Why Does Theology Matter?

4. Theology: Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

Julian A. Davies

The University Church Toledo, Ohio 43615

Why get out of bed in the morning? Do you have a purpose?

What’s the point?

Our responses are shaped by our

worldview

The American Worldview

The American Dream

The American Dream The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom

includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the

family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.

[From Wikipedia; my underlining]

The Worldview of 1st-century Rome

The Peace of Rome

The Peace of Rome

Pax Romana (Latin for "Roman Peace") was the long period of relative peace and minimal

expansion by the Roman military force experienced by the Roman Empire after the end of

the Final War of the Roman Republic and before the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century.

[From Wikipedia; my underlining]

The Worldview of 1st-century Judaism

Creation and Covenant

Creation and Covenant

The Creator God has entered into covenant with the chosen people such that they are blessed to be

a blessing to the whole world and to draw all people into holiness and righteousness through

right relationship with the Creator God.

Covenant: Holiness and Righteousness

The Worldview of Early Christianity

New Covenant

New Covenant

Through Jesus Christ people may enter into right relationship with the triune God and through the work of the Holy Spirit may be enabled to regain the Image of God individually and corporately as

the Kingdom of God is made real in the world.

Image of God and Kingdom of God

Why get out of bed in the morning?

• The American Dream – freedom – prosperity through hard work

• Pax Romana – peace – submission to the powers that be – payment of taxes through hard work

• Jewish worldview – live by the covenant – strive for holiness and righteousness

• Christian worldview – live by the new covenant – strive for recovery of the Image of God and the building of the Kingdom of God

Christian worldview

What does it look like to live by the new covenant and to strive for recovery of the Image of God and

the building of the Kingdom of God?

Recall that in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, this will all be fully recumbent upon the grace of God.

The Means of Grace

Works of Piety

Individual Practices Communal Practices

Works of Mercy

Individual Practices Communal Practices

The Means of Grace

Works of Piety

Individual Practices

Reading, meditating and studying the scriptures, prayer, fasting, regularly attending worship, healthy

living, and sharing our faith with others

The Means of Grace

Works of Piety

Communal Practices

Regularly share in the sacraments, Christian conferencing (accountability to one another),

and Bible study

The Means of Grace

Works of Mercy

Individual Practices

Doing good works, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, feeding the hungry, and giving generously to

the needs of others.

The Means of Grace

Works of Mercy

Communal Practices

Seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination (for instance Wesley challenged Methodists to end slavery), and addressing the

needs of the poor

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

If we strive to live within the Christian worldview, the following choices will face us each day …

1. Works of Piety - Individual Practices - Reading,

meditating and studying the scriptures; Works of Piety - Communal Practices – Bible study

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

2. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – prayer and fasting; Works of Mercy - Communal Practices –

addressing the needs of the poor

Generates additional time for prayer

Generates additional

resources for almsgiving

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

3. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – regularly attending worship

[Suppose that it is 4th of July weekend, for example … where will you be?]

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

4. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – healthy living

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

5. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – sharing our faith with others

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

6. Works of Piety - Communal Practices – Regularly share in the sacraments

This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Once a week? Once a month?

Every three months?

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

7. Works of Piety - Communal Practices – Christian conferencing (accountability to one another)

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

8. Works of Mercy - Individual Practices - Doing good works (e.g. visiting the sick, visiting those in prison,

feeding the hungry)

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

9. Works of Mercy - Individual Practices - Giving generously to the needs of others. Communal

Practices - Addressing the needs of the poor.

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

10. Works of Mercy - Communal Practices - Seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination .

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

How will you spend your time?

How will you spend your energy?

How will you spend your money?

[Is it really “your money”? Or is it something that God has entrusted to you for building the Kingdom

here on earth?]

Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.

Reading and studying Scripture

Praying

Fasting

Almsgiving

Worship and sharing in sacraments

Healthy living

Sharing your faith with others

Christian conferencing

Doing good works

Working for justice

Getting out of bed to recover the image of God in one’s life and to help

build the Kingdom of God here on earth.

How do you make a start?

STOP

START

LEARN

STOP

START

LEARN

Become informed about fair-trade products

3 cents

15 cents

LEARN

Create a home recycling center

Why Does Theology Matter?

Because every choice you make today will depend upon the theology you hold dear, even if you

aren’t actively thinking about it!

As we conclude …

Any questions?