What is Theology?—part 4—Dr. Fry

What is Theology?—part 4—Dr. Fry

Dr. David Fry holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and is the lead pastor of the Bible Holiness Church in Frankfort Indiana.  Portions of one of his writings have been used here with his permission. 

            Theological reading, then, is our purpose to read in order to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and practice.  Some popular books, for instance, Rick Warren’s 1995 book Purpose-Driven Church, hardly qualify as a theology book. A pastor who consumes a steady diet of books like this is probably theologically malnourished. I’m sure one could find something theological in Warren’s book; you just have work really hard to find it. Reflection on doctrine or practice is not Warren’s purpose for writing. This is not to denigrate Warren’s book. I have found it helpful on many points. But it is not a theology book in my understanding. But neither does a theology book have to be as dense as John Zizioulas’s Being as Communion (1997).

            So what is a theology book? A theology book is any book whose express purpose is to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and/or in practice. The best theology books include both doctrine and practice. I am not sure that our greatest concern is that pastors are not reading theology books. Perhaps a greater concern is that pastors are not reading theology books theologically or at least theologically well. People read theology books like David Platt’s Radical (2010) without thinking much about its implicit teaching about God.

            I believe Radical is a good example of a theology book written for a popular audience while containing significant theological content (some of which should be very problematic for Wesleyans). Many books written for Christians and pastors emphasize the practice without getting much into the doctrine, yet while making huge doctrinal assumptions.  We read theologically well when our thinking conforms to God’s Word and is guided by the Holy Spirit. 

            In summary, pastors, we ought to read theology and we ought to read theologically. Obviously, theology books should be read theologically, but so also should our other reading material. And, pastors should read theology books whose express purpose is to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and in practice. For this reason, we should choose our books carefully.

Thought for the Day—G. Wolf

            There is much more about reading theology, reading theologically, and reading theologically well in Dr. Fry’s article, but we will stop here before we get in so deep at we drown in his admonishments to do all of the above.  I am concerned that Church musicians and Christian music educators are trying to relate to seeker and saints without the tools to make prescriptive decisions about whether or not the texts of the songs they lead in worship are accurate or not. 

            It is a huge mistake for an educator or a worship leader to continue on his or her musical journey while ignoring theology in the music being presented to congregations or their music organizations in Christian schools, Bible colleges and Universities. Jesus very clearly stated in Matthew 18:6 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”  Theology matters!  Church music matters!  Music that is taught in a Christian school or university matters!  So, once again I am contending that all Christian musicians must know what they believe theologically.