Review Essay, Keeping the Balance
God and preaching revisited “Systematic theology finds its raison de’etre in its panoramic vision of the greatness of God and his ways”. In the epistle to the Romans, we see how “the climax of eleven chapters of rich theology breaks out into adoring praise at the mystery of God and his judgements”. As A.W. Tozer pointed out, “a rediscovery of the majesty of God will go along way toward curing” our problems. “It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as he is”. The true knowledge of God must become our starting point for study, worship and for life. Quoting David Wells, Downes concludes that “if the Church can begin to find a place for theology by refocusing itself on the centrality of God, if it can rest upon his sufficiency, if it can recover its moral sober, then it will have something to say to a world now drowning in modernity”.
The Importance of being Earnest, Carl Trueman (18pgs) Outline provided by the author:
| Introduction | 219 |
| A framework for integration | 220 |
| Theology as a university discipline | 227 |
| Some lessons | 230 |
| A medical analogy | 231 |
| Conclusion | 235 |
The final essay by Carl Trueman (formerly a senior lecturer in Church History at the University of Aberdeen and now an associate Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, USA), examines the now familiar question of “how academic theological study proper is to be related to …everyday life as a Christian believer”. He reminds us of the need to maintain the basic Christian walk and to approach our studies as servants seeking to serve. He also presents a sober analysis of theology as a university discipline and advises the student on how to survive its potentially harmful effects.
Category: In Depth, Spring 2006
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