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The Ultimate Task of Theology: An Observation from Final Farewells
by Lisa RobinsonDecember 8th, 2008
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A few days ago, I had the opportunity to attend Zane Hodges funeral, which was a little strange considering that I did not know him. But I have been so impressed with the indelible impression that he made on so many, including people that I do know who have known him, that at the least I wanted to glean from the final farewells a legacy that I most certainly would have appreciated and desired to know personally. I guess this was the next best thing to being there, benefitting from the words of wisdom that he seemed to share with so many.
To be sure, there were many remarks given from people who had known this beloved man and whose comments were replete with praise of a life well lived. One comment in particular really stuck with me. One of the speakers indicated that Zane Hodges had helped him to know Christ better. I continued to reflect on this as I ducked out right before the eulogy as work responsibilities beckoned. I kept thinking of this throughout the day. It was clear to me that Mr. Hodges was a consummate exegete of the Scripture and took to challenge theological positions that contradicted the grace by which believers in Christ are reconciled to God. I heard that he was a passionate teacher of the greek language. But what I heard most of all was a man who desired for others to know Christ better.
As I contemplated these things, it struck me that this is indeed the ultimate task of theology, to know Christ better. Yes, engaging in the study of God is faith seeking understanding that will of course lead to exhaustive investigations of historical developments, hermeneutics, and doctrinal positioning. I think it is indeed serious business to understand God on His terms and I am personally committed to a lifelong in-depth learning of His character and attributes, His ultimate revelation in Christ and the reconciliation of His creation. History has indeed demonstrated that many have sought to misrepresent or distort this revelation and the salvific process defined for us in Scripture. Deviations do need to be addressed. But we can get so enmeshed in the process of debate that we begin to leave Christ out. I confess that in my pursuits to defend truths as I have understood them, I have been guilty of such. But then I recognize that at these times our wrangling over doctrinal truths can amount to an intellectual match with pretty arguments but no real basis for meaningful Christian dialogue.
Christ is the centrality of the faith and if our dialogue doesn’t have a heartfelt knowledge of Christ as the ultimate goal, the game is meaningless. I think Paul was getting to this ultimate task in his commendation to the church at Colossae regarding the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ,
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ (Col 1:28)
All the words, debates, arguments should point to Him, should help people to know Him and to know Him better. Perhaps if we find that our theological investigations and debates become more about winning arguments then pointing to Christ and presenting men complete in Him, then maybe those investigations should be superseded by silent moments of introspection.
I did not know Zane Hodges, but it did seem from the myriad comments that I have heard about him, that this was something he understood well. The comments suggested that he was a man who pointed people to Christ and His corresponding grace. And for this seminary student engaged in the process of doing theology, I feel somewhat robbed for not having made his acquaintance but refreshed at the legacy that he left that seemed to help so many to know Christ and to know Him better.
The next time we are engaged in a theological debate, let’s think about what we are really arguing about.
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9 Comments
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Thank you, Lisa.
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Lisa, thank you for this wonderful post. Your statement:
“But we can get so enmeshed in the process of debate that we begin to leave Christ out. I confess that in my pursuits to defend truths as I have understood them, I have been guilty of such. But then I recognize that at these times our wrangling over doctrinal truths can amount to an intellectual match with pretty arguments but no real basis for meaningful Christian dialogue.”…….
is so, so important in today’s world of the contemporary church. It is essential in the dialogue within the church and on sites like this because our world is overrun with media-driven technology. The world has become both a confusing place full of error while being a place to seek true understanding.
I know that many of us seek to defend the truths of scripture (using theology as a vehicle) because many of us, when we were young in our faith, were easily misled and walked down the path of misguidance. Having been there, I, for one, don’t wish anyone to have to have to walk that confusing, difficult road. Yet I will be the first to admit that in doing so, it was the start of my understanding of biblically based theology….but only because I was seeking the truth of God, not my own truth.
My favorite word is balance…balance can only be achieved with truth in the mix. I truly don’t think anyone wants to walk down a path that misleads them. When a person chooses to walk down such a path, my guess is that most of them do so honestly and sincerely. If the church today were doing its job in preaching Christ crucified and teaching the basics of theological understanding, I think we would have fewer people who take that first step on the crooked path. The straight path seems so much more logical, don’t you think?
It’s a hard one — this balance that you’ve proposed. I agree wholeheartedly that our goal should be the strong representation of theology to lay people so they have reasons and a foundation for the truth they follow. Yet, the heart and emotion of our Christian faith cannot be tucked under the covers. It is real. Relationships are real. Our relationship with our Father is real. Yet, we much preach and teach truth for that relationship to be as real and truthful as possible.
You’ve hit a heart topic for me today….
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Thanks Minnow and Kathy.
Kathy, I agree that it is indeed a tricky balance. I am not negating the role of rigorous evangelical scholarship nor suggesting that we lay apologetic arguments aside. But I think we should be much more concern about defending Christ than about winning arguments. I think also we have to ask how pertinent is the particular topic to the essentials of orthodoxy and the salvific process. We can get into tiffs about disagreements that ultimately don’t matter and may even undermine fellowship in the process. Or even worse, affect someone’s faith. I think the test on essentials that Michael posted a while back is good place to gauge the degree we should fight for something.
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Salvation is knowing Christ in all His Offices, and walking with Him each day.
Hermeneutics is absolutely essential for making sense of God’s Word, along with Dispensation teaching.
Dr. Paul W. Foltz
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So often men and women get caught up with arguing for what they are convinced is truth without liberally applying grace. I have indeed been guilty of such.
I, too, was at the funeral. You see, I was one of those who was touched personally by Zane C. Hodges, and any one of the testimonies given at the funeral could apply to me as well.
The teaching and instruciton of this man has deeply impacted my walk with Christ and I will be forever grateful to God who placed this humble servant of His in my path.
Zane has left an example for us to follow, which you have summed up for us nicely in this post.
grace and truth,
Antonio da Rosa
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“Perhaps if we find that our theological investigations and debates become more about winning arguments then pointing to Christ and presenting men complete in Him, then maybe those investigations should be superseded by silent moments of introspection.”
Absolutely spot on Lisa. I think, like most of us we can get caught up in the theological niceties that we so easily forget the primary purpose of theology…namely to know Christ better…and to make Christ better know. The better we know him, the more we will want to make him known etc.
Also Lisa, can I just say how good it is to see you alongside CMP, Dan Wallace etc. I guess you would not like me to highlight this, but I can assure you that you fully deserve to be there if this thoughtful and gently provocative posting is anything to go by.
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Brit, if I could reproduce the smiley face with red cheeks I would so for now just pretend this one
has very red cheeks. I don’t know about deserve, but I am certainly honored to be here. Thanks for your kind words.
Antonio, I listened to the eulogy last night given by Tony Evans. Boy I wished I could have stayed a little longer to hear it. A homegoing like that definitely makes you reflect about what kind of impact you’re making here, I think.
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“I agree wholeheartedly that our goal should be the strong representation of theology to lay people so they have reasons and a foundation for the truth they follow.”
Christ has died.
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.
All else is window dressing
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The John C. above (post #8) is not the same John C. that has been posting on other threads.
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