Within the field of theology, exegesis is where the interpreter extracts meaning from the biblical text in light of its literary and cultural-historical contexts. This is good. The opposite is eisegesis, which is where the interpreter imbues the text with a meaning foreign to its original contexts. This is bad. For instance, in Matthew 6 Jesus says you cannot serve both God and … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Syncs the Rigorous Study of Theology and Culture
Reformed Theology
Beatnik Christianity Resists the Temptation Toward Ideological Purity
Ideology is one of those expansive words like "culture" that encompasses a lot. Merriam-Webster defines ideology as "a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture; the integrated assertions, theories and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program; a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture." Ideological … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Resists the Temptation Toward Ideological Purity
Beatnik Christianity Expects Jesus Followers to Grow and Develop
Show me a person who's virtually unchanged over a 20-year period and I'll show you someone who's terribly boring and likely suffering from trauma-induced stagnation. It's an entirely natural psychological process of human growth and development for people to have experiences that influence their worldviews, personalities, relationships, interests, and values. Therein lies a lot … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Expects Jesus Followers to Grow and Develop
Beatnik Christianity Frames the Jesus Story Through Narrative Instead of Systematics
During my Reformed phase some years ago, I read an essay by D.A. Carson containing a chart of theological progression. It showed a linear development. It started with exegesis, which led to biblical theology, then moved to historical theology, and culminated in systematic theology. The implicit message was clear: systematic theology is the pinnacle of Christian theological … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Frames the Jesus Story Through Narrative Instead of Systematics
Beatnik Christianity Minors on Progressive Revelation and Majors on Incarnational Revelation
Progressive revelation is the belief that Scripture steadily uncovers more about God's character, nature, and purposes through the passage of time. For many theologians and ministers, it's the linchpin for how they make sense of the Bible's inner-continuity. This framework is used to explain an awful lot of disharmonious ideas like the slow evolution from polytheistic language … [Read more...] about Beatnik Christianity Minors on Progressive Revelation and Majors on Incarnational Revelation
