| Another striking theme for the church's consideration | | | | The need for theological initiative - ''now the fellow |
| is: Theological Education is the bed-rock of Sustainable | | | | prophets said to Elisha, see the place where we are |
| Development. Theology is not a new discipline in our | | | | gathered has become too small for us. Let us go to |
| continent let alone talk about Sierra Leone. Theology | | | | the Jordan, and let each of us get a log to build a |
| is the bedrock of the academic foundation of our | | | | shed where we can gather'' (6:1-2); (b) The need for |
| country, as could be claimed for any other country. | | | | theological guidance - ''Then one of them said to him, |
| In the 18th Century an institution was founded for | | | | why do you not come with us''? Sometimes the |
| the training of the clergy and other academics for | | | | success of a Lecturer is tested through crisis |
| Missionary work in the sub-region of West Africa. | | | | moments. For instance, there is the non-negotiable |
| This school soon became renowned for all its worth | | | | moment of theological crisis ''but as one of them was |
| and excellence. Before long other theological colleges | | | | cutting a tree, his axe head fell into the river, and he |
| of this nature sprang up in Sierra Leone. | | | | exclaimed, oh my master, the iron piece that you lent |
| In order to be relevant and contribute to | | | | me'' (6:5). How would the Master react? Positively or |
| development, Christian theology has to be interesting | | | | negatively? In this case, Elisha responded positively - |
| and practical. Theology has to interact with all | | | | ''the man of God ask him, where did it fall? And he |
| situations and people. In talking about theology and | | | | showed Elisha the place. Elisha cut off a stick, threw |
| the difficult task or situations it addresses, John W. | | | | it in there, and the iron piece floated. Elisha said, 'get |
| De Gruchy, Professor of Christian Studies at Cape | | | | it'. ''The man reached out his hand and took it'' (6:6-7). |
| Town University, writes: | | | | Elisha did not scold or accuse the student of |
| 'In such situations theology has to be living and | | | | carelessness. This is an example that can transform |
| relevant to Ministry; there is neither the time nor the | | | | the student. |
| space, or even the inclination for Theological | | | | 2. JOSEPH AND HIS WITNESS IN EGYPT - This man |
| abstraction or dilettantism. Moreover, theology under | | | | also practices a life of transforming theology. He |
| such circumstances cannot be trendy, superficial or | | | | teaches that young people should not wait until they |
| peripheral to the central themes of the Gospel and | | | | are old and grey-haired before they make a life |
| Christian tradition, or unrelated to the historical | | | | transforming impact on the community. God saw in |
| context and its cries, for then it will fail to provide | | | | him a vehicle of communication (Gen. 37); God |
| the resources necessary for Ministry.' | | | | protected and blessed him where ever life took him |
| Theological Schools have in the past trained men and | | | | (Gen. 39); Joseph introduced and defended God |
| women for the multifaceted Ministry of our Lord | | | | where ever life took him; God elevated Joseph |
| Jesus Christ. The products are serving in different | | | | beyond human comprehension (Gen. 41); Joseph's life |
| capacities in Sierra Leone and around the world. | | | | was a blessing to all those who came around him. |
| Nevertheless, the Colleges must keep on evaluating | | | | Jesus spent time wtih a few disciples even though |
| themselves vis-à-vis their Mission Statement | | | | one of them was not always faithful. But the rest |
| and Objectives in order to see whether they are still | | | | who understood His theology made an impact on |
| relevant to the community they purports to be | | | | people's lives. The success of a theological program is |
| serving. In view of the aforementioned, I would like | | | | judged by the impact the course makes on the |
| to draw your attention to some key aspects of | | | | student and the impact the student makes on those |
| theology: 1. Theology that advocates for social and | | | | he meets every day. |
| political reform; 2. Theology that transforms the lives | | | | THEOLOGY THAT SOLVES ECCLESIASTICAL |
| of people; 3. Theology that solves ecclesiastical | | | | PROBLEM This theology is as important as the other |
| problems. These are not new but we seem to have | | | | theologies so far discussed. Where ever one goes in |
| either forgotten or neglected them. So, I am | | | | the world, one finds problems in the local church. The |
| advocating that we revisit these aspects: | | | | fruit of the Holy Spirit is not always fully displayed in |
| THEOLOGY THAT ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL AND | | | | the individual lives of God's people (Gal. 5:22-23). So, |
| POLITICAL REFORM: Nearly all the words under this | | | | problems abound. But how we solve those problems |
| section are of comparable importance - theology (the | | | | as and when they come in the running of the church |
| study or discourse about God or religion); advocate | | | | makes a lot of difference. For the sake of time, i |
| (to support or plead for); social (having to do with | | | | would look at some ecclesiastical problems that beset |
| society or its organization, concerned with mutual | | | | the running of the church much of the time: (a) The |
| relations of human beings); politics (science and art of | | | | problem of distribution of relief items (Acts 6:1 - 7). |
| Government; political affairs or life). Taking the | | | | There is a humorous adage in Kenya - ''God made |
| meaning of all these words into account, we are | | | | man, man made money and money made man mad''. |
| simply saying that theology has that God-given | | | | The situation in the new community church in |
| responsibility to speak for or plead on behalf of | | | | Jerusalem is one of partiality or unfair distribution of |
