Theological Reflection

Theological Reflection
Bukal Life Care
2017

This Presentation Will Do a Quick
Overview of the Following:

Foundation for Theological Reflection

Tools for Theological Reflection

Individual Theological Reflection

Group Theological Reflection

“Chronos and Kairos”

But First, What is Theological
Reflection NOT.
1. It is not creating your own new theology. It
is to be grounded in both Scripture (special
revelation) and Experience (general
revelation).
2. It is not “Verse-dropping.” Not this... “My
experience at work yesterday really
reminds me of Psalm 23.”

Reflection NOT.
3. It is not “Proof-texting.” That is, it is not
trying to find a Bible verse that could be
used to fit one's preconceived opinion.
4. It is not “Verse-bombing.” It is not
throwing in every verse that seems to line
up with one's opinion or experience.

Reflection NOT.

It is not about over-spiritualizing. If one has
a friend who lost a child, meditating on God
the Father sacrificing His own Son, is not
necessarilywrong, but don't go in that
direction simply because it seems “more
theological.”

It is not about under-spiritualizing either. Be
open to seeing the theologically, spiritually
relevant in even the seemingly most
mundane.

So What is Theological Reflection? A
Definition
“The habitual, conscious, methodical, and
purposeful correlation of some of the
insights and resources of the theological
tradition with contemporary situation and
practice, resulting in a continuous process
of critical awareness, transformation, and
action.”
-Pattison and Thompson, quoted in Thompson, pg.
14.

Theological Reflection

It is therefore more tied to Practical
Theology, rather than Systematic, Biblical,
Historical, or Philosophical Theologies.

However, Theological Reflection, while
focusing on the practical, can still lead one
to ask questions about one's
presuppositions in terms of the other
theologies.

Foundation for Theological Reflection

Spiritual Vitality

Faith Immersion

Self-Understanding

Foundation: Spiritual Vitality

Theological Reflection is grounded on a
close relationship with God, and openness
to His voice.

Without this, theology devolves to armchair
philosophy or religious studies.

Foundation: Faith Immersion

Theological Reflection is an activity that
connects one's experience to one's faith
understanding.

The weaker one's understanding is of
God's Word, of sound Biblical theology,
and faith tradition, the greater likelihood
that theological reflection will be low quality,
or even counterproductive.

Foundation: Self-Understanding

We are created as social, limited beings,
fallen yet with God's stamp on us.

We are a work in progress.

Recognizing our limitations should open
our minds to the idea that we may be
wrong, that we may have much to learn,
and that are creative minds can bring both
enlightenment... as well as confusion.

Tools of Theological Reflection

Spiritual Disciplines. Especially
− Meditation
− Journaling
− Prayer
− Solitude.

Creative Expression

Tools: Spiritual Disciplines
“If anything characterizes modern
Protestantism, it is the absence of spiritual
disclipines or spiritual exercises. Yet such
disciplines form the core of the life of
devotion. It is not an exaggeration to state
that this is the lost dimension in modern
Protestantism.”
-Donald Bloesch (from “The Crisis of Piety,”
quoted by Donald Whitney)

Tool: Meditation
Donald Whitney defines meditation as:
“Deep thinking on the truths and spiritual
realities revealed in Scripture for the
purposes of understanding, application,
and prayer.”

Meditation is an Active, Slow Process

Read Psalm 1.

Meditation on God's Word... “day and
night.”

It is not about reading fast, or reading a lot.
It is about reading deeply.

It is a slow process. It takes time.

Exercise: The Lord's Prayer

Take a small part of the Lord's Prayer and
meditate about it. For example: What does it
mean to say that God is “our Father?” Or
what does it really mean to desire that “God's
will be done on earth as it is in heaven?”

Consider a portion within the broader context
of the Bible, and your theological
perspective/understanding.

What new thoughts, insights, or concerns
arise in this? Write them down, and consider
sharing them with someone you trust.

Tool: Journaling

Journaling is simply writing things down...
particularly systematically for personal
growth.

It may include events, things God has done
in your life. It can include Scripture insights,
lists of prayer requests