Theological Thinkers

Excerpts from Dan Kimball's article Sticks and Stones found at Catalyst

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Our fast-paced culture has also accelerated change in the Church. Books, blogs, emails, web sites, and podcasts all communicate new and changing information faster and faster. It is a thrilling time dreaming of the potential these forms of communication have for making the gospel of Jesus known and helping people grow in their maturity as disciples of Jesus.

What I wonder about however, is if we sometimes move so fast and have so much communication happening that we aren’t stopping long enough to see if we are communicating correctly? Could we be eagerly moving ahead so fast in ministry methodology that we aren’t stopping to think about the theology behind the methodology? Are we stopping in the midst of fast communication to see if the words we are using are actually theologically correct?

Words are powerful. Words frame beliefs. Beliefs shape actions. As we use words and terms we need to stop and listen to see how the meanings of our words have subtly but significantly shifted in the minds of people.
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Let me press this even further. Do we think theologically about the way we set up the room for when we gather to worship? The way we set up a room communicates theology to people. Rows of chairs, all facing a stage, with someone up front – does this communicate community? What does this teach about the priesthood of all believers vs. a separation of those with strong enough gifts to make it to the platform? Have we stopped to ponder what this can communicate or do we simply imitate what we have seen and know, and then continue it without thinking about it theologically?

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What about all things emerging and emergent? We can be very fast to jump on trends and new ideas (or what sounds like new ideas). But are we stopping as leaders to critically think about why we may be drawn to something and think change is needed? I am fully aware and agree that there is a longing for change due to the dissatisfaction of the often overemphasizing of some doctrines or even sins and lack of enough emphasis on others. Perhaps there has been too much emphasis on orthodoxy without enough emphasis on orthopraxy. But as we respond and react as leaders, are we careful to examine to what degree we react and make change. As leaders we have the responsibility to guard those we oversee - to make sure they understand the implications of when we remove focus on one part of our theological spectrum and focus on another.

As leaders, are we are stopping to listen? Do we listen and ask questions to see how the people of our church understand the terms and words we use? So maybe having the wrong definition of “worship” or “church” isn’t a big deal. How about when we start hearing subtle changes of definitions of words like “salvation,” “hell,” “the gospel,” “sin,” “atonement,” “inspiration” etc. Are we listening and stopping as leaders to see if the people we lead understand these words in the way we think they understand them? Misunderstanding these words can lead to a misunderstanding of Christianity.

The world we live in with this information flow and fast change is totally thrilling. But, to me, it also means that the leaders of churches need to be sharpening themselves theologically all the more. This means we need to view all we do theologically: our teaching and our methodology. To me, this means we need to seriously stop long enough in the fast pace of change and new ideas to ponder the trajectory of theological changes we may be pursuing. To me, this means we need to be studying church history all the more. We need to understand patterns of the past and see if the “new” things we’re doing have already been played out in history and what the result was. I personally feel that we need to be building leadership skills and growing as leaders. But at the same time, it means that leaders in our culture today need to be theological thinkers. As we look to the future, we also need to be looking to the theological future – mindful of the paths we’re carving and where they lead.