A view of Theology Proper
I gave a brief presentation and defense of my Theology Proper doctrinal statement in seminary class on Monday. It was a good time, and the make-shift panel asking questions for my clarification was not too hard on me. It was an enjoyable process for me, while I am aware of my growing need to become a better theologian.
I’ll unfold my doctrinal statement on God in the coming days here, paragraph by paragraph. For those who may not use the phrase “Theology Proper,” in casual conversation :-), it means the first or primary issue in Theology, namely God. Theology is the study of God, and thus the first point in theology is, well, God. Theology can also speak in the broad sense to the study of all the truths of the Bible, studied in a systematic way.
We may be prone to take for granted that Theology intersects life at every point. John Frame writes that theology is “the application of the whole Bible to the whole of human life.” The way and motivation of my being a good (or poor) husband and father is theologically-driven. How I treat a server at a restaurant has great implications on my theology — I can say that people have an inherent dignity and worth (yes!), but do my actions follow my “beliefs”? (Our practical daily lives proves what we really believe, and not vice versa.)
I want my theology (and life) to glorify God — to display His infinite worth and beauty. I welcome your comments and interaction on this journey.
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