Say What?

So let us begin at the very beginning. Well not really... that would be the editor's preface and the authors preface, which are kind of interesting, but I always find them more understandable when I come back to them after I've begun reading a book. And if that doesn't make sense, then wait till you get into some of Barth's paragraphs LOL.

 I begin where Karl begins... by defining what the task of dogmatics is.

 'As a theological discipline dogmatics is the scientific self examination of the Christian Church with respect to the content of it's distinctive talk about God' 

At the risk of over simplifying a definition I think Karl is asking the question "What should the church say about God?"

He calls the quest both a 'science' and a 'discipline'.  This is not some random late night discussion on how many angels could dance on a pin head. This is digging down to the foundations.

He places that quest within the arena of the Christian Church. He's not trying to speak for every philosophy and religion that has ever or will ever be. His focus is on what the Church should be doing.

He uses the word 'distinctive' to suggest that Christianity has something to offer that is quite unique. Hence the need to examine ourselves (and our churches)... and see if what we are doing and saying is an authentic reflection of Christian faith.

p4, para 2 "It (the Church) puts to itself the question of truth, i.e., it measures its actions, its talk about God, against its being as the Church"

He recognizes theology as as inexact science. '...it is fallible human work' and dependant upon the grace of God.

Is he then just writing a great big book about the church? By no means. He describes Jesus as 'the being of the church'. (or as Paul said 'the body').His ecclesiology is totally Christocentric He asks.'Does Christian uttereance derive from Him? Does it lead to Him? Is it conformable to Him?

Some good questions there, to ask ourselves if ever we are teaching or preaching.

1. Where is my teaching coming from? Is this just me pontificating spiritual physcobabble, or have I genuinly received something from God that I'm passing on?

2. Who is it pointing to? Am I tyring to show how great I am at understanding the Bible, or how well I've mastered this particular area of life... or am I lifting up Christ? Who's taking center stage?

3. Would Jesus recognize that I'm speaking for Him? Does what I say reflect His love? His forgiveness? His justice? His mercy? Forget about WWJD... this isWWJS (What would Jesus say?)

That'll do for now! And darn it, I've only made it to page 4.