God is greater and truer in our thoughts than in our words;

He is greater and truer in reality than in our thoughts

- Augustine

Reflection by Alexandra Jagelman

for Fuller Theological College
submitted Jan 2015-02-04

Does context shape how one understands the Lord Jesus? Undoubtedly! Is this a
danger? Most certainly! The danger, as noted by Plantinga, Thompson and Lundberg, is that
our context and experience can over determine or negatively influence theological thinking
and distort the core of orthodoxy and Christian tradition. This can happen at both the
individual level as well as the broad scale of Church-wide theological formation. Plantinga
defends the need to consciously contextualize theology1, rather than engage in
Accommodation, the practice of compromising and adapting doctrine to culture.

Douglas Hall, a Canadian theologian, treats the contextualization of theology as a

dialogue, where the social context is taken seriously, but theology does not lose its voice in
the process2. Whether we are talking about the faith of an individual or Church-wide
theological formation, we once again see the point of reference as paramount in any talk
about God. I was particularly grieved to observe from this weeks readings that liberation
1Richard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg, An Introduction to
Christian Theology (Introduction to Religion) (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University
Press, 2010), 885-918, Kindle.
2 Douglas John Hall. Thinking the Faith: Christian Theology in a North American Context.
(Minneapolis: Augsburg 1989), 113-15.

theologians, in response to their context, have continued to warp Jesus into their own image
in order to justify their beliefs. They worship a jesus in army camouflage with an AK 47 or
bound as an African slave or with one hand nailed to the cross while the other hand a
clenched fist of rebellion3. James Cone has formulated a theology from his context of
historical racial oppression that knows no authority more binding that the experience of
oppression itself and this alone must be the ultimate authority in religious matters4.

Many of the great theologians of the past actually wrote their theology in response to
their context, but their point of reference was always predicated on God as revealed
through Scripture first.5 Plantinga affirms that Christian theology is at its best when it
engages with the problems and challenges of the real world, but it must be engaged with
intentionality and great caution,6 mindful always to avoid the dangers of liberalism and
reductionism.

Jinkins highlights the human tendency to swing like a pendulum in response to our context
and surroundings and then provides the long list of theologians trying to understand just who

3 See Websites: Amos3:7 Black Theologys Another Jesus and The American Catholic
Warrior Jesus and Weapons Man Liberation Theology & campus/media Hypergamy.
4 James H. Cone, Black Theology and Black Power. (New York: Seabury Press 1969), 32.
5 Augustines City of God written early fifth century out of the crisis of the sack of Rome.Thomas Aquinas
in response to Aristolte and the Churchs encounter with Islam.Martin Luthers protest in light of the changes
in the world through industrialism, war and disease. Karl Barths theology of crisis after two world wars,
Nazism and the bankruptcy of modern liberalism.

6 Richard J Plantinga, Thomas R Thompson, Matthew D Lundberg. An Introduction to

Christian theology. (Cambridge: Cambridge University 2010), Kindle Loc 885- 918.

Jesus is and often got it wrong7. The new converts in Berea (Acts 17:11) gives us a great
pattern to follow in response to a context, teaching or theology to daily examine the
scriptures to see if these things were so.

The passage below sums it up beautifully.

Colossians 2:6-8 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you
were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you
captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,
according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

7 Michael Jinkins, Invitation to Theology. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity 2001).