Living Wittily

Barth: Putting theologians in their place

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396274 Every now and again we all need to be put in our place. Brought down a peg or two. Reminded of our limitations. Told what's what.

Here's Barth telling all would be, self-affirming theologians what's what:

Theology is not a prviate subject for theologians only. Nor is it a private subject for professors. Fortunately there have always been pastors who have understood more about theology than most professors. Nor is theology a private subject of study for pastors. Fortunately there have repeatedly been congregation members, and often whole congregations, who have pursued theology energetically while their pastors were theological infants or barbarians. Theology is a matter for the church.

Karl Barth, God in Action, (Edinburgh:T&T Clark, 1936), 56-7

Comments

12 responses to “Barth: Putting theologians in their place”

  1. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    Well put Uncle Karl. And this, from just a few pages earlier:
    ‘Theology is an act of repentant humility … This act exists in the fact that in theology the Church seeks again and again to examine itself critically as it asks itself what it means and implies to be a Church among men…The Church, too, lives under the judgement of God, as does the world. So, it cannot be otherwise but that the Church must critically examine itself, not according to its own wishes and standards but according to the standard which is identical with its basis of existence which is God’s revelation, which, concretely, is the Holy Scriptures. It is this constant and ever-recurring necessity and demand for self-examination of the Church by the standard of the divine Word which is the peculiar function of theology in the Church’.

    Reply
  2. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    Well put Uncle Karl. And this, from just a few pages earlier:
    ‘Theology is an act of repentant humility … This act exists in the fact that in theology the Church seeks again and again to examine itself critically as it asks itself what it means and implies to be a Church among men…The Church, too, lives under the judgement of God, as does the world. So, it cannot be otherwise but that the Church must critically examine itself, not according to its own wishes and standards but according to the standard which is identical with its basis of existence which is God’s revelation, which, concretely, is the Holy Scriptures. It is this constant and ever-recurring necessity and demand for self-examination of the Church by the standard of the divine Word which is the peculiar function of theology in the Church’.

    Reply
  3. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    BTW Jim, I think that that’s the most serious photo (displyed under About) I’ve seen of you.

    Reply
  4. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    BTW Jim, I think that that’s the most serious photo (displyed under About) I’ve seen of you.

    Reply
  5. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    Och aye but balanced by the one posted after the party. I am occasionally guilty of seriosity. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    Och aye but balanced by the one posted after the party. I am occasionally guilty of seriosity. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    Now now … that’s the first time I’ve heard you lie online (or offline for that matter) 🙂

    Reply
  8. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    Now now … that’s the first time I’ve heard you lie online (or offline for that matter) 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    No seriously Jason. Honest. I have been known to be serious – why else would I reveal to the world I still wear a tie – and a suit for goodness sake. The tie is a dead giveaway for a personality that likes to have things tidy, tied up, buttoned down, co-ordinated, mean business, nae messin’, dead serious – in the photo in question I concede that I’m grinning, looking sideways, and looking as if I could sell you a second hand car without you ever questioning my….honesty 😉

    Reply
  10. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    No seriously Jason. Honest. I have been known to be serious – why else would I reveal to the world I still wear a tie – and a suit for goodness sake. The tie is a dead giveaway for a personality that likes to have things tidy, tied up, buttoned down, co-ordinated, mean business, nae messin’, dead serious – in the photo in question I concede that I’m grinning, looking sideways, and looking as if I could sell you a second hand car without you ever questioning my….honesty 😉

    Reply
  11. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    Cool, I’m looking for a car. But I wouldn’t buy a bag of frozen peas from a guy who looks like he’s at his third or fourth Amway meeting 😉 … though I do like that tie.
    Which reminds me of something that Steve Biddulph once said in his book ‘Manhood’ wherein he argues that the only thing that ties are good for is for tying up tomato plants to their stakes.
    Perhaps you could try a dog collar … and come and join the Presbyterians. You know, it’s all about conserving water 😉

    Reply
  12. Jason Goroncy avatar
    Jason Goroncy

    Cool, I’m looking for a car. But I wouldn’t buy a bag of frozen peas from a guy who looks like he’s at his third or fourth Amway meeting 😉 … though I do like that tie.
    Which reminds me of something that Steve Biddulph once said in his book ‘Manhood’ wherein he argues that the only thing that ties are good for is for tying up tomato plants to their stakes.
    Perhaps you could try a dog collar … and come and join the Presbyterians. You know, it’s all about conserving water 😉

    Reply

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