In my previous post I discussed the idea of Biblical literacy as it is understood in the Reformed tradition. Let me follow that up with some comments about the related idea of theological literacy with the same purpose.

    I have learned that for many lay people the very word "theology" has foreboding connotations, so I can only guess what thoughts are conjured up in their minds by a term like "theological literacy." But that does not change the fact that the idea that lay people should have some knowledge of theology has long been an important part of our tradition.

    In the formative stage of the Reformed movement this idea had, as far as I can determine, a fairly specific meaning. It meant that lay people--especially lay leaders--would be familiar with the major creedal statements of the early church as well as the later, specifically "Reformed" confessions and catechisms, and that they would have a reasonably good grasp of the key claims of those documents. They would be able to explain, in other words, what an idea such as "original sin" and where in the Bible it came from.

    There is some evidence that a good number of lay people in Reformed churches still had that sort of knowledge as late as the middle years of the 20th century. But in this country at least it tends no longer to be the case.

    Should we try to resurrect that state of affairs? Perhaps, but I am not optimistic about our ability to do so. Even if the great creeds and confessions of our tradition are in principle exemplary statements of Christian belief (as I believe they are), I do not think they are the place to begin in pursuing the aim of theological literacy in our time. People have to be addressed where they are, and if anything is clear about the cultural situation in which we find ourselves, it is that in virtual every aspect of life (including religion) people assume they have a right--and responsibility--to decide for themselves what is worth believing.

    Does this mean that we should encourage people to believe whatever they choose? No, but it does mean, I think, that our goal should be in the first instance to insure that every adult member of our churches has a good working theology tailored to his or her own life situation that is in keeping with the teaching of the Bible. By "working theology" I mean a set of ideas that allow a person to make coherent sense of his or her own life experience.  

    Apart from promoting study of the Bible in the manner I suggested in my previous post, what else should we be doing to bring about such theological literacy? Let me propose one simple step: I think each of our members should be encouraged (and helped) to find at least one book that enables him or her to make coherent sense of the essential elements of the Christian faith. I have in mind such familiar works as J.S. Whale' Christian Doctrine and C.S.Lewis' Mere Christianity, which have already served this purpose for many people in times past, but also more recent ones, such as Shirley Guthrie's Christian Doctrine as well as even more recent works, such as N.T. Wright's Simply Christian and Diogenes Allen's Theology for a Troubled Believer. Reading any one of these books carefully--preferably more than once and preferably while discussing it with appropriate friends as well--would, it seems to me, serve the purpose I have in mind well. At least it would be a good place to start.