![\"blogmatics2\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/941\/2013\/06\/blogmatics2.jpg\")
(<\/a>H\/T<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/h3>\nWhat I Want To Do<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\nI want to attempt the impossible.<\/p>\n
I want to try to combine the orderly, coherent accounting of systematic theology with the style, structure, and limitations of the blog post.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m calling it \u201cblogmatics.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will be series of blog posts addressing, dissecting, and articulating the core doctrines of the Christian faith. Now, I am under no illusions that this may turn out to be a total failure, or at least end up causing more problems than it was worth. After all, the Church has spent 2,000 church thinking through, articulating, and rearticulating the Christian faith. I\u2019m not going to resolve any theological mysteries in a few blog posts.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not the point.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why I Want To Do This<\/em><\/h3>\nThe idea behind this series is two-fold.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, I want lay out what I believe about the core tenets, or doctrines, of the Christian faith. As a lover of theology and the Christian tradition this is something I\u2019ve personally wanted to do for a very long time.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve written about a whole host of theological issues both here on the blog and in my papers for school, but I\u2019ve never brought those disparate topics together in one place to lay out a coherent picture of exactly what I believe. They\u2019ve always just been a collection disconnected parts. I hope this series will allow me to being putting those pieces together.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, I want to provide a resource for others to quickly reference when they ask or wonder what I believe about a given topic.<\/p>\n
Every post that I write is based on certain theological assumptions that I have. Sometimes I spell those out. Often times I don\u2019t as it would take away from the flow and create unnecessarily, or at least unbearably, long posts. As I said, my hope is that this series will give me something to point others to when they have questions about things I write about.<\/p>\n
And maybe, just maybe, this series will help someone understand the Christian faith a little bit better.<\/p>\n
\nWhat This Will Look Like<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nEach day of this series I will go through a different Christian doctrine. While a full systematic theology would require countless pages, if not multiple volumes on each doctrine, since this is blogmatics<\/em>, I\u2019m going to try to keep my thoughts as brief and to the point as possible in order to be faithful to the blog format. So I don\u2019t plan on spending more than two posts on any given subject. In other words, this will be a basic picture of what I believe, not an exhaustive, technical treatise.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s what I plan on covering\u2026.<\/p>\n
The Triune God<\/em><\/p>\nGod the Father<\/em><\/p>\nJesus<\/em><\/p>\nHoly Spirit<\/em><\/p>\nChurch<\/em><\/p>\nBible<\/em><\/p>\nResurrection<\/em><\/p>\nSin<\/em><\/p>\nSalvation<\/em><\/p>\nThe Christian Life<\/em><\/p>\nSacraments<\/em><\/p>\nEschatology<\/em><\/p>\nHeaven and Hell<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWhat This Is Not<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\nThis series will necessarily be a bit more technical at times than what I might normally write, but once again, I want to merge the seemingly opposing worlds of systematic theology and<\/em> blogging. So I will be trying to take a more creative and accessible approach than you might otherwise expect in such an endeavor, even incorporating narrative as often as possible. In other words, this series will not, or at least I hope it will not, be the sort of dry, boring, inaccessible material only a professional theologian can understand. Nor will it cover every minute theological nuance of every doctrinal issue As much as possible I want this to be interesting and engaging theology that is easily accessible (or at least as easily as possible) for anyone interested in going a little deeper in their faith than that might otherwise do on their own.<\/p>\nThis also will not be a once for all, definitive statement of faith. I\u2019m only 30. I hope that when I\u2019m 50, 70, or 80 I\u2019ll have a much better understanding of the faith than I do now. So this series is about what I think and believe now<\/em>. I\u2019m certainly confident in the assertions I will make, but I\u2019m also willing to recognize the possibility, or probability, that I will change my mind about some of these things in the future.<\/p>\nFinally, this series is not an attempt to assert what all<\/em> Christians everywhere<\/em> should or have to believe. It is simply what I believe. Do I think my ideas are correct and that other Christians should share my beliefs? Of course. We all think that way otherwise we wouldn\u2019t affirm the things we do and line up with the traditions we associate ourselves with.<\/p>\nThat being said, you\u2019re free to disagree with what I say, but disagree with the substance of my claims, not the fact that they don\u2019t line up with your particular tradition.<\/p>\n
\nWhat I Need From You<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\nI expect disagreement. I also expect questions about things I didn\u2019t cover and requests to elaborate on things I don\u2019t delve too deeply into in a given post.<\/p>\n
So as I go through this series I want to hear from you.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve got questions, ask them. If you want me to elaborate on something, tell me what it is and I\u2019ll do my best to address it (though I won\u2019t be able to go into great detail on every issue). And if you disagree, tell me why. All I ask is that you be respectful as you do so and remember to engage the actual claims that I make, not the mere fact that it doesn\u2019t line up with your tradition\u2019s version of \u201corthodoxy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Until then, if there\u2019s some particular aspect of the doctrines listed above that you want me to cover, let me know in the comments. Or if there\u2019s something you think I need to add to the list, let me know. I won\u2019t be able to cover everything, but I will do my best.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve got a special post planned for Monday, so the series will start next Tuesday and run for as long as it takes me to finish. Like I said, I may end up writing more on a given subject that I expect to, and I\u2019ll probably intersperse other posts that are not a part of this series along the way. So, I don\u2019t want to put a hard and fast schedule on this thing.<\/p>\n
