What is Theology?

Theologies is derived from two words. Theos which can be translated as God, and logos which can be translated as word. So theology is a word about God.

The Study of God

I particularly don’t like the definition of theology as the study of God. God cannot be an object of study. God is infinite, and you cannot study the infinite. You can only study the finite. And that is not God.

The Science of God

I also don’t like the definition of theology as the science of God. This also is inaccurate. God is not some object that can be experimented on and verified through empirical means. It misunderstands both science and theology.

The Discussion about God

The best definition of theology is the discussion about God and our relationship with God. That is how I would define theology. This recognizes the humility in trying to understand the infinite, which is simply impossible. The best we could do is look through a glass dimly.

Consensus

But I also like the fact that discussion means that it’s more than one person’s opinion. As a progressive Christian, I believe Tradition, Reason, and Personal Experience are also sources of authority for the church to have a discussion about what it believes.

I believe the authority of the church is the consensus that it’s derived through a process of discussion. Theology is the discussion about God and our relationship with God. The result is the doctrines and teachings of the church for a particular time and place.

Progressing in Knowledge

Because we don’t know everything, our doctrines and teachings have to change according to increasing knowledge. We need to progress in knowledge as we better understand the world we live in and the cultural influences that shape and mold our beliefs.

Progressive Christianity is about progressing in knowledge. It doesn’t believe that we have the truth set in stone in infallible and inerrant words. Rather, we believe that we’re in the pursuit of God and are teachable and open to growing in our knowledge of God.

What is a Good Christian?

What to you is a good Christian? There are many different answers that a person can give, but I will give you mine.

A Good Christian?

To me a good Christian is one who is Christ-like. That is, he or she or they try to think, act, and speak like Christ would in the same situation.

What is a Christian?

A Christian, as I define the word, refers to a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and follows his teachings.

I don’t believe you can really be a Christian if you don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will follow his teachings, or at least attempt to.

The Ten Commandments?

Exodus 20:1-17, as well as the text of Deuteronomy 5, are supposed to be the Ten Commandments. But look closer. It never numbers the commandments and never says there are only ten.

The Thirteen Commandments

There are more than ten imperative verbs, which indicate a commandment is being given. Let’s count the imperative verbs and see how many actual commandments there really are.

  1. “You shall have no other gods before me.”
  2.  “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”
  3. “You shall not bow down to them or serve them.”
  4. “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.”
  5. “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”<
  6. “You shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.”
  7. “Honor your father and your mother.”
  8. “You shall not murder.”
  9. “You shall not commit adultery.”
  10. “You shall not steal.”
  11. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
  12. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.”
  13. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

What about the Ten Commandments?

The only time that it is explicitly said that there are ten commandments is in Exodus 34:28. But if you read it, they are not the same commandments.

For example, one of the Ten Commandments here is “You shall keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread” (Exodus 34:18). Another is “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven” (Exodus 34:25). And yet another says, “The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God (Exodus 34:26).

So in the only place that it specifically mentioned that there are Ten Commandments, the list of commandments is different. And as you read it, you understand why this is called the Ritual Decalogue. It is written from the priestly perspective. Give us money, keep the Sabbath, don’t make idols, and make sure the sacrifice is done correctly.

But in Exodus 20, there really are at least 13 commandments, not ten. And different denominations try to combine them to get ten commandments in different ways.

The Decalogue: Contemporary

Hear the commandments of God to his people:

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage.
You shall have no other gods but me.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not make for yourself any idol.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Honor your father and your mother.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit murder.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit adultery.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not steal.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not be a false witness.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Source

Book of Common Prayer, 1979, page 350

Confession of Sin

You should confess your sins against God and your neighbor. Pray this sincerely from the heart.

A Prayer of General Confession

Most merciful God,
I confess that I have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what I have done,
and by what I have left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart;
I have not loved my neighbors as myself.
I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me and forgive me;
that I may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name.
Amen.

Almighty God,
have mercy on me,
forgive me all my sins through the Lord Jesus Christ,
strengthen me in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep me in eternal life.
Amen.

_________
This is a personalized version (I instead of we) adapted from the Book of Common Prayer according to the Episcopal Church (1979).



The Mystic Way
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