In the academy, systematic theology often is given more status than practical theology. Given Jesus’ emphasis on actionable truth, such a preference always has befuddled me. Jesus’ teaching was distinctly different from that of the religious leaders of His day. He blasted those who should be enlightening and leading the way for God’s people to live faithfully, instead adding confusing and impossible burdens to people’s lives.
Modern parallels are frightening. While millions struggle with life complexities in a high-tech world, the church earns too many unfavorable reviews. We may be failing because we make the wrong sort of theological contributions to life’s challenges. We take bold stances in places no one cares about and cower as if we have nothing to offer. Far from representing Jesus well, we don’t matter.
Perhaps the word practical isn’t weighty enough for the day. As a novelty, I’d like to suggest we elevate the concept of derivative theology to the forefront of our focus. What clear life application can be derived from certain biblical truths? Let’s concentrate our leadership reflection and lessons on helping people make those connections.
Derivative theology trains itself on the “So what? Who cares?” implications of biblical truth. It builds bridges of blue-collar helpfulness between faith convictions and life obligations. Let’s see how it works.
The very core of Christianity is built around a bodacious assertion of historical fact: Jesus is alive. Some unbelieving theologians have euthanized the first Easter event, twisting the storyline into an effete allegory that advocates for faith as the basis for hope. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and lives today. If there were not a moment in space and time when Jesus’ resurrection actually took place—one that could have been recorded on a handy iPhone—then Paul’s representation of faith as “useless” and Christians as “pitiable” (
Our creedal confessions about Jesus actually may be a logjam to our transformational effectiveness. There is evidence that too many American Christians today are personally powerless and publicly irrelevant. Is it because they say they believe in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as part of their membership initiation and then hustle off to live a vaguely defined good life?
When we believe in Jesus as our living and risen Lord, there are plenty of derivative expectations to be explored and encouraged. Here are three:
Decision-making: Freedom of choice is a universal human endowment. From the beginning, we’ve shown we are inclined by sin to squander this gift. If Jesus is alive, why don’t we prayerfully seek His input for each of the thousand choices we make every week rather than occasionally confer with Him about big decisions?
Time and Work: The number of hours in a day is evenly distributed to all of us. How should we spend our time? Only God dishes out truly meaningful life assignments. Amazingly, He customizes what He wants us to do so our work contributes to His work in the world. Jesus operates as Head of His church, ready to guide each of us. After 100+ waking hours a week, we can rest content that faithfulness to Jesus is precisely good enough.
Other People: During the creation, God said it was not good for us to be alone. Sin messed up our ability to relate to people in ways that are good! Jesus changes all that, not so much because He’s an inspiring historical example, but because He’s alive. His death on the cross demonstrated the selfless love He brings us in real time every day. Now He gives us the power to love others as He taught if we remain connected to Him.
If we seek Jesus in every decision, fill our hours with God-directed productivity, and channel Jesus’ love, we’ll become a force to be reckoned with. That’s how derivative theology ensures the “So what? Who cares?” questions receive the answers they deserve.
Dave Rahn recently released a downloadable ebook called Symmetry: The End of Youth Ministry as We Know It and was general editor for The Life, a three-story Biblezine produced by Tyndale (2014).