| people who advocated for social and political change: | | | | relief items. The Hebraic Jews who were responsible |
| (1) Samuel - Samuel's roles were that of Prophet, | | | | for distribution serve those they knew well, and so, |
| Priest and seer. Modern theologians, young and old, | | | | became unfair to the Hellenistic Jews. But the advice |
| male and female should not shy away from these | | | | of the disciples based on sound theological principles |
| roles. If they do, they will be icy cold in the thick of | | | | changed the situation and set the church on course |
| the fight and will not eventually succeed. When the | | | | again (Acts 6:2-6). This is a theology that solves |
| people were deceived by imitative politics, Samuel | | | | ecclesiastical problems. (b) The problem of misuse of |
| stood firmly in his tripartite role between God and | | | | God's temple (Mt. 21:12-13). This problem is so |
| people, proclaiming and interpreting fearlessly but | | | | important that Luke himself decides to record it in LK. |
| honestly Jehovah's mind about the whole issue taking | | | | 19:45-46. Jesus observed that the people were sitting |
| into account what repercussions wrong decision may | | | | comfortably in God's house doing business. His |
| being upon the people in the present and future. | | | | method was harsh but suitable for the situation. |
| (2) Nathan - Nathan, the fearless and determined | | | | ''Then Jesus entered the temple, and he over tuned |
| advocate of justice regardless of the situation and | | | | the tables of the money-changers and the seats of |
| position of the person to be confronted nailed King | | | | those who sold doves'' (Mt. 21:12). Then he declared |
| David's conscience to the wall with the parable of the | | | | the truth that characterizes the essence of God's |
| rich man who had exceedingly many flocks and herds | | | | house when he said, ''It is written, my house shall be |
| of the poor man who had nothing (2 Sam. 12:1-25). | | | | called a house of prayer; but you are making it a den |
| The Prophet's words of confrontation. "Thou are the | | | | of robbers'' (Mt. 21:13). This is another theology that |
| man" put David on his knees. | | | | solves ecclesiastical problems. (c) The problem of |
| (3) Elijah - Elijah, the Tishbite, ministered in a different | | | | politics in the Corithian Church (1 Cor. 3:1-9). The |
| situation, in Samaria when he confronted the | | | | congregations we have today, like those of our |
| renegade and apostate King, Ahab. His prophecy of | | | | forefathers are like a computer which gives you back |
| drought which came true and his subsequent | | | | what you have fed into it. |
| challenge to the Priests of Baal re-affirmed the name | | | | In Corinth, the congregation quickly resorted to |
| of Yahweh as the Almighty God. | | | | politics in their attempt to divide God's workers |
| There are many other advocates of God in the bible | | | | whom they have turned into political candidates. The |
| who worked for social and political reform within their | | | | theology Paul used in solving this situation is apt for |
| own communities, such as Nehemiah, Ezra, Ruth, | | | | us today (Read 1 Cor. 3:5-9). |
| Esther. I have come across many advocates of God | | | | (d) The problem of poverty and the church's |
| in East Africa and I have also heard of many in South | | | | response (Mt. 26:7-13). As far back as 1986, an |
| Africa during and after the apartheid regime. But our | | | | American Lecturer came to one of the best schools |
| theologians in Sierra Leone seem to be lukewarm, | | | | of theology and opted to teach us a theology of |
| lethargic and indifferent to what happens to their | | | | poverty. I did not take that suggestion kindly |
| people. They preach and promote pocket theology. | | | | because i thought since i was born, poverty had |
| THEOLOGY THAT TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF | | | | always been my bed fellow. May be the lecturer was |
| PEOPLE - The essence of theology is spiritual | | | | right in suggesting that poverty is a problem plaguing |
| transformation. Those who go through a four-year | | | | our people and it should not surprise you that those |
| course at a theological institution like RTS must allow | | | | ladies who benefited from the micro-credit scheme |
| theology to go through them. When that happens, | | | | that was introduced in our country voted |
| even though one may not be one hundred percent | | | | overwhelmingly for those who introduced the |
| perfect, on would be a lot more different than he | | | | program. |
| she first came. We would look at the lives of two | | | | According to the passage in Mt. 26:7-13, we read |
| personalities who helped transform the lives of | | | | about a woman who out of sincere devotion poured |
| people by their witness: | | | | very expensive perfume on Jesus' head. Other |
| (1) Elisha and his theological students - the prophetic | | | | writers are of the opinion that the perfume was |
| ministry which owes its early beginnings to Samuel | | | | poured on Jesus' feet. The disciples called the action |
| has now reached the stage of an organized school or | | | | of the woman into question under the guise of false |
| college during the time of Elijah and Elisha. Trainee | | | | economic principles (26:8,9) where as Jesus took the |
| prophets were recruited and made to go through the | | | | woman's offer kindly on sotereological or redemptive |
| rigors of training in matters relating to the profession. | | | | principles (26:10,12-13) and offered a classical |
| The curriculum might have included such matters as | | | | statement on poverty that should always guide our |
| prophetic calling, administration, ethics, ministry and | | | | theologizing when he said, ''for you always have the |
| comportment. In the passage (2 Kings 6:1-7), Elisha is | | | | poor with you, but you will not always have me'' |
| presented here as a successful lecturer - prophet, | | | | (26:11). |
| skillful in making his students recognize two things: (a) | | | | |