Blog Post #5
Why is theology important? Theology does not only help us to understand who God is, it also helps us to understand who we are, creation around us and the relationship between God, us and creation. in trying to understand God, as humanity we begin to grapple with other issues such as our origin, our sustenance and even our battle with evil. it becomes clear that in talking about God at all levels from the Academy to the pews we begin to have a greater revelation and understanding about God. Theology also show is as the magnanimity of God such that we begin to see that we can only understand code in terms of what God has revealed to us as humanity. in understanding who we are (through theological anthropology), are able to interpret the things that surround us. From a historical perspective Theology helps us to see that Humanity (in its diversity) is created in the image of the Triune God but as Augustine of Hippo would say we have original sin through Adam and this accounts for our fallen nature not only as humans but as the entire creation. Martin Luther (as an Augustinian) would buttress this by stating that, “our bodies are carved in Sin” and hence it entangles us. Theology moves further to explain the redemption and reconciliation of Creation and God in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. In the redemptive work we also see that it folds into restoration of God’s Justice/righteousness (הצדקה-hatzedka) in the world, hence reconciliation of relationships is not only between God-humanity but also Humanity-humanity, God- creation and Humanity- creation Examining the soteriologies found in the preface to the eucharist and the prayer of thanks giving
Holy communion setting 10 The Preface for ordinary Sunday carries a death for life soteriology as seen in the phrase “ who on this day overcame death and the grave. This also illumines the Christus victor model of soteriology, which is then buttressed by the phrase “and by his glorious resurrection”. Moreover there is also a subtle transactional soteriology(atonement through satisfaction) when we say “ and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life”. In the Eucharistic prayer (VI), we find a life for life (maternal) soteriology when it says “ …and was obedient to your will even to giving his life.” It shows that Christ didn’t have to die for salvation to be effected. However the implication of the broken body and the blood signifies a sacrificial model of soteriology. We also see a covenantal soteriology in “a new covenant in my blood” The proclamation, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again points to Christus Victor soteriology which is also seen in the phrase “ Believing the witness of his resurrection…” In conclusion we see that both the prefaces and the Eucharistic prayers minister a deep understanding of soteriologies. I think it is important for clergy to teach the laity these important fundamentals of soteriologies found in the liturgy. Hymns have different overtones. This blog post is going to look at three different Christmas hymns considering their Christology
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What are the texts, experiences, revelations and lenses that inform your theology?
As a person who grew up in and African Christian home where reading of the Bible was done often, the Bible becomes one of the texts that inform my theology. the use of the Bible in personal devotion creates the lens through which we view Christian theology. Through the text of the Bible I see God as I loving God, a God who is both transcendent and immanent thereby being able to have a relationship with humanity and all creation but as well maintaining the supremacy of the divine.
the other thing that shapes my Christian theology is tradition. the understanding that we (as a community) carry about God is an understanding that is passed down through generations in stories and hence tradition becomes a key component in the shaping of my personal theology. Back home in Zimbabwe, in the rural setting there is a communal Sunday school class that is attended by almost all the children regardless of denomination where stories about God are told and this shapes the understanding of God in the community.
Having learned about God through the Bible and through tradition, the other lens that create a hermeneutic through which I view God is a cultural lens. where by God has been portrayed through masculine terms and soul when we see father figures in the community they reflect the person an image of God. this however is not a personal lens but a communal lens that's in my personal opinion has to be reshaped in order for it to be inclusive.
As a person who grew up in and African Christian home where reading of the Bible was done often, the Bible becomes one of the texts that inform my theology. the use of the Bible in personal devotion creates the lens through which we view Christian theology. Through the text of the Bible I see God as I loving God, a God who is both transcendent and immanent thereby being able to have a relationship with humanity and all creation but as well maintaining the supremacy of the divine.
the other thing that shapes my Christian theology is tradition. the understanding that we (as a community) carry about God is an understanding that is passed down through generations in stories and hence tradition becomes a key component in the shaping of my personal theology. Back home in Zimbabwe, in the rural setting there is a communal Sunday school class that is attended by almost all the children regardless of denomination where stories about God are told and this shapes the understanding of God in the community.
Having learned about God through the Bible and through tradition, the other lens that create a hermeneutic through which I view God is a cultural lens. where by God has been portrayed through masculine terms and soul when we see father figures in the community they reflect the person an image of God. this however is not a personal lens but a communal lens that's in my personal opinion has to be reshaped in order for it to be inclusive.
stop xenophobia now
“Liberate us from ourselves”: An exploration of the Christian doctrine of humanity in light of the Xenophobic attacks in the Republic of South Africa.
May 2015.
