Theology, the Simple Way

[Nik P.]

I often wonder how people who live church so simply can think about God so complexly. Have you tried to follow some of the theology debates between folks who all believe in this same simple church life? Theology simply means the study of God. Christian theology is simply an attempt to understand God as He is revealed by Jesus Christ. The Bible is a collection of texts which point to Jesus Christ. We all try to understand God for ourselves, so we are all theologians, in this simple way.

There are so many opinions about how to read, what passages mean, correct translations, political influences, ad nauseum. In our attempt to understand God, we make up explanations for HOW it worked instead of just looking at it and seeing THAT it worked. (Ah, the eyes of children.) Even John theologized about HOW Jesus was co-equal with the Father (as the Logos) and became Word made man. We already knew the Spirit descended like a dove at Jesus’ baptism and the voice declared Him, “My Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.” I guess that version was too simple for John.

Paul also theologizes, like in Romans 5: 12-20 when he’s writing about death through Adam and life through Christ. Paul is attempting to understand God, revealed by Jesus Christ, in the context of his Jewish background. Are we supposed to take Paul’s understanding and memorize it? Or, was the resurrection just too simple for Paul?

My point is to introduce narrative theology and propose that it is the simplest way of studying and replicating the study of God in simple churches. Have you noticed how children learn Bible lessons? They get the Bible story books with colorful pictures. How do they know that Jesus loves them? Have they studied Yoder’s epistemological preference for the poor and vulnerable exhibited by Jesus in the Beatitudes? No. They saw the picture of Jesus stopping and giving kids hugs in the “Let the Children Come to Me” story.

How do we know that God is gathering a Kingdom? Gee, it starts with, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” Oh, and God’s Kingdom is mentioned 86 times, spread out throughout the Bible. Any child can see God gathering a Kingdom. Do we really need verses, exegesis of the pericopes and the original Hebrew & Greek?

Since the Gospels, Acts, and much of the history of the Old Testament is told in story-format, shouldn’t we be reading it that way? Everything in the Bible was valuable to someone who wrote it down, passed it down and wanted us to understand just how they saw God in it. Instead of a list of basic beliefs, I think our basic story of Christ and Him crucified is our belief.

[Miguel]

Great Discussion Nik!

I find a completely narrative theology to be lacking.

First, the Bible is not one story, but many. Second the story genre is only one genre in many in the scriptures. Third, any conclusions for application from a narrative approach must by necessity come from a proposition or set of propositions. Those propositions even if from a narrative approach will lead to a systematic or biblical theology. It is inescapable. Fourth, a completely narrative approach has to, by definition, invalidate solid hermeneutical and exegetical practices. Finally, there is little room for doctrine in a completely narrative theology and there is such a thing as sound doctrine that can be taught from scripture.

Notice I said "completely narrative," with respect to these problems. I do believe that Narrative, Systematic, and Biblical theologies are all useful tools in the right context.

Blessings

[Nik P.]

I'll let you slide on definitions right now, but we'll probably need to see if we are using the term "narrative theology" the same way. Are you thinking of "story theology" which post-modernists are using to create their own meanings out of whatever stories seem interesting to them?

First, like I said, the Bible is a collection of texts, an anthology. It's not even a collection of stories, but includes widsom, poetry, history, sarcasm, letters, and more, that string together as "one vast, loosely structured non-fictional novel" per Karl Barth. Second, well that answers the second too. Seems like your underlying assumption is that narrative theology only works on narratives. I guess that's where we have to go back to the definition.

Third, that is a question that a modernist systematic theologian would ask. Why rip the text apart in order to figure out conclusions or doctrines for application? Only modernism believes there are hidden processes behind the text that can be universally applied. The conclusions, or applications are naturally embedded in the telling and hearing of the text. Propositions are not needed. Just a gathered Christian community is needed to live the text.

For example: I read Job 19: 25-27 a lot at deathbeds. [I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!]
There is an inherent meaning that brings comfort. Do we need a set of propositions to tell us how the Redeemer will stand on the Earth; how we will have eyes and flesh again after our skin is destroyed; and what is the relationship between Redeemer and God, before the loved ones cry and share hugs in a community of grief before God? No, we don't need propositions, conclusions or applications. These are all left over from modernism when we thought we could figure out how things worked so we could apply them elsewhere.

Fourth, back to definitions! What in the world do you think narrative theology is? The "hermeneutical stance" is that this is God's story of the formation of His Kingdom, within the context of our historical and literary traditions. It takes into account historical-critical method, but returns to the meanings that are shared in the Christian community who is living the text. So, if "solid" practices mean those institutional practices learned in seminary, keep them.

Finally, sound doctrine is derived from the biblical story, from creation to new creation as a whole. Therefore it encompasses biblical theology. "Narrative captures the story, but the narrative is not the same as the story, exhaustive of the story, or meant to replace the story; yet the story is not given apart from its telling in narrative," per Brethren pastoral worker Callahan, who taught me theology.

[Miguel]

Yes, I suppose we had better get our definitions laid out before we proceed. The problem with Narrative Theology, is that it's definition isn't pinned down yet. Story Theology and Narrative Theology are used interchangeably by the leading proponents of both. For an exhaustive example, consider the following BLOGS on Narrative Theology.

But hey, lets keep it going.

Define, Debate, and Deflate

Narrative Theology in Practice -