Though I promise it won\u2019t go on forever.<\/p>\n
My self-diagnosed ADD won\u2019t let that happen.<\/p>\n
However long it does take, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these core issues of the faith along the way.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll be fun to see how this thing takes shape and where it finally ends up.<\/p>\n
I want to attempt the impossible.<\/p>\n
I want to try to combine the orderly, coherent accounting of systematic theology with the style, structure, and limitations of the blog post.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m calling it \u201cblogmatics.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will be series of blog posts addressing, dissecting, and articulating the core doctrines of the Christian faith. Now, I am under no illusions that this may turn out to be a total failure, or at least end up causing more problems than it was worth. After all, the Church has spent 2,000 church thinking through, articulating, and rearticulating the Christian faith. I\u2019m not going to resolve any theological mysteries in a few blog posts.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not the point.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why I Want To Do This<\/em><\/h3>\nThe idea behind this series is two-fold.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, I want lay out what I believe about the core tenets, or doctrines, of the Christian faith. As a lover of theology and the Christian tradition this is something I\u2019ve personally wanted to do for a very long time.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve written about a whole host of theological issues both here on the blog and in my papers for school, but I\u2019ve never brought those disparate topics together in one place to lay out a coherent picture of exactly what I believe. They\u2019ve always just been a collection disconnected parts. I hope this series will allow me to being putting those pieces together.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, I want to provide a resource for others to quickly reference when they ask or wonder what I believe about a given topic.<\/p>\n
Every post that I write is based on certain theological assumptions that I have. Sometimes I spell those out. Often times I don\u2019t as it would take away from the flow and create unnecessarily, or at least unbearably, long posts. As I said, my hope is that this series will give me something to point others to when they have questions about things I write about.<\/p>\n
And maybe, just maybe, this series will help someone understand the Christian faith a little bit better.<\/p>\n
\nWhat This Will Look Like<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\nEach day of this series I will go through a different Christian doctrine. While a full systematic theology would require countless pages, if not multiple volumes on each doctrine, since this is blogmatics<\/em>, I\u2019m going to try to keep my thoughts as brief and to the point as possible in order to be faithful to the blog format. So I don\u2019t plan on spending more than two posts on any given subject. In other words, this will be a basic picture of what I believe, not an exhaustive, technical treatise.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s what I plan on covering\u2026.<\/p>\n
The Triune God<\/em><\/p>\nGod the Father<\/em><\/p>\nJesus<\/em><\/p>\nHoly Spirit<\/em><\/p>\nChurch<\/em><\/p>\nBible<\/em><\/p>\nResurrection<\/em><\/p>\nSin<\/em><\/p>\nSalvation<\/em><\/p>\nThe Christian Life<\/em><\/p>\nSacraments<\/em><\/p>\nEschatology<\/em><\/p>\nHeaven and Hell<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWhat This Is Not<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\nThis series will necessarily be a bit more technical at times than what I might normally write, but once again, I want to merge the seemingly opposing worlds of systematic theology and<\/em> blogging. So I will be trying to take a more creative and accessible approach than you might otherwise expect in such an endeavor, even incorporating narrative as often as possible. In other words, this series will not, or at least I hope it will not, be the sort of dry, boring, inaccessible material only a professional theologian can understand. Nor will it cover every minute theological nuance of every doctrinal issue As much as possible I want this to be interesting and engaging theology that is easily accessible (or at least as easily as possible) for anyone interested in going a little deeper in their faith than that might otherwise do on their own.<\/p>\nThis also will not be a once for all, definitive statement of faith. I\u2019m only 30. I hope that when I\u2019m 50, 70, or 80 I\u2019ll have a much better understanding of the faith than I do now. So this series is about what I think and believe now<\/em>. I\u2019m certainly confident in the assertions I will make, but I\u2019m also willing to recognize the possibility, or probability, that I will change my mind about some of these things in the future.<\/p>\nFinally, this series is not an attempt to assert what all<\/em> Christians everywhere<\/em> should or have to believe. It is simply what I believe. Do I think my ideas are correct and that other Christians should share my beliefs? Of course. We all think that way otherwise we wouldn\u2019t affirm the things we do and line up with the traditions we associate ourselves with.<\/p>\nThat being said, you\u2019re free to disagree with what I say, but disagree with the substance of my claims, not the fact that they don\u2019t line up with your particular tradition.<\/p>\n
\nWhat I Need From You<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\nI expect disagreement. I also expect questions about things I didn\u2019t cover and requests to elaborate on things I don\u2019t delve too deeply into in a given post.<\/p>\n
