theo(ry)logy

Chris's blog brings up a very important issue.
I teach a music theory sequence of 4 semesters. I’ve always tried to teach theory in a way that allowed the students to see that it was directly related to the practice of making music. Sadly, most texts and teachers use terms like “rules” and “conventions”. Most college students are at the height of their desire to break rules and abandon conventions and therefore have a hard time trying to understand concepts that go against their very nature. I’ve been fairly successful in teaching the same material, but with the approach that we are just learning to observe the way something is put together, and then learn to use those materials to construct something of our own. We observe what has worked in the past, and begin to use these things in fresh, innovative ways. Those who are willing cease to study music as theory and begin to practice it as the means of creating and expressing. But many just get upset that my exams can’t be taken on scantron sheets. They get upset that some questions don’t have a right and wrong answer. They get upset that this kind of music is not “bad” and this kind of music is not “good”.

Coincidentally, this all takes place in the context of a Bible College/ Seminary where theology often seems to be a history course. This must not be peculiar to our little community. We teach (or the students learn) “rules” and “conventions” and “traditions”. We study others’ commentary, we memorize for scantron tests, we regurgitate theology that others have been martyred for. But too often its not living. We learn about God, we don’t think about God, or get to know God. Are you Roccoco or Baroque? Arminian or Reformed? I’ve codified what Bach did, if you do that, you’ll be successful. Here is what Calvin taught, if you believe that you’ll be successful.
A red box, a blue box, which box do you want? Tell me teacher, which box do I want? Which box did you choose? Which box did Wesley choose? Which box did John Piper choose?
(Don’t worry that I’m jabbing here. We are discussing these very issues in faculty meetings.)
I didn’t have time to for a quiet meditation today, I had to study for the Theology exam and hermeneutics kept me up all night.
Yes, these are all extremely important parts of the whole. How do we end up not understanding that they all work together to introduce us to God? How do we begin to learn that the point is not to learn what the teacher teaches us, but to use it get to know God?
I don’t believe that most Theologians are historians who simply study what great men of God thought. The theory of bible study. I believe they are great thinkers and God seekers who wish to help us learn to be God thinkers and seekers as well. How do we learn to grow our own faith rather than regurgitating some else’s? How can I be a part of teaching my students to be a generation who really come to know God in their own hearts rather than the theory of God that they’ve memorized?