Taking Captive Every Thought: Theological Conversation in a Time of Crisis

Abstract

In this essay Geoffrey Kieta examines the age-old problem of crises within relationships and the difficulties in communicating during such times. The church certainly isn’t exempt from this problem, which is why we need to revolve our conversation around the one thing that can help during times of distress and division: the gospel. Kieta explains his purposes as follows: “This paper and the one that follows form a study intended to spark theological conversation based on theological thinking done with the word of God as our guide. To what end? At least three things come to bind: To encourage us to approach these issues as theologians, as men of God, approved to do his work. To preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, especially in an area in which there are going to be profound disagreements. To deepen our understanding of the scripture and to strengthen our trust in our Savior so that we can participate in these discussions as sanctified children of God.”

This paper is loosely framed around an issue that Kieta perceives challenging the WELS at the time of his writing: “The issue that is driving virtually all discussion in the WELS today is funding. How will we pay for the work God calls us to do? What impact will the current financial crisis have on the way that we do that work? We will address some of those issues in the second paper of this study.” Kieta discusses the issue further in the paper “Pursuing Godliness: Thinking and Talking Theologically About Funding” (http://www.wlsessays.net/node/4044). However, this paper is especially useful as it sets up a more general principle that promotes the need for “theological” conversation in the face of any crisis or division.