Theology is
not about the knowing and learning principles only but also about the living.
There were numerous methods of doing theology over the period of time. The author
is going to explain the different kinds of theological approaches;
propositional, liberal , post-liberal, post-conservative, canonical-linguistic
and radical orthodoxy. The first body paragraph will be based on similarities and dissimilariteis
between Propositional and Liberal theology whereas the second body paragraph
will on the contemporary theological methods with its implication in the
context of local church.
The streght
of 20th century evangelical theology are
historically evangelical and culturally engaging and rejecting the liberal
theolgy whereas it is engaged in context less and forgot the traditional
doctrine based on modern theology. Propostional and liberal theology are two
methods of doing theology which hugely
impacts on evangelical theology of 20th-Century. Both of them were historicaly
evangelical. Both of them look for a timeles truth. Propotional look it form
scripture whereas liberal look it from the human experience. Scripture is infallible and inerancy, therefore is the
ultimate authority of their faith and salvation for propostional but scripture
is not infallible therefore scripture plus human experience is the final
authority of their faith for liberal. Propositional theology remains faitful to
the scripture which is positively sound. However, It says that we need a mediator
to find truth from the scripture which is not well because we have Holy Spirit
who can reveal the truth of Scripture. So, we do not need any meditoar apart
from the truine God himself because God can reveal the truth to anyone who ever read his word. It is good to know
that liberal theology believe in person and work of Christ. It is bad when it
says the bible is not infallible word of God and doubt to the scripture.
Post-liberal
theology is one of the theological methods of doing evangelical theology. Its
main focus is not God but the community of faith It considers that community of
believers are the foundation of their faith. Post -conservative theology comes
from evangelical theolgoy. It is a way of doing theology. It remains faithful
to primary doctrine like authority of
scripture , orthodox doctrine and chritian doctrine but also engage in particular context without
compromising the primary context. It is called post conservative because it
reject one idea of the propositional theology that tries to separate the
doctrine from the culture.Canonical-linguistic approach says that Bible is the
final source of theology because it explain abou the salvation of humanity. It
looks like more account of theologicla details
than theoloigcal approach because
it does say what theology more and how
to do theology less. According to the Radical Orthodoxy, They believe in
primary doctrine and tries to save it by not involving in present cultural like
watching movies and wearing fashionalable dress etc. Their mission is to expose
the Christian so-called myth and remain
faithful to the scripture. They never believe in dualism of nature and grace
and secular and sacred but promote the theology of participation
From my
perstive and understanding , Our church is so closed to the post-conservative
theology. Our church always empaise the final authority of our faith is scritpure and the dual nature of
Christ; fully human and fully God, Trinity and so on. It also accept the
current tradition without compromising the primary doctrine. Having the
knowledge of the scritpure always helped to be in intimate relationship with
God ang grow in christian faith. It alwys helped me to rely on God more than on
myself and on my work. Even though, I was in good relationship with God , I
faced many challegnes in my life. It happends because I failled to follow the
scritpure many time. This approach allow us to engage in current context which
is so tempting and provoking. It trapes so many christain and prevented to be
faithful in day to life.
looking back
to other three approach like post-liberal, canonical-linusitic and radical
orthodoxy. I think that Radical orthodoxy might provide balance in my life and
save me from the tempation. Radical orthodoxy do not ephasize to involve in
modern culture but emphasize to remain faithful to the scripture. It tells us
to go back to its root the bible and protect from the modern
temptation.therefore, if we follow this we will grow moe in Christ and fall in
modern cultral trap in less.
Conclusion
To conclude,
all of the theological approaches is centred on Scripture and Truine God except the liberal theology.Propositional
theology remain faith to the scripture from the starting to now but the liberal
theology does not remain faithful to the scripture. It is changing over the
period of time. Post-liberal is upadet version of the libera theology.
likewise, Post- conservative theology is also updated version of propotional
theology. Both of them are oppositve to their root. Canonical-linguistc
approach is like more drama than the methods where we can see the events of
salvation but not able to see the way of doing theology.Eventually, Radical
orthodoxy is useful approach but not every one can do that.
Bibliography
Porter,
Stanely E. and Studebaker, Steven M. An
introduction: Method in Systematic Theology: 1-15
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