The Surprising God

This post is from Dr. Randy Bloom, Board chair and faculty member at Grace Communion Seminary. Though we may be inconsistent at times, we generally live according to what we believe. Theology has a similar influence in our lives, both personally and collectively as the church. Theology–the beliefs and concepts that attempt to express, in Biblically informed human terms, God’s being and actions–influences all we do.  "Come and See" by Liz Lemon Swindle (used with artist's permission) Theological framework for mission Beliefs affect actions. Theology, what we believe about God, gives direction to life decisions, ministry motivation, goalsetting, and planning. In other words, theology informs and directs the mission of the church. Mission answers the “What?” question regarding the church, i.e., mission explains what the church is to be doing (loving people, preaching the gospel, making disciples, equipping people for ministry, etc.).  Theology answers the “Why?” question. Wh...

  This post is from Neil Earle who teaches Christian History at Grace Communion Seminary. Though the Universe reflects the rationality of its Creator, it has surprise factors built into it . Powerful insights like this  animated the observations of Trinitarian theologian Thomas F. Torrance in applying the insights of scientific discovery to what he knew about the Triune God. He especially explored the startling implications of what was called the "New Physics” of the early 1900s--the work of Planck, Einstein and Bohr, in particular. Across a distinguished academic career, Torrance advanced the themes of the openness of the created order to newness and new creations . By some estimates, 10,000,000 new suns have been created since homo sapiens emerged, using the conventional phraseology. The latest pictures from deep space show colorful but eruptive patterns that either reflect faraway explosions or new star systems coming into existence. “Rationality and surprise” in Torrance’s...