The Theology

My theology is basically derived from the fourth century Nicene period viewed through the historical lens of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism and the father of contemporary evangelical theology. It was during the fourth century that integral concepts such as Atonement, Incarnation, and Trinity were first grappled with by the whole Church, and it was in the eighteenth century that Wesley began the renewal of the Church, a movement which necessarily continues to this day.

I have found the so-called Wesleyan Quadrilateral to be very useful in theological reflection. The Quadrilateral, derived by the great Methodist scholar Albert Outler from Wesley's works, views a four-point method of theologizing, with Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience in dialogue searching for the Truth that is the gospel of Christ.

There are variations in the Quadrilateral, with different theologians emphasizing different points. Process thinkers and charismatics, for example, tend to emphasize personal Experience; "High Church" thinkers tend to emphasize the Tradition of the Church; proponents of Protestant Liberalism generally begin with personal Experience and human Reason.

I alternately view the Quadrilateral in two ways. Normally, I view it in hierarchical fashion, with Scripture as the most important element, Tradition as second, and Reason and Experience battling it out at the "bottom"...all are important, but some are simply more essential. I also view the Quadrilateral as explained by my colleague/teacher George Tutwiler, who supports an "umbrella" view in which Scripture covers the other three points, which are in constant interplay but clearly subordinate to the Holy Bible. Both methods have been useful for me.

As previously stated, I find systematic theology somewhat arrogant. This site is not an attempt to define the boundaries of God or even my conception of God, or, better put, God's revelation of himself. I tend to distrust labels in theology as they can be extraordinarily misleading and counter to the Mission of the Church, but I will use them here in reference to myself to better define this site. I would consider myself an evangelical moderate (some might say "evangelical left"), firmly rooted in the evangelical tradition that is at the heart of Methodism.

I have recently become impressed with the label paleo-orthodox, a term defining a movement led primarily by United Methodist theologian Thomas Oden which seeks to reground contemporary theology in the consensual classic Christian sources. That seems to describe me quite well.

It is incredibly important to the mission of Christ in this world for every Christian to be able to worship with other Christians with whom they may disagree; if it truly is Christ who holds the Church together, how dare we adopt any other stand.

May God use this page to spark dialogue and growth in Christ, and perhaps even to lead some to a knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord.