From a Theological Tradition
Frank Emanuel made an interesting comment on my post on “My Library”. He said, “It is worthwhile having at least one: intro to theology, ecclesiology, pneumatology and whatever good history you can get of your own movement(s).”
It got me thinking. There are so many Christians who do not grow up and stay in one particular denomination or tradition. I mean, I became a Christian in a Pentecostal Church, but took membership during my early Christian years in a Congregational Church, went to an Evangelical Missionary Bible College, married a Conservative Baptist, who works at a Reformed school and we now attend a Nazarene church.
What is my theological tradition? What is my movement? All of the above? Only Nazarene since that is where I am pursuing ordination? Could I go broader and just say Evangelical with a toe in post-Evangelicalism?
And if that is the case, then should I be reading up on all Evangelical history? Or, should I be reading up on Canadian church history?
The answer is, I think, that I should be reading up on all. Stanley Grenz took this type of approach in “Renewing the Center: Evangelical Theology in a Post-Theological Era.” In looking at the present and future of Evangelicalism, he looks back to three movements that are influential to the modern evangelical movement: The Reformation (Luther and Calvin), Revivalism and Methodism, and modern evangelicalism (after the rise of fundamentalism).
Of course, this means even more reading. I find the more I study and the more I read, the more non-specialized I want to be. Some of my peers are specializing, looking at a specific theologian, or theological movement, looking at a specific book of the Bible, or a specific method of hermeneutics etc. I find myself wanting to be a “jack of all trades”, (which means “master of none”). I want to be able to pull from different theological and historical traditions depending on what I’m currently studying. I do not want to limit myself.
So how do I do this? By staying in school forever! Do you think Chuck can afford for me to take two or three graduate degrees? How about one in Biblical studies, one in theology and one in history? I guess Chuck’s upcoming book is going to have to sell a million copies! 
-Amanda MacInnis
Tags: History, Postmodernism, Theology
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April 14, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I started out in the Pentecostal church as well. I guess I really was trying to encourage you to know the tradition in which you stand. I find that a lot of folks find a church they like but they have no idea where that church fits into the Church. I think as scholars part of our role is to help people bridge this gap.
This is how I do it. I pick up anything I can from my own denomination (Vineyard) and selectively read from my roots (Pentecostal primarily). But I also like to read historical books on the the North American Evangelical Church (especially Noll, I just picked up a new Noll today).
July 5, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I see you read my blog! Cool.
My hubby is a pastor in the Nazarene church. He makes me go too.
Wesleyan theology is pretty cutting edge when you get into it. Not that I’m all hip-hip-hooray Wesley all the way. But he had a great deal to say that is playing out in interesting ways in North America.
See you at FictionMatters!
Peace,
Bonne Grove
July 5, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Bonnie! Great to see ya! I think it’s so cool that Steve ended up with Church of the Nazarene. It’s amazing how far we’ve come from our EBC days!
I’ve been enjoying your blog. Hope all is well! Every once in a while I tell the story of our days in Counseling Skills with Ron Hallman. That class was so much fun!