<<I suggested that theology can lead to madness. I don't mean to suggest
that Jim or any of these particular theologians is crazy.>>
That's a relief. I was beginning to wonder myself.
<<Understanding the Scripture doesn't require knowledge of somebody's theory
about how the ancient Hebrew's thought, or being adept at categorizing
passages according to form so that we can know what is literal or not.
It doesn't even require that we know how to read Hebrew or Greek.
All it requires is: He who has ears to hear, let him hear...>>
You'll be happy to know this is Bloesch's view, and the view of the Reformers
(all theologians, by the way, and not a one of them batty, as far as I can
tell!)
The only thing you're leaving out is the doctrine of the inner witness of the
Holy Spirit, and an explication of how the Word becomes "living and active" in
the life of a believer. That's all theology is--gathering Scripture together
and seeing what it means. In fact, you're doing a good job of it yourself. You
have taken a position, and used Scripture to back it up. You're a theologian!
I do recommend the Bloesch book as it is, I think, the best there is on the
subject. Also, he has an earlier volume called "A Theology of Word & Spirit"
(IVP) which lays out the bases for modern theology, including an expansion of
the perspective you hold.
<< [Jim's] assertion that theology is `essential,' is in direct contradiction
of the Scripture and history.>>
That would certainly come as a shock to Paul, Augustine, Luther, Calvin,
Wesley, Barth, Terry Gray and Howard Van Till!
Theology is nothing more than the attempt to correctly handle the Word of God.
The Scripture says: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who *correctly handles the word
of truth."* (2 Ti.2:15). That sounds pretty essential to me. And that is what
the theology discussion has been about.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Jim