Inside look Into SYTH 440: Contours of Reformed Theology

Within my experience of studying Reformed Theology, questions that push the validity of the confessions or the Reformed heritage were usually met with a low grade version of hostility.

The confessions were used as the final answer to questions of theology. The focus of study was narrowed into the boundaries of Reformed theology. The goal was to understand the system of thought within the system.

Attempts to step out of the system and see things from a different perspective made people nervous. Conversation usually stopped and eye brows were lifted if you asked the wrong question. Most of our tradition has been defined by what we are not. We are not catholic or Anabaptist or charismatic. Much of our theology and creeds were crafted in times of hostility and was written to refute others not like us.

As part of this Reformed tradition, I have observed that we have inherited some great theology, but poor behavior and attitudes (there is a move afoot today to sanitize the confessions of bullying language). We can be arrogant in our theology and anti-ecumenical. But there has been some refreshing change in the past years.

For the past couple of weeks, 15 of us have been part of SYTH 440 at Calvin Theological Seminary. All of us are either in seminary (fuller, regent, acts) or have already graduated and are in pastoral ministry. We are taking this class as part of the EPMC program. We arrived in town and most of us were a bit apprehensive to take another class on theology -- especially a class on reformed theology from CTS In the Christian Reformed Tradition, some of us experienced theological training in the form of "open wide and swallow."

Yet, many of us had a liberating experience. No question was frowned on. The class was more like a lab testing ideas than a place to brief new pastors on the supremacy of the Reformed theology. It was a safe place to dialogue, question and wonder. It was in this environment that many of us began to appreciate and enjoy Reformed theology. It isn't perfect, it has holes, but it's got some pretty cool doctrines (transforming society, historical-redemptive, covenant etc.)

It's an observation that questions and dialogue create ownership, rather than the feared non-compliance.

I also noticed that the book store now stocks John Calvin bobble heads and it's quite convenient that Fathers' day is coming up.

Tags: epmc, calvin theological seminary, reformed theology