Crossing the finish line ... finally

"I'll give you six credits if you read it cover to cover."

My pastor was handing me the 1,000-plus page book, Systematic Theology, written by Augustus Strong.

Our church had an in-house bible school, all of about 12 students strong, and the pastor had some flexibility (well, a lot of flexibility) in the curriculum. So, he issued the challenge.

He could preach pretty well, but I didn't think he was ever going to teach classes that plumbed the depths of topics like the Trinity, sanctification, and eschatology.

The thick book with its small print giving off a drab, grayish blur had the promise off making me more grounded in my faith ... and there was the matter of those six credits.

So I accepted the challenge, but never conquered it. Something always kept me from yawning my way through the grayish blur.

Over the years I added other systematic theologies to my bookshelves ... and actually profited from reading sections of them. Calvin's Institutes and its handsome binding leads the pack. Millard Erickson's Christian Theology is there, as are tomes by Alister McGrath, Norman Geisler, Wayne Grudem, J. Rodman Williams, and Larry Hart.

Larry Hart?

Hart, a professor of theology at Oral Roberts University, is the least known of the group. But, his 600-page work won the day when I finally made my decision to tackle --- cover-to-cover --- a systematic theology. Truth Aflame: Theology for the Church in Renewal is published by Zondervan.

I am most fond of the works by Grudem, Williams, and Hart because they believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today and explicate them carefully. But, Hart had an ace in the hole, so to speak --- his brevity. Unlike my failed attempt with Strong many years ago, I wanted to cross the finish line this time. I wanted an expert guide to help me traverse over the landscape of systematic theology, but not to exhaust me. Grudem and Williams are still on my agenda to read through, but for the first trip brevity was the priority.

Hart was an excellent guide. In the next post, I will review the contents of Truth Aflame.