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Theology

• 05.30.08
  A Theology of Graduation
  Ecclesiology, Theology, Youth Ministry (4)

  I made the following post on the discussion boards at Youth Ministry Exchange: Is it theologically appropriate to recognize graduates in the way we do? Every year we have a breakfast for our high school seniors and then honor them in the service, have a slide show, and they wear their cap and gowns during the service. I see this as both positive and negative: Positive: These youth have worked hard (well, maybe), they have accomplished something, this is an important time in their life, and we need to celebrate that with them. It's a great transitional time in life and ...
  
  
• 05.18.08
  Now Reading: The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer in Christian Ethics by Stanley Hauerwas
  Books, Theology (0)

  I also started another book this week: The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer In Christian Ethics. I've had the book for a while and have wanted to read something by Hauerwas, who intrigues me even though I've never read anything of his. I got introduced to him via quotes I read on blogs and these videos of his lectures. I know lots of people say to only read one book at a time, but I've found it helpful to read at least two books at once. It's interesting to me to see the connections between books that you read. ...
  
  
• 05.11.08
  Controversial Quote of the Day
  Ecclesiology, Theology (0)

  I remember reading this, along with a few other provocative quotes, in February over at Inhabitatio Dei. Leave it to Stanley Hauerwas to stir the pot: "How many of you worship in a church that recognizes 'Mother’s Day'? I am sorry to tell you that your salvation is in doubt." And, before you accuse Hauerwas of being an anti-grace, works-righteousness heretic, realize that the quote needs to be taken in context. You can disagree, but I don't think he is spouting easily dismissable heresy.
  
  
• 05.06.08
  Locution, Illocution, Perlocution, and Developmental Psychology: Age-Appropriate Cultural Texts
  Christianity, Theology, Youth Ministry (0)

  More thoughts have been spurred by reading the opening essay by Kevin Vanhoozer in the book he recently edited: Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. If you are familiar with Vanhoozer, you will know that the orienting metaphor he uses in his thought comes from speech-act theory which declares that when we speak, there are three things at work: locution, illocution, and perlocution. In the essay, he is concerned with paying attention to these three layers when interpreting cultural texts. He explains the words like this: First, a cultural text, like written discourse, has ...
  
  
• 04.17.08
  Now Reading: Everyday Theology by Kevin Vanhoozer (ed.)
  Books, Theology (1)

  As I said yesterday, I hoped to pick up a good book in the evening, and I did. I've been looking forward to reading Everyday Theology since it first came out. I've been a fan of Vanhoozer ever since I was introduced to him in Dr. Castleman's class. I expect this to be a somewhat "practical" book that will be especially helpful for doing youth ministry theologically. I'll give more insight about this particular book as I read more of it. My expectations are already high, so I hope it doesn't let me down. ...
  
  
• 01.19.08
  More on “Mission Trips”
  Ecclesiology, Theology, Youth Ministry (3)

  My last post created a decent amount of discussion. Essentially, my question was, What might be a more theologically accurate name for a missional relationship (as opposed to the typical "mission trip")? Reminder: these are the (very basic) qualifications for a theologically-grounded missional relationship: Establish ongoing relationships by returning to a particular community rather than migrating to a different locale every year. Immerse the group in culture as opposed to making sure there is always something to “do.” Create authentic action out of these relationships and immersion. A few less-than-desirable descriptors came to mind: Missional relationship. Though this points towards the ...
  
  
• 01.15.08
  Mission Trips Suck
  Seminary, Theology, Youth Ministry (13)

  (Is it sinful to title something provocatively in hopes that people will read it?) Today in class we talked about mission trips. As tends to happen in seminary classes, we ended up quite critical of popular practice. Thankfully, we moved beyond deconstruction and towards construction of a proper mission trip-ish type experience. Something that tended to come out, based on the theological convictions espoused in the class, were mission trips that: Establish ongoing relationships by returning to a particular community rather than migrating to a different locale every year. Immerse the group in culture as opposed to making sure there ...
  
  
• 01.14.08
  Karl Barth on the Church
  Ecclesiology, Seminary, Theology (1)

  ... as explained by Andrew Root.  According to Root, in CD 4.3 Barth argues the following about the church: The world would be lost without Jesus Christ. The world would not necessarily be lost without the church. The church would be lost of it had no counterpart in the world. Humbling and thought-provoking. Since I haven't exactly started reading Church Dogmatics and expect it to be a few years after I start reading them (if I ever do) until I will find my way to 4.3, for now I'll take Root's word that this is Barth's argument.
  
  
• 01.13.08
  Two Quotes…
  Seminary, Theology, Youth Ministry (0)

  ... from class this week that have been rolling through my mind (well, they may be close paraphrases, but you get the idea): Our ministries are not ministries to the world, but to God the Father God is not a theologian, but a minister Speaking of class--I was afraid this would happen--my amazon.com wish list has grown my six more items. Crap.
  
  
• 01.12.08
  Discomfort as Normative Ecclesiology
  Ecclesiology, Seminary, Theology (0)

  In the class I am currently taking at Luther, we are studying the theology of ministry. More specifically, we are studying the "theology of the cross" as a foundation for ministry. To put it way too simplistically, the theology of the cross is essentially the understanding that the place where God breaks into the world and acts is in the midst of human suffering (the point of ex nihilo). Perhaps this theology may not be sufficient to be the only lens through which we understand God and the world, but it is certainly a lens. If this theology ...
  
  

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