JR Woodward :: Blog :: Quotes of the Week: Story to Re-shape Theology

“How can dogmas, rendered static, finished, absolute, recover their
dynamic and be reformed other than by critical subjection once again to
the church’s originating, self-identifying story? Whereas the purpose
of doctrine is to preserve that story, there are times and instances
when it is necessary for the story in turn to critique and reform the
church’s doctrine, thus exercising its own priority as God-given Word
over the reflections, conceptualizations, and formulations of the
church.”  (Lewis 2003:140-141)

“For theology is the servant, not the master,
of the story, and as we have said above, although doctrine can and does
vitally safeguard the story by giving it conceptual precision, it may
also blunt and betray aspects of the gospel, or allow it to stagnate
and ossify within the bounds of absolutized dogma, rigid orthodoxy, or
cultural conditioning. The reality, veracity, and power of the Word
itself is confirmed when the story breaks free of those chains,
subjecting our axioms to critical judgement and creative refinement. “ (Lewis 2003:65)

HT: Jim Robertson