Why should we think theologically about the church? How does this tie to the question of ecclesiology? What function does theology have within the church? It is often thought that theology, ‘speaking of God’, is somehow separate from the church. However, Dr Justin Stratis suggested theology was one of the primary functions of the church quoting Barth; ‘Dogmatics is a theological discipline. But theology is a function of the church’ The Holy Spirit was left with the church and has been present through all church history, guiding the church to speak and act in accordance with the Father’s will. Theology is the sifting, and critical reflection, on the words and deeds of the church to identify this presence and works of the Spirit, identifying where God, rather than man has been at work. Theology cannot take place without the church as it is in and through the church that God exposes his character and plan to the world that needs him. So what is the connection between systematic theology and the church? It is explored through the notion of God’s mission in the world outworked through the church, those things he does for and through us. This mission, as posited by St Augustine, is reflective of the way God exists, a reflection of the Triune way of life, the ‘processions’ of God . What He does is utterly tied to how He exists. So, the purpose of theology is to explore and express this relationship, to see how ‘procession’ defines ‘mission’, and thus it asks questions which impact on ecclesiology. As ecclesiology asks questions of the nature of sacraments, laity, clergy, sacred spaces within the church, the questions that must always be borne in mind are ‘what is God, through his mission, doing in creation, and why?’ and... ... middle of paper ... ...mber 2013]. II Vatican Council Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium, [Online], Available: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html [Accessed 24th November 2013]. Martos, J. (2001) Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacrements in the Catholic Church, Revised and Updated edition, (Missouri: Liguori Publications). McGrath, A. (2011) Christian Theology: An Introduction, 5th edition, (London: Wiley-Blackwell). Murray, S. (2004) Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World, (Carlisle: Paternoster Press). Stackhouse, I. (2004) The Gospel-Driven Church: Retrieving Classical Ministries for Contemporary Revivalism, (Milton Keynes: Paternoster). Wright, N.G. (2005) Free Church Free State: The Positive Baptist Vision, 1st edition, (Milton Keynes: Paternoster).
“Theology is not superior to the gospel. It exists to aid the preaching of salvation. Its business is to make the essential facts and principles of Christianity so simple and clear…that all who preach or teach the gospel…can draw on its stores and deliver a complete and unclouded Christian message. When the progress of humanity creates new tasks…or new problems…theology must connect these old fundamentals of our faith and make them Christian tasks and problems.” (WR 6)
· Lewis, CS. Mere Christianity. New York: Doubleday, 1982. · McBride, David. The Story of the Church.
highlights the importance of the sacraments and the clergy, can be seen as a response on
Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 19(1), 69-84. Heim, D. (1996). The 'Standard'. Phil Jackson, Seeker in Sneakers. Christian Century, 133(20), 654-656.
When looking at the common theme that Barth develops in God Here and Now, it becomes apparent for the need of congregation to justify, ratify, and promote the Bible as the living word of God. When and where the Bible constitutes its own authority and significance, it mediates the very presence of God through the congregation. Encountering this presence in the Church, among those whose lives presume living through the Bible’s power and meaning. Barth states that the Bible must become God's Word and this occurs only when God wills to address us in and through it. The Christ-event is God's definitive self-disclosure, while Scripture and preaching are made to correspond to him as a faithful witness becomes the perfect statement according to Barth (Barth, 2003, p. 61).
Through the close study of two of the aspects shown in the diagram, their contributions allow Christianity to be considered a living religious tradition. The significant contributions of Pope John XXIII, during both his papal and Pre-papal life have had everlasting effects on not only Catholicism, but Christianity as a whole and lead to the sense of Christianity being a living religious tradition. His works include two Papal encyclicals, Mater et Magistra and Pacem in Terris, along with his work being Apostolic Delegate of Greece and Turkey. Moreover, The significant practice of Baptism has further contributed to Christian being considered a living religious tradition as it accounts for the premise of most Christian beliefs to be initiated, especially in terms of salvation and affirming the beliefs in the trinity and following the teachings of Jesus Christ.
US Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Complete Edition ed. N.p.: US. Catholic Church, n.d. Print.
Oxbrow, Mark. "Anglicans And Reconciling Mission: An Assessment Of Two Anglican International Gatherings." International Bulletin Of Missionary Research 33.1 (2009): 8-10. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
Jenkins, Phillips. The Lost History of Christianity. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. Print. Phillips, Jonathan.
From the Catholic observation point, the Church presents two parts: One representing its divine nature as the untarnished body of Christ, and one direc...
Wuthnow, R. (2009). Boundless Faith: The Global Outreach of American Churches. California: University of California Press.
Pope John Paul II (1984), Apostolic Letter: SALVIFICI DOLORIS, [Online], Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Available at:
This essay gives a brief outline of the major developments in the role of the Papacy between the Early Church and the present day. It will cover four aspects. The development of the papacy as a temporal ruler, Papal elections, the Curia and the development of the ‘mission role’ of the Papacy. It will explore how the papacy changed from being an organisation that had the influence to appoint kings and arrange state borders to one with a billion followers. These followers see the papacy as being responsible for the administration, pastoral and spiritual care of their membership.
Westphal, M. (2009). Whose Community? Which Interpretation?: Philosophical Hermeneutics for the Church. Baker Academic. 107
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. 2nd ed. New York City, NY: HarperOne, 2010.