Slideshow image

Introduction to Systematic Theology

by Vicar Lisa

Well, my second-to-last semester of seminary school has begun, and it is going to be a very demanding time. One of the classes I am taking is Systematic Theology with Ted Peters as my professor.

Ted Peters is an American Lutheran theologian and Emeritus Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union. In addition to his work as a theologian and educator, he is a prolific author and editor on Christian theology, Public Theology, the interaction of science and religion, bioethics, and space ethics.

From what I have read of his work so far, he is a brilliant man who uses very big words, and I feel like I spend half of my reading time looking up those big words! And, since I have assignments every week on the topic, fair warning, you will be seeing some of those assignments in the weekly e-formation. But I will try to compose at a level most of us can understand!

Reverend Peters has challenged us with what he calls, “the Hermeneutical Question.” Hermeneutics is a big word that means “concerning interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts.” The question Reverend Peters posed to us is:

How can the Christian faith, first experienced and symbolically articulated in an ancient culture now long out-of-date, speak meaningfully to human existence today as we experience it amid a worldview dominated by natural science, secular self-understanding, and the worldwide cry for freedom?

I found that interesting since I had a conversation with a parishioner just last week who was wondering about something similar (of course in much simpler, easy to understand language!).

According to Peters, “systematic theology explicates the content of Christian belief, often by expanding the trinitarian structure found in the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed.” Then he goes on to state that “the systematic theologian dares not settle for simply repristinating what the ancient creeds said. Rather, the systematic theologian is mandated to be sensitive to contemporary culture.” (Repristinating means to restore something to its original condition or state.)

Peters’ states that culture comes in two forms. The big brush paints epochal culture with modern or postmodern hues. The fine brush paints culture in specific contexts, typically contexts that might be marginalized by epochal culture.

For his class, what we will be concerned with is the fine brush, how we interpret scripture, keeping the otherwise oppressed or even invisible populations of our culture in mind. He informed us that within systematic theology, we will paint into the theological picture black theology, feminist theology, queer theology, liberation theology, post--colonialist theology, and such.

Seems like this semester is going to be mind-blowing and I will learn a lot of big words as well! Stay tuned!

17th Sunday After Pentecost – Sept. 15

10 a.m. Worship (at Round-Up Park this Sunday) with Communion

Announcements

  • Sunday Worship & Annual Picnic: This coming Sunday, we will have our annual worship and picnic at Round-up Park (near the fairgrounds). Again, this year, music will be provided by the Orphan Valley Singers. Bring your favorite dish for the potluck picnic and a lawn chair for outdoor worship. This is a relaxed worship celebration and time for fellowship and food.
  • Special Thanks: We are grateful to the many people who made GWOH Sunday in Trinidad a meaningful experience, both for the people we served and for the many hands who prepared, served, and supported the food.
  • Blessing of the Animals: On Saturday, Oct. 5, Zion’s will offer its traditional blessing of the animals. The blessing will take place on the fenced, lower lawn of the Fellowship Hall. We are reaching out to the community to participate in this blessing. We will be collecting pet food and other pet supplies to donate to PALS. In addition, we have had several items donated for “door prizes”. For more information, talk to T.M. Garner, Julie Wersal, or Jo Moss.
  • Weekly Bible Studies Resume in October: The Rev. Dr. Becky McNeil will lead a Bible Study entitled, The Bible from Scratch, The Old Testament for Beginners by Donald L. Griggs. The books to accompany the course are available on Amazon. We are going to meet two different days of the week, Wednesday and Saturday, which gives us more flexibility. The Wednesday study will be held from 1-2 p.m. beginning on Oct. 2. The Saturday study will be from 10-11 a.m. beginning on Oct. 5. Follow this link for details https://zionslutheran.tithelysetup2.com/events/weekday-bible-study/2024-10-02. 
  • Save the Date: On Sept. 26, from 9 am until approximately 11 pm, Safeway will be providing vaccines at the Senior Center located at 1222 San Pedro Avenue. Vaccines available include flu, COVID, Pneumonia, RSV and Shingles. Bring your insurance or Medicare card.

E-formation – 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Sept. 15

More than half of today’s gospel was proclaimed this year also on Lent 2. If the focus in Lent was on the coming passion of Christ, an alternate focus is on the community’s living for the sake of the gospel by adopting values that seek other than “gaining the whole world,” one part of which is watching our mouths. We seek the eschatological end of the sorrows of the human condition.

Mark 8:27-38

We gather with Jesus’ disciples to acclaim Jesus as the one God has anointed to save us, yet we too often prefer a human interpretation to the divine one. Many contemporary exegetes urge care that the first-century call in the face of persecution to take up one’s cross ought not degenerate into the advice to seek martyrdom or to be acquiescent to conditions of misery. Rather, Christians are invited to live with countercultural values. Christians are set in the end time, the beginning of the conclusion of human suffering and injustice, which is seen first in the resurrection of Jesus.

Isaiah 50:4-9a

This passage from Isaiah is appointed each year on Passion/Palm Sunday. Today it serves especially to provide metaphoric background for the New Testament descriptions of Christ’s crucifixion. We are called to stand with Jesus no matter what conflicts we encounter, for we will receive God’s help.

James 3:1-12

In a culture that sanctifies personal speech and regularizes satire and other types of verbal abuse, James’s poignant reminder of the dangers of speaking one’s own mind is timely. James relies on the Genesis 1 description of humans as created in the likeness of God to call the faithful to lives of blessing, rather than cursing.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785