Leadership in a Postmodern Context Leaders do the

Leadership in a Postmodern Context Leaders do the right things. Leaders ask the right questions.

Theology is in a time of transition. • From a modern to a postmodern context. • Throughout history Christian theology has shown itself to be remarkably adaptable. • Acknowledge that all of our theology and our mental models about Christianity & Church have been shaped by modernity. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Although for a hundred years conservative & liberal theologians have seemingly been going their separate ways, both have actually been responding to the same agenda, the agenda of modernity. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Given the long-standing entrenchment of modernist assumptions, we should not be surprised to find that the postmodern challengenders suspicion and hostility among persons on both sides of the older theological divide. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

All theology represents a contextualization, including evangelical theology therefore we should take seriously the role of culture in theological formulation. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

What is the purpose of theology? Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Christian theology is an ongoing, second-order, contextual discipline that engages in critical and constructive reflection on the faith, life, and practices of the Christian community. Its task is the articulation of biblically normed, historically informed, and culturally relevant models of the Christian belief-mosaic for the purpose of assisting the community of Christ’s followers in their vocation to live as the people of God in the particular social-historical context in which they are situated. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Theology is a contextual discipline Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Christian theology is pilgrim theology. The theological task will never be completed – it is ongoing. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Theology is a “second-order” discipline. It is always subservient to the narrative & teachings of scripture. It is an interpretive activity. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Theology needs to be viewed as a secondary language that reflects on the meaning of the primary story rather than as a rational, doctrinal system that encourages people pretty well to dispense with the story. The relationship of theology to the Christian story is that of servant rather than master. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

The modern area is referred to as the age of reason. It glorified and deified science. In the modern period the individual self was elevated to the center of reality. Within this era knowledge became king and certainty became the treasure. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

“In the modern era, Protestant theologians across theological spectrum were deeply influenced by the Enlightenment problematic as well as the solutions proposed by thinkers in the Age of Reason. At the heart of the Enlightenment outlook was a specific understanding of the nature of human knowledge. This epistemology has often been termed ‘foundationalism. ’” Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Within Foundationalism certain beliefs are more important that others and are the anchors or “foundational” beliefs for all the others. “Foundationalism becomes a prescription determining what constitutes a correct, acceptable, or rightly structured system of beliefs. ” Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Conservative and evangelical Christians looked to error-free Bible, as there invulnerable foundation. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Conservatives likewise assumed that theological propositions they drew from the Bible stated universal – even eternal – absolute truths. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Modern theologians maintain that the goal of theology is the amassing of true statements, understood as a series of factual propositions. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Among philosophers today, foundationalism is being viewed as dying idea. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

The chief culprit in the undermining of the Bible’s status in the church has been modern theology itself. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

What is Scripture intended to be? Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

The reading of the text is for the purpose of listening to the voice of the Spirit who seeks to speak through scripture to the church in the present. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Reading within community. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

Lectio Divina Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

It is in our participation in the gathered community that we are most clearly a “people of the book. ” And it is here that the Spirit’s voice speaking through scripture can be most clearly discerned. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke

The following are four results of Foundationalism on Christianity during the modern era. The concept of the inerrancy of Scripture. Systematic theology – a series of factual propositions. Propositional evangelism & apologetics. The four spiritual laws are an example of this. Christianity became more a system of beliefs than a way of life. Beyond Foundationalism by Stanley Grenz & John Franke