While anthropologists and sociologists are arguing or deliberating on whether the recent attacks should be termed, “xenophobia” or “afrophobia”, the war rages on. At least thumbs up for these professionals for at least articulating the issue that has hit the current affairs programs on almost every African satellite channel. My question lies in the deep and dark silence of the Christian community. The church has remained silent while its sons and daughters are being butchered, burnt and hacked at with machetes. This piece is a response from a theological perspective. It is imperative to highlight that this paper’s thoughts reflect the thoughts of Rev. Rudorwashe Ronald Shumba.
Attacks of this nature are not a new phenomenon on the African continent as we have witnessed extremes of xenophobia in the past. The Rwandan genocide is one such case, another being the Gukurahundi genocide in Zimbabwe…even South Africa itself is not spared with the history of xenophobia. This raises a serious question, ‘is it in the nature of Africans to be violent?”Although this history is unbearable it helps us to reflect on the nature of these attacks in South Africa.
The term xenophobia suggests that the violence emanates from a strong distaste of people of other ethnic origin other than you that results in fear and ultimately leading to violence. However when God created the human race, God created us in God’s own image (imago Dei) (Genesis1:26ff), this shows us that although we may seemingly look different we are the same. We might speak different languages, come from different countries, have different skin tones but there is something inside of us that was created in the imago Dei. Although some might seemingly be portrayed as the superior cultures or of superior ethnic decent, we are the same when God sees us.
If we are the same in God’s eyes then why do we kill each other? My simple answer is that, it is because we do not see ourselves as God sees us. If only we could see the intrinsic value that is in every person we would not hurt each other. There is no way that we would view another brother as less human than we are and deserving to die by our own hands. This means killing another man can be equated to killing the self. A human being cannot be swatted on a wall like a fly because every human being has intrinsic value. The blood of a human cannot be just spilled like that of a chicken.
Africa has succeeded to liberate its territory from imperial powers but has failed drastically to liberate herself from herself. When God created Africa it had no demarcations, there was no Congo, Somalia, Eritrea, or Angola but there was Africa for the Africans. It is high time Africans begin to liberate themselves from selfhatred, because hating another African is like hating yourself. We need to liberate ourselves from ourselves. Africa should begin to appreciate the diversity that it has, being the richest among the continents of ethnic diversity. Arise Africa and celebrate unity in diversity in the name of Jesus.
stop xenophobia now!!!
“Liberate us from ourselves”: An exploration of the Christian doctrine of humanity in light of the Xenophobic attacks in the Republic of South Africa.
May 2015.
While anthropologists and sociologists are arguing or deliberating on whether the recent attacks should be termed, “xenophobia” or “afrophobia”, the war rages on. At least thumbs up for these professionals for at least articulating the issue that has hit the current affairs programs on almost every African satellite channel. My question lies in the deep and dark silence of the Christian community. The church has remained silent while its sons and daughters are being butchered, burnt and hacked at with machetes. This piece is a response from a theological perspective. It is imperative to highlight that this paper’s thoughts reflect the thoughts of Rev. Rudorwashe Ronald Shumba.
Attacks of this nature are not a new phenomenon on the African continent as we have witnessed extremes of xenophobia in the past. The Rwandan genocide is one such case, another being the Gukurahundi genocide in Zimbabwe…even South Africa itself is not spared with the history of xenophobia. This raises a serious question, ‘is it in the nature of Africans to be violent?”Although this history is unbearable it helps us to reflect on the nature of these attacks in South Africa.
The term xenophobia suggests that the violence emanates from a strong distaste of people of other ethnic origin other than you that results in fear and ultimately leading to violence. However when God created the human race, God created us in God’s own image (imago Dei) (Genesis1:26ff), this shows us that although we may seemingly look different we are the same. We might speak different languages, come from different countries, have different skin tones but there is something inside of us that was created in the imago Dei. Although some might seemingly be portrayed as the superior cultures or of superior ethnic decent, we are the same when God sees us.
If we are the same in God’s eyes then why do we kill each other? My simple answer is that, it is because we do not see ourselves as God sees us. If only we could see the intrinsic value that is in every person we would not hurt each other. There is no way that we would view another brother as less human than we are and deserving to die by our own hands. This means killing another man can be equated to killing the self. A human being cannot be swatted on a wall like a fly because every human being has intrinsic value. The blood of a human cannot be just spilled like that of a chicken.
Africa has succeeded to liberate its territory from imperial powers but has failed drastically to liberate herself from herself. When God created Africa it had no demarcations, there was no Congo, Somalia, Eritrea, or Angola but there was Africa for the Africans. It is high time Africans begin to liberate themselves from selfhatred, because hating another African is like hating yourself. We need to liberate ourselves from ourselves. Africa should begin to appreciate the diversity that it has, being the richest among the continents of ethnic diversity. Arise Africa and celebrate unity in diversity in the name of Jesus.
stop xenophobia now!!!