Doing Theology
04/08/22 08:03
Let’s begin with Acts 16:31 - “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” I have heard many people say that this is a promise: If you decide to believe, then eventually, everyone else in your family we also come to believe, one by one. Naturally, if you come from an individually oriented society, you will see this verse in that light.
But, if you come from a community oriented society, you may see this verse very differently. Paul and Silas are talking to the head of the household: the jailer. If the head of the household decides to believe, then naturally, everyone else will be part of that decision. The decision is a group decision, not an individual decision.
Our western theology says that salvation is an individual matter. The Quichua communities in Ecuador have traditionally functioned as units. It is natural and logical for the Quichuas to make group decisions. So why can’t salvation (believing in the Lord Jesus) be a group decision?
Theology is culturally bound. Not everyone agrees with that, but I find that when you are bicultural, you will agree. It’s very difficult to see your own “cultural lens” unless you have made the transition into another way of seeing things.
Western theology is based on propositions and logic: Who is God? Another way of doing theology could be based on the question: Who are we as the people of God? Rather than ask, “What do we believe about God?”; we could ask, “What is our identity in Christ?” (“Our” is plural.)
Doing theology. Not easy, but necessary.