Christian Theology: An Introduction…And An Opportunity
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We’re living in a time of theological famine.
While passions for things political and social run wild, interest in the faith once delivered seems to be at an all time low.
Much of what is considered theology in America is actually political folk religion and often heretical.
How strange it is that these doldrums of interest are occurring when there has never been so many resources available for Christians to easily access.
I want to talk about one of those resources today as I think it may be the most important one I’ve ever run across.
It starts with a book… “Christian Theology: An Introduction” by Alister E. McGrath and Michael J. Thomas.
McGrath is a well known and respected Anglican theologian and historian and Thomas is an irenic Jesuit scholar and educator.
The book itself is straight up ecumenical, it is a textbook about what all Christians have believed at all times.
It is a primer on church history and the major doctrines of the Christian faith.
It covers all this ground in 18 easily readable chapters.
McGrath has also done 18 videos on YouTube to accompany the text and videos from the Bible Project are also recommended as learning aids.
There is a website dedicated to the textbook as well with PowerPoint slides and links to resources I had no idea were available for free.
Now, I’m going to make a statement that some may find rude, but it is true.
If you were to take six months and work through one chapter a week and use the resources given…you would be more theologically adept and informed when finished than many pastors I have known over the last 40 years.
In any case, you would be a Christian who knows and understands the history and doctrines of the church and much less prone to being deceived by the beasts and false prophets of our day.
I’ve looked for something like this to share all my Christian life…and here it is.
The book is spendy…around 40 bucks in paperback. The resources that accompany it are free.
The knowledge is priceless.
I’m going through it a chapter at a time myself…making sure I’m grounded in the faith once delivered and remembering things forgotten through the years.
I can’t commend this highly enough…it would work even better if you were in a small group of friends so you could work through it together.
Take up and read…and think…to the glory of God.
I’ve been familiar with McGrath for a long time, but this presentation is excellent for making his work accessible to your readers. The foundation of the house is the most important factor in determining long-term value. Recent reports tell us that a near majority of Christians of all traditions do not know basic orthodox Christology.
The legacy of the reformation is deformation. Every person is a pope. Every novelty is hailed. Fact #1 about theology — there is nothing new under the sun. I once had a disciple who got educated returned to our church and decided to leave. His exiting critique “you guys do church like you just discovered the Bible and don’t know that anyone else has ever believed and lived this stuff.”
That stung! It also changed me and continues to change me. Thanks for this post.
Dunce Dread
Dread,
I don’t know if things have ever been different…if it at some golden moment the average Christian had orthodox views on the Trinity or the nature of Christ…I do know that now there is a howling wilderness of ignorance on the most basic of doctrines.
I also know that very few will receive this information with joy and go to work…they believe in “something” enough to get their ticket punched for the next life…or so they think.
It was worth a try, however.
Michael,
You’re right to question the idea of a “golden age” of doctrinal clarity among the average Christian. Historically speaking, there likely never was one. The early Church spent centuries fighting over the Trinity and the nature of Christ—not just in ivory tower councils, but in sermons, creeds, schisms, and even street riots. The Nicene and Chalcedonian formulas didn’t emerge because everyone already believed them; they emerged because confusion, heresy, and ignorance were rampant.
That said, you’re also not wrong about the current state of things. We are, in many quarters, in a howling wilderness—not just of doctrinal ignorance, but of disinterest. The problem now isn’t only misunderstanding the Trinity—it’s the fact that many don’t even see why it matters. Doctrine is seen as abstract, irrelevant, or even oppressive. And often, we in the Church have done little to help: reducing faith to moralism on one side, or vague spirituality on the other.
What’s new is not the confusion. What’s new is the context: the collapse of catechesis, the rise of online “Google” theology, and a culture that prizes personal expression over received truth or researched truth. In that environment, any kind of deep formation feels like swimming upstream.
Still, there’s hope. There’s always been a remnant of the curious, the teachable, the faithful—people willing to wade into the mystery rather than settle for slogans. The wilderness is real, but it’s not godless. Sometimes, as the prophets, and you, remind us, that’s where God speaks most clearly.
This would be a good resource for anyone…once I get back on my feet I may splurge on the kindle edition.
BrianD,
It’s well worth the cost.
I borrowed the online version (thank God for the public library).
This sounds like a barnburner. I’ll have to see if our local library system carries it.
McGrath appears to be quite the prolific author/theologian. He wrote a bio about
CS Lewis that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Speaking of Anglican writers, I’m current reading one by Rowan Williams, “Tokens
of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief.” Learning a lot…what a smart and
wise man.
bob1,
Rowan Williams is a genius…I have to read him slowly because it would take two of my brains to keep up with him…
Michael, I have a similar experience with him. He’s brilliant. He has 2 books, “On Being Christian” and “Being Disciples” that are short and succinct, thank God. 😁