Theological Reflection

I remember a time when it was impolite to discuss your religious beliefs. Times have changed; Christians of differing faith traditions are entering into dialogues. Christians and non-Christians are participating in a free exchange of thoughts and ideas. There seems to be a greater interest in religious discussion. However, for many Christians one topic still seems to be off-limits--theology. At best, they are disinterested in theology and at worst, they are openly hostile to it. Many consider theology to be the realm of academics and scholars, totally unrelated to the faith and practice of ordinary Christians. Yet, every Christian is a theologian. A theologian is simply someone who thinks about God and his or her relationship with God. In addition, everyone who comes to any understanding of God has a theology. Not only does every Christian have a theology, but we all engage in theological reflection to some degree. Reflection is simply intentional, critical thinking. Therefore, theological reflection is critical thinking about what we believe and do as Christians. Over the last several months I have been observing some of the hardest working Christians I know. These men and women consistently step forward to meet needs in their local congregations and communities. They give selflessly of their time and energy and their only ambition is to glorify God and bring others to Christ through their ministries. They are busy, active Christians but their lack of time for significant theological reflection is taking a toll. Twenty years ago, the church bulletin was the primary marketing tool of ministry. Today, ministry is a multi-media endeavor. As churches seek to connect with members and the community, they employ art, drama and music to convey the gospel message in a way that resonates with those in the pews. Colorful mailings, web pages, banners and videos promote the programs and ministries of the church. Memorable tag lines and eye-catching graphics build "brand recognition" for congregations and ministries. High profile marketing is the latest ministry tool. In ministry, we reveal our understanding of God and of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The way we promote and carry out our ministries sends a message about what we value and believe to be truth. Unless we take the time to reflect on the theological implications of our ministries and the marketing tools we use to promote them, we may send a message that we never intended.