enough to turn the most introverted into a samba dancer:
“We believe that the Spirit of God works through faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word, through vibrant, rich, transformative Liturgy, and through courageous and diligent pastoral leadership to form the church into an image of the future city of God.”
I subscribe to every ounce of that paragraph as eagerly as I consume Brazilian steak. No meat is left behind. My entire paradigm changed when I first read these guys 20 years ago, and whether you know it or not, if you enjoy anything I write, you are being indoctrinated in the love language of typology, the vibrant ethos of a liturgical movement that has one goal in mind–turn you into a Sisera-killing machine.
We press on driving tent-pegs through the secularized versions of the faith, claiming Jesus as Lord and King and changing minds one biblical text at a time. I embrace this deep weirdness with the sobriety of a visionary who looks at the plains of Moab and seeks to plant vineyards in the most fertile pieces of land. Pray for Theopolis Institute, its president, Peter Leithart, and our whole tribe as we meet and feast and seek the well-being of the city and the glory of the Triune God. There is so much work to be done, but we are patient plodders planting seeds and inculcating the Gospel hermeneutic in the hearts of pastors and parishioners alike.
Those who follow me on twitter may see several tweets with the hash-tag #Ruthproject. The Ruth project is a new work I am working with a fellow pastor from Birmingham. We are working on a commentary on Ruth. But this will not be just a normal, exegetical work, it is actually a pastoral and theological labor focusing on the nature and goal of redemptive history. We will focus on the content of Ruth’s majestic love story, but also detailing why Ruth serves as a miniature picture for all of God’s history.
We will offer a theological framework for how we are to look at redemptive history and how God is working in it. The commentary hopes to be practical, pastoral, and layman-friendly.
Here is a quote from the introduction:
What you believe about the future shapes how you live in the present. If your final expectation is just to go and dwell forever in ethereal heaven, compare what your world view and your practice would be to someone whose final hope is of dwelling in a renovated and perfected physical creation in a resurrection body.
Lord-willing we will be able to provide a manuscript draft to our publisher by the end of the summer. Our goal is to have it published by the Family Advance Conference in November.
DJesus UnCrossed is SNL’s latest attempt to de-christ Christ. Of course, in our day, Jesus is easy to disrespect. One wonders if SNL would attempt a comedy journey through the life of Muhammad. No further comments needed.
David Flowers believes that the skit has something to teach us, and that we should begin to listen to our critics. He argues that the skit has hermeneutical problems, but that it shows our hypocrisy and inconsistency in our faith. Flowers argues that this is the result of an American-shaped Jesus. He is correct to assert that humor has a way of offending Christians and revealing weaknesses and hypocrisy. We should be aware of them.
The Jesus raised from the dead murdering Romans out of revenge seems bizarre in light of the biblical narrative. Flowers is correct to assert that it reveals the Jesus kick-ass motif portrayed by many in our evangelical culture. It is easy to object to the video’s false portrayals, but in what sense is this skit true, even with its exaggerative and faulty hermeneutics? There is something to be learned here. Flowers is correct that we are to listen to our critics. The point, however, is that our critics don’t go far enough.
Surely the 2nd Amendment Rights’ Jesus is very American and Neo-Conservative like. But that doesn’t even begin to describe the type of justice-driven Messiah we as Orthodox Christians believe.
For starters, we believe in a Messiah that is ascended to the right hand of the Father, and from that place of kingship rules and reigns over us and creation. He is not an unmoved Mover. Further, Jesus did not have the Romans in mind when He judged, He had the corrupt and idolatrous first century Jewish generation in mind. Upon them, He brought a profound tribulation (Mt. 24). The Gospel Lesson this Sunday is Luke 13:31-35 where Jesus laments over Jerusalem. He sought her with love, but she continued to kill and murder the prophets sent with a message of salvation and deliverance. The vengeful Jesus portrayed by SNL has no interest in context, but it should well observe that the Messiah who destroys is first the Messiah who shows mercy.
How Can we Learn from SNL?
First, Saturday Night Live is not a theology show. Its humor is devoid of accuracy, and frankly, that is not their interest. They have been on the air for 37 years because of their exaggerated (especially in the last ten years) view of current events. This is important to keep in mind.
Secondly, use these opportunities to correct false information. Bill Maher, the well-known HBO atheist host, does this better than anyone I know. He takes a portion of Scriptures and twists its meaning in a fashion that would make even the devil jealous. This is a good time for Christians to be hermeneutically savvy. In fact, go ahead and make a t-shirt with that slogan “I am hermeneutically savvy.”
Thirdly, do not allow an exclusively New Covenant narrative to shape your theology. As James Jordan observes: “The division of the Bible into “Old Testament” and “New Testament” is merely for convenience, for the Scriptures are one narrative from beginning to end.” It is important to note also that this one narrative portrays God as a God of justice who says all vengeance belongs to Him. The modern Marcionites have failed us just as much as SNL has.
Finally, remember that the life of Jesus–especially as we meditate upon it in this Lenten Season–is a life of cross before glory; suffering before resurrection. The Jesus that came out of the grave was first a Jesus that came riding on a donkey as the Prince of Peace. But that same Jesus has promised to come again riding a horse of judgment upon Jerusalem and upon all those who despise His Name.
I was not able to stay for the last two days of the BH Conference. Nevertheless, it was joy to get to know some of the speakers. I wish critics had a chance to spend a day with Peter Leithart. Peter is a delight to know; a godly father and a careful scholar (as we could see from his detailed presentation of Leviticus 18).
Last evening’s Vesper’s Service was truly excellent. Peter led us in liturgy and music. We conluded the evening singing what has become my favorite hymn this year called Acension written by William Owen in the 19th century.
I came in during Leithart’s excellent talk on Leviticus 18, which served as another demonstration of my lack of knowledge on Leviticus. Peter focused primarily on the sexual prohibitions.
Jeff Meyers followed on Luke explaining–among other things–that Reformed people need not have a phobia of the gospels. He argued that catholics typically remain in the gospel narrative, while Reformed prefer Pauline writings. Jeff explained that to understand Paul we need to grasp Luke, since Luke wrote more than Paul in terms of content.
The inimitable Rich Bledsoe spoke on the church as stupid weakness factory. He explained that the Spirit of God works in between churches; reconciling them.
I may have to drive back to Pensacola this evening, but it has been a great conference.
It has been a great joy thus far to be here at the BH Conference in Valparaiso. I’ve had a chance to see some old friends and meet some new friends as well. One of my greatest delights has been to spend some time interacting with Dr. Norman Shepherd. He exemplifies godliness and Christian love.
After a wonderful evening Vesper’s Service, Jim Jordan gave his second lecture on Holy War.
We had a wonderful Vesper’s Service in Valparaiso. It is the official start to the BH Conference 2009. Jim Jordan led us through through a litany of prayers and chants of the Beatitudes and the Psalter. This was followed by Jim Jordan’s first talk on Leviticus and Holy War.
