Periodical Reviews -- By: James F. Rand

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 116:463 (Jul 1959)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: James F. Rand


Periodical Reviews

James F. Rand

Bender, Thorwald W., “Some Hurdles to Relevance for Theological Conservatives,” Foundations, 2:161–65, April, 1959.

“…It should be confessed that the work of conservative theologians provides relatively little grist for today’s theological mills. Conservationists of traditional theological formulations and terminology have failed to provide, either in raw materials or in scholarly creativity, what is needed to meet the demands of contemporary relevance. Could it be that the conservative theological environment in some of our schools presents some specific hurdles to articulateness in contemporary relevance?” So observes the professor of theology at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in analyzing the complaint, “We simply are not turning out Baptist theologians.” Professor Bender has four observations to make which point up the dilemma which face conservative seminaries today and may well chart the future for many of them. “The first hurdle to be considered is the Statement of Faith used in conservative seminaries.” Bender wisely observes that their use should not be condemned per se because a seminary’s constituency “has some rightful interest and concern in a school’s doctrinal orientation.” He pleads for a re-examination of the use of statements of faith to insure that they are not used in such a way as to discourage “an adventurous, creative or relevant approach to scholarship.” “Another hurdle in conservative theological education may be called the passion for apologetics and polemics.” Theological education should not have polemical usefulness as its prime motive. The third hurdle to Dr. Bender is Reformed theology. He finds Baptists “obsessed with the theology of the sixteenth century.” Scholars who rightfully stand within the fellowship of Reformed theology in creedalist and sacramentalist communions manifest an honest and fruitful readiness to re-examine their theological heritage, non-creedalist Baptists in some respects seem to be bound by non-Baptist sixteenth century thought. Should not Baptists build on their own theological foundations from the ground up?” His final hurdle is that which “may be labeled propositional theology.” He points out the danger that literalism will become an end in itself; logic receives greater acclaim than existence. Dr. Bender’s critique has real relevance for fundamentalists today whether they are on the faculties of seminaries, such as Dallas which requires the affirmation of a statement of faith on the part of its faculty and students, or are pastors in the field. The subscription to a statement of faith should not prevent a fresh

examination of the...

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