Doing Theology in a Precarious Time - S&H Jul/Aug 2007

Well I suppose that it won’t come as a great surprise to many readers of Seed & Harvest to hear that we are in a precarious time in the life of the church. Saying it again would probably provoke my 19 year old daughter to roll her eyes and say, “Well, like...duh…”

Faculty members at Trinity are often asked what we’re doing about the situation – not a simple question from one perspective: the church is a complex body with a long and checkered history full of real human beings. Words alone, even erudite, theologically sound, and seemingly convincing words, are never enough. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he reminds them that he did not come to them with “rhetoric” and “human wisdom” (i.e. “fancy words”) – but with a message about “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).

So, what is Trinity doing? Hopefully what we have always done – in our classroom teaching, when we go out to parishes to preach, when we write our articles and books – we are pointing to the cross, pointing to Jesus. We are keenly aware of our fallibility and frailty as we seek to do this task. We are more aware than ever that the task of “doing theology” (reflecting on the needs of the church and in the world in the light of the Word of God) is an impossible job if we simply rely on our own ability and strength. We need God’s help – and so we need your prayers. It is perfectly possible to attempt to study or teach theology without God, but the outcome will be bent and distorted. Please join in Trinity’s theological work – and please start by lifting us (board, faculty, staff, students, and supporters) up to God so that only His name will be glorified in the work that we do here.

The Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand is Trinity's Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Mission.