Introduction to Theology

1. Where would you place “getting intoxicated” in the quadrant chart? What is the chief principle that it violates? Are you consistently applying this principle in other parts of your own life? Explain.

2. Many Postmoderns call the Church hypocritical because of inconsistency in what the Church condemns and how Christians live. Explain how someone who does not eat healthy, but who condemns a person for smoking, might be thought of a hypocrite. What can we do to be more consistent?

3. Further discuss which doctrines you believe are essential for salvation. Place them in the center of the Circle of Importance.

4. Further discuss which doctrines you believe are essential for orthodoxy, other than those you placed in the “essential for salvation” category.

5. Discuss the Chart of Certainty and the answers that you gave to each question.

1. There is a God?

2. That Christ rose from the grave?

3. That God loves you?

4. That Christ is going to come and Rapture the Church before the Great Tribulation?

5. Christ is coming back to reign on the earth for a thousand years?

6. That Christ is coming back?

7. That God wants you to trust that He will protect you from all physical harm?

8. That God wants you to trust that He will protect you from all emotional harm?

9. That God wants you to trust in Him in every circumstance?

10. That the Bible does not have any historical errors?

11. That Adam and Eve were real people?

12. That there was really a snake in the garden?

13. That God created the earth in seven literal days?

14. The God created the earth?

15. That Christ paid for the sins of all mankind?

16. That Christ died for you?

17. That the Apocrypha (15 books in the Roman Catholic Bible) should not be included in Scripture?

18. That the book of 3 John should be included in Scripture?

19. That the book of Genesis should be included in Scripture?

20. That the gift of tongues ceased in the first century?

6. Did your group find essential unity even though you disagree upon minor issues? How does this help you to understand the essential unity of the Body of Christ?

7. How was your thinking most challenged by the lesson? Explain.

1. Reread the modernist objections to Christianity.

Modernist Objections to Christianity
1. What about all the contradictions?
2. God is just a crutch. Religion was invented by man.
3. Jesus was just a man.
4. The Bible we have today is not the same as when it was written 2000 years ago.
5. I don’t believe in what I can’t see.
6. Evolution has proven Christianity to be wrong.
7. The Bible is a myth full of fairy tales.
8. How did Noah get all of the animals on the Ark?
9. There is no such thing as miracles.
10. Do you really believe in the story of Adam and Eve?

Which objections have you heard the most?
Which objections do you find the most difficult?
Why?

2. Reread the postmodernist objections to Christianity.
Postmodernist Objections to Christianity
1. If God exists, why is there evil?
2. The Inquisition and the Crusades show that Christianity is oppressive.
3. Christianity is a way to God but not the only way.
4. Christianity is arrogant and exclusive.
5. How do you know that your Bible is better than other religious writings?
6. Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?
7. What about those who have never heard?
8. The church is full of hypocrites.
9. Why would God send anyone to Hell?
10. The God of the OT is cruel, partial, and unjust.

Which objections have you heard the most?
Which objections do you find the most difficult?
Why?

3. Do you know anyone who has died who you believe may be in Hell? How do you deal with this?

4. The following question was asked during the last group discussion: “Which mindset do you identify with most: Modernism or Postmodernism?” Which do you identify with most now? If your position has changed, explain why.

5. How does the distinction between Cataphatic theology and Apophatic theology help you to understand how to approach theology? Explain.

6. Read Prov. 3:7; 12:1, 15; 18:1; 19:20.

Prov. 3:7
Prov. 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

Prov. 12:1
Prov. 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid

Prov. 12:15
Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice

Prov. 18:1
Prov. 18:1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.

Prov 19:20
Prov 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

Why do you think that the Bible is so emphatic about having many advisors or counselors?

7. How does the individualism of America conflict with the instruction of the Proverbs concerning having advisors and counselors? Give examples.

8. To be perspicuous means “plain to the understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation” (Webster’s). Name some teachings of Scripture that are plain to the understanding.

9. How was your thinking most challenged by the lesson? Explain.

1. Discuss the contact you have had with the postmodern mindset.

2. Some argue that those who say they believe that all truth is relative don’t actually live this way. Explain why it is virtually impossible to live out a relativistic worldview.

3. Discuss the validity of this statement: “People are only relativistic when it comes to the issues of morals and metaphysics (God, spiritual things, etc.). They are not relativistic when it comes to the mundane.”

4. Do you still see modernism’s overly optimistic worldview in our society today? Give examples.

5. Empathize with people’s despair caused by the failed claims of modernism.

6. Which way of thinking do you identify with most: Modernism or Postmodernism? How?

7. Why do you think that postmoderns are described as people who are in despair? How have you observed this?

8. In what ways would having a subjective or relative worldview cause you despair?

9. How was your thinking most challenged by the lesson? Explain.

1. Many would say that when Christians do theology, they should do so objectively, using only the Bible as their source. Is this possible? Why or why not? 

2. Some Christian apologists (often called Classical apologists) believe that using the Bible to convince an unbeliever of a Christian worldview is impossible because the unbeliever does not believe the Bible. Do you believe that this is true? Discuss. 