So as I go through this series I want to hear from you.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve got questions, ask them. If you want me to elaborate on something, tell me what it is and I\u2019ll do my best to address it (though I won\u2019t be able to go into great detail on every issue). And if you disagree, tell me why. All I ask is that you be respectful as you do so and remember to engage the actual claims that I make, not the mere fact that it doesn\u2019t line up with your tradition\u2019s version of \u201corthodoxy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Until then, if there\u2019s some particular aspect of the doctrines listed above that you want me to cover, let me know in the comments. Or if there\u2019s something you think I need to add to the list, let me know. I won\u2019t be able to cover everything, but I will do my best.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve got a special post planned for Monday, so the series will start next Tuesday and run for as long as it takes me to finish. Like I said, I may end up writing more on a given subject that I expect to, and I\u2019ll probably intersperse other posts that are not a part of this series along the way. So, I don\u2019t want to put a hard and fast schedule on this thing.<\/p>\n
Though I promise it won\u2019t go on forever.<\/p>\n
My self-diagnosed ADD won\u2019t let that happen.<\/p>\n
However long it does take, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these core issues of the faith along the way.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll be fun to see how this thing takes shape and where it finally ends up.<\/p>\n
\nWhat This Will Look Like<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Each day of this series I will go through a different Christian doctrine. While a full systematic theology would require countless pages, if not multiple volumes on each doctrine, since this is blogmatics<\/em>, I\u2019m going to try to keep my thoughts as brief and to the point as possible in order to be faithful to the blog format. So I don\u2019t plan on spending more than two posts on any given subject. In other words, this will be a basic picture of what I believe, not an exhaustive, technical treatise.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I plan on covering\u2026.<\/p>\n The Triune God<\/em><\/p>\n God the Father<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus<\/em><\/p>\n Holy Spirit<\/em><\/p>\n Church<\/em><\/p>\n Bible<\/em><\/p>\n Resurrection<\/em><\/p>\n Sin<\/em><\/p>\n Salvation<\/em><\/p>\n The Christian Life<\/em><\/p>\n Sacraments<\/em><\/p>\n Eschatology<\/em><\/p>\n Heaven and Hell<\/em><\/p>\n This series will necessarily be a bit more technical at times than what I might normally write, but once again, I want to merge the seemingly opposing worlds of systematic theology and<\/em> blogging. So I will be trying to take a more creative and accessible approach than you might otherwise expect in such an endeavor, even incorporating narrative as often as possible. In other words, this series will not, or at least I hope it will not, be the sort of dry, boring, inaccessible material only a professional theologian can understand. Nor will it cover every minute theological nuance of every doctrinal issue As much as possible I want this to be interesting and engaging theology that is easily accessible (or at least as easily as possible) for anyone interested in going a little deeper in their faith than that might otherwise do on their own.<\/p>\n This also will not be a once for all, definitive statement of faith. I\u2019m only 30. I hope that when I\u2019m 50, 70, or 80 I\u2019ll have a much better understanding of the faith than I do now. So this series is about what I think and believe now<\/em>. I\u2019m certainly confident in the assertions I will make, but I\u2019m also willing to recognize the possibility, or probability, that I will change my mind about some of these things in the future.<\/p>\n Finally, this series is not an attempt to assert what all<\/em> Christians everywhere<\/em> should or have to believe. It is simply what I believe. Do I think my ideas are correct and that other Christians should share my beliefs? Of course. We all think that way otherwise we wouldn\u2019t affirm the things we do and line up with the traditions we associate ourselves with.<\/p>\n That being said, you\u2019re free to disagree with what I say, but disagree with the substance of my claims, not the fact that they don\u2019t line up with your particular tradition.<\/p>\n I expect disagreement. I also expect questions about things I didn\u2019t cover and requests to elaborate on things I don\u2019t delve too deeply into in a given post.<\/p>\n So as I go through this series I want to hear from you.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got questions, ask them. If you want me to elaborate on something, tell me what it is and I\u2019ll do my best to address it (though I won\u2019t be able to go into great detail on every issue). And if you disagree, tell me why. All I ask is that you be respectful as you do so and remember to engage the actual claims that I make, not the mere fact that it doesn\u2019t line up with your tradition\u2019s version of \u201corthodoxy.\u201d<\/p>\n Until then, if there\u2019s some particular aspect of the doctrines listed above that you want me to cover, let me know in the comments. Or if there\u2019s something you think I need to add to the list, let me know. I won\u2019t be able to cover everything, but I will do my best.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve got a special post planned for Monday, so the series will start next Tuesday and run for as long as it takes me to finish. Like I said, I may end up writing more on a given subject that I expect to, and I\u2019ll probably intersperse other posts that are not a part of this series along the way. So, I don\u2019t want to put a hard and fast schedule on this thing.<\/p>\n Though I promise it won\u2019t go on forever.<\/p>\n My self-diagnosed ADD won\u2019t let that happen.<\/p>\n However long it does take, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these core issues of the faith along the way.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be fun to see how this thing takes shape and where it finally ends up.<\/p>\n
\nWhat This Is Not<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
\nWhat I Need From You<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n