Byrnesys Blabberings

I’ve taken the oppurtunity to get some background uni reading done on the flight to london. I’m reading the very accessible "Barth for armchair theologians" by John Franke, its a concise introduction which even includes illustrations (that is my kind of theology!).

Franke details Barth’s famous depart from liberal theology which was, amongst many other influences, when Barth learnt his former revered german professors had publically condoned the german effort in WWI.

Franke goes on to explain Barth’s other impetus in the depart from liberal theology which is what particularly interested me.

"For Barth, the fatal flaw in the liberal approach to theology was its limited ability to speak of God in ways which challenged the assumptions and presuppositions of a particular culture. While liberals could speak with conviction concerning matters such as religion, history, culture, and ethics, their approach to theology did not provide them with the necessary resources to speak about God in ways that called into question and challenged the status quo"

I wonder whether just under 100 years later the same critique can be levelled at liberal theology?

Although I am often impressed at how liberal theology manages to engage culture specifically on ethical grounds with more of a neighbour love principle in place, I can’t help but feel it is deficient in its ability to stand apart from the world as a witness to a coming kingdom.

For me the continuation of liberal theology outside the ivory tower of the academy is in part due to the lack of vigour in which those in my own traditon of evangelical theology have engaged social justice issues and sought to think theologically and compassionately about the individuals involved in the theological ethical issues which they engage whilst adhering to an evangelical doctrinal basis.

Are we starting to see movement on these issues? If so, then I think we still probably have a long way to go.