3. Philosophical theology seeks to understand the world using nothing but what all people have in common—our reasoning capability. If someone you know did not believe the Bible but was searching for truth, how would Philosophical theology be beneficial? 

4. Historical theology seeks the contribution of past saints to formulate theology. Some people do not seek the contribution of past saints, thinking that Christians do not need tradition, since it has misled us so many times. 

How is this attitude arrogant and fallacious? 

How is this attitude wise and cautious? 

5. Systematic theology seeks to draw from all sources of theology. How does doing theology systematically help make the doctrine of God (for example) more complete? 

6. Review Subjective theology. How have you experienced Subjective theology in your own personal life?How have you experienced Subjective theology done in a small group? 

7. It was said during the lesson that when reading the Bible “it does not matter what it means to you. It matters what it meant.” How is this true? Discuss. 

8. Discuss the difference between asking a) what does a Scripture mean to you? and b) how does a Scripture apply to you? 

9. Review Irrelevant theology. Read Acts 1:26.  

Acts 1:26. 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.  

The Apostles cast lots in order to replace Judas as an Apostle. How might an Irrelevant theologian apply this passage? 

Give some other examples of how Irrelevant theology might be practiced. 

10. Review Eisegetical theology. Give some examples of how you have practiced this type of theology. 

Why do you think that we often interpret Scripture this way?

1. Reference was made to the quote from R.C. Sproul that we live in an anti-intellectual culture. Another person once said that the sins of the culture become the sins of the Church. Further discuss the ways that the sin of anti-intellectualism is evidenced in the Church. 

2. Now discuss ways in which you tend to become anti-intellectual with regard to spiritual matters. 

3. Why is it so easy to separate the intellectual life from the spiritual life? Discuss. 

4. Many times I receive e-mails that include a short Scripture and prayer. The sender then attempts to persuade me to forward the e-mail to a certain number of people so that I can receive a blessing from God. How does this evidence Tabloid theology? Explain. 

5. Discuss ways in which you have been influenced by Tabloid theology. Why is it so common for us to be Tabloid theologians? 

6. Folk theology, unlike Tabloid theology, is rooted in traditions that have been passed on through various sources. But like Tabloid theology, Folk theology is baseless and naive. Further discuss and give examples of Folk theology. 

7. In your notes there are examples of how theology affects a number of different areas in a section entitled “How do we do theology everyday.” How are the issues listed below influenced by our theology? 

When we get sick.When we choose schooling for our children.When we vote.When we decide who we will marry. 

8. How was your thinking most challenged by the lesson? 

9. In the coming week, in what ways can you apply the lesson learned? Write them down.

1. It was mentioned in class that the Christian faith is not a virtuous intellectual leap into the dark, believing that trusting God means that you check your brains in at the front door. How was Christian faith defined in the class lecture?

2. Read Isaiah 45:18–22; 46:5–10.
Do these passages encourage or discourage “blind faith”? Explain.
Pay particular attention to God’s rebuke of the Israelites for worshiping other gods. Which took more “blind” faith, to worship a carved idol or to worship a God who predicts the future? Which kind of faith is God mocking them for having?

Isaiah 45:18–22
18 For this is what the LORD says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.

19 I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

20 “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.

21 Declare what is to be, present it—let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD ? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 46:5–10
5 “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? 6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.

8 “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

3. How does this change your thinking about what it means to have faith? Explain.

4. In the “Who are you and why are you taking this course” section, which of the nine types of people do you identify with most? Explain.

Who you are and why you are taking this course??

1. Practical Priscilla: You are a person who has never seen the practicality in deep theological study. You are here to see if we can change your mind.

2. Scared Susan: Big words scare you. You don’t really think that you are smart enough to be here. You are here this time, but you may not be here the next.

3. Know-it-all Nick: You already know everything. You are just here to see if we do—and to pick up where we leave off.

4. Fundamental Fred: You are the God-ordained guardian of orthodoxy. You are here to sit, with arms crossed, and protect.

5. Want–an–answer Will: You have a lot of questions. You are here not to do theology in community, but to write theology down with a pen and paper.

6. Traditionalist Teri: You want to learn, but your traditions and preconceived notions bind you. You are here to have your traditions confirmed to be true.

7. Confrontational Carl: You are not a believer in Christ or the Bible and have no intention of becoming one. You are here to argue.

8. Struggling Sam: You are a believer in Christ, but you have a lot of doubts and struggles. You have never had a safe place to express those doubts. You are here to see if this is the place.

9. Curious Carla: You are not really sure why you are here, but you’re excited to find out.

5. How do you think having so many different types of people with different perspectives, backgrounds, traditions, and passions will make this type of study better?

6. Irenic theology was described as theology that is done in a peaceable manner, accurately and humbly representing all views, even if you disagree with them. Polemic theology was described as theology that is done in a warlike manner inside the Church, prophetically speaking against those with whom there is disagreement.

Do you think that Irenic theology is a better starting point for doing theology than Polemic theology? Explain.

7. Are there times when polemic confrontation is necessary? Explain.

Think of possible times when you have been personally rebuked for something sinful, destructive, or selfish. Did you need someone to peaceably come and represent your side, or did you need someone to give you stern rebuke?

8. How was your thinking most challenged by the lesson? Explain.