Saturday, June 25, 2011

Don't leave theology to the theologians

Today my son and I finished reading through Alister McGrath's Theology: The Basics. He bids the reader farewell with these thoughts from Karl Barth [originally from a 1934 Paris lecture]:
In conclusion, theology is not a private subject for theologians only. Nor is it a private subject for professors. Fortunately, there have always been pastors who have understood more about theology than most professors. Nor is theology a private subject of study for pastors. Fortunately, there have been repeatedly congregation members, and often whole congregations, who have pursued theology energetically while their pastors were theological infants or barbarians. Theology is a matter for the church. 
Karl Barth, God in Action,  1963, pp. 56-57

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