So What!

By Lance Lewis on April 23rd, 2007 | Keywords:murder rate violence poverty theology.

127. That’s the number so far. And despite a plethora of forums to address it the chances are that by the end of the year Philadelphia’s homicide rate will meet or exceed 400. Our best minds, best intentions and best efforts are utterly impotent to stop this plague from overwhelming our communities. Sadly, Philly isn’t unique among large cities in this regard. Most of our major cities are suffering from a rash of irrational murders and violence with no end in sight.

 I can understand therefore when some wonder what in the world does Reformed theology have to do with the real issues that affect average, everyday black folks in the hood. What do the five solas matter to souls who struggle to make ends meet, find and keep jobs that pay a decent wage, obtain at least minimal healthcare and secure a quality education all while trying to avoid being the next victim?

Many would say that in such a context theology like clerical robes, ancient hymns and long sermons are obsolete, irrelevant and just plain silly. Others not going that far would certainly advocate that we prescribe and promote a new, different kind of reformed theology to meet and address the issues in the hood. At first glance these options appear attractive. Serving as a pastor of a church in a neighborhood that’s seen its share of violence and murder I too wonder if biblical theology is the way to meet the growing crisis in our community and city.

However before we wade into the pool of contextually driven theology let’s consider its challenges.

First, context driven theology (a theology that centers itself on the needs and issues of people) is dangerous because it consciously emphasizes the issues, wants and felt needs of people as the key matter in theology. A people centered mindset and theology can potentially reduce God to a means to and end. In this system God’s beauty, goodness, love, grace, majesty, salvation and supremacy doesn’t become the object of our delight, significance, security and satisfaction. Rather, He becomes our meal ticket, our vehicle to our best life now, our genie toward a new and more prosperous reality.

A second danger of context driven theology is that by focusing on felt needs it may never address root needs. The assumption of context driven theology is that the our main problem is brokenness, pain, sorrow and despair. The temptation of context driven theology is to view human sinfulness in its best possible light. We can tend to see those most adversely affected by sin as truly good people caught up in bad circumstances. The solution: a change in environment will produce and change in their nature. Those who believe that’s true should buy a copy of Nathan McCall’s book ‘What’s Going On’ and read the chapter titled ‘Faking the Funk: The Black Middle Class of Prince George County’.

Context driven theology can lead to a virtual splintering of God’s main message since every group and subgroup decides what God has to say to them. The Scriptures are no longer viewed as the unfolding story of God’s redemption which culminates in the virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, but my personal inspiration book to the life I really want. For evidence of this mindset look no further than your local Christian bookstore. There you may find bibles for men, women, children, infants, seniors, teens and yes tweens! Too few choices you say. Alright we’ve got the mom’s devotional bible, the bride’s bible and the women of color study bible. You can have an extreme teen bible, bible remix and bible for teen girls and boys. Still not enough you say. How about the dad’s bible, sportsman bible, busy dad’s bible and men’s fraternity bible? Context driven theology doesn’t begin with God has a word as much as it starts with God has a word just for me.

The fourth and particularly serious danger of context driven theology is its susceptibility to break the second command and construct gods in our own image which serve our purposes. Aaron discovered this at the golden calf incident. The people wanted a theology (namely one of power to defeat their enemies) that would suit their felt needs and a deity that would fit nicely into that theology. They wanted a god of power, yet not one whose power they could control and dispense at their whim. Context driven theology can refuse to take God as He unveils Himself in Scripture and substitute Him for a god that is much more to our liking.

A fifth and for now final danger of context driven theology is it can cause us to miss the real story, real plot, real point and real meaning of true biblical theology which is summed up in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is the main point, theme, plot, character, subject, substance and essence of life, history, Scripture and salvation. Genuine biblical theology seeks to explain and reveal His beauty, grace, humility, power, love, wisdom, sovereignty, compassion, righteousness, peace, justice and salvation for the glory of God and blessing of His people. Sadly, context driven theology can cause us to miss Christ in our focus on achieving relief, ease, comfort, convenience and prosperity here and now. As hard as this sounds (and I know it does) the lack of healthcare, good jobs, decent education, nice homes, finances and justice are not the most serious problems those who languish in the ghettos of our large cities face. Believe me I’m not speaking as one who never faced the stress of growing up black and poor in the city. I’ve lost family members to early deaths through disease and violence. I struggle with family and friends who battle despair and addiction. I’ve sat in hospital rooms wordless as those who suffered wondered why God would allow such pain for no seeming reason.

Yet with all that we still declare and are convinced that Christ, not improved circumstances is our prize. So in the face of a rising murder rate, increasing despair and the literal breakdown of the black community we will still proclaim that Jesus saves. He saves by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone for God’s glory alone. We will still stand on Scripture alone and declare that we are not ashamed or embarrassed by the gospel for it indeed is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the non-Jew. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written the righteous shall live by faith.

For Christ, the Church and the Truth

Pastor Lance

Comments

Cruz your brother!

April 23, 2007

Great article. I am in the process of working with teens and the issue of violence so I found your article to be personally timely for me. You are correct that God's word is timeless and therefore I do not have to re-create a word for our time. But while we don't have to re-create, nevertheless, we still can be creative. What are you thoughts about that? Also, would'nt you agree that Christian theology by definition is contextual? 1

pastor lance

April 26, 2007

what's up my dear brother cruz? thanks for your questions. first, I'm not sure what you mean by 'creative'. I'm becoming more and more concerned that the church is relying on methods and modes of entertainment because we're convinced that it can actually change someone's heart and thinking. Scripture seems to teach that the way the saints connected with the world was by constantly doing good works. Sadly, we've backed away from this perhaps because it takes alot more time and effort than putting on a show. however if by 'creative' you mean explaining the concepts of the kingdom in wise contemporary ways I'm with you. Jesus used a multitude of stories to explain the gospel of the kingdom and we should make use of that method to declare the things of the gospel to those we witness to. re: theology being by definition contextual. yes and no. Since creating Adam God has always acted and spoke within a human context. Yet, that context didn't drive God's actions or word. For example Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that he wasn't going to try and imitate the ways of the popular philosophers of the day. (1 Cor 1 and 2) True we study and do our theology within a given social context, but we can't allow that context to drive that theology. thanks for checking us out and may the Lord bless your work . joyfully, pastor lance 2

VULTCHA

May 05, 2007

Amen. In praticality, we should strive to address the problems of the hood, but even in a Utopian, "we-can-all-just-get-along" version of the Urban Inner city, the biggest problem would still be that most lack the knowledge and reception of God's glorious "gift" of salvation through Christ. 3

VULTCHA

May 05, 2007

Amen. In praticality, we should strive to address the problems of the hood, but even in a Utopian, "we-can-all-just-get-along" version of the Urban Inner city, the biggest problem would still be that most lack the knowledge and reception of God's glorious "gift" of salvation through Christ. 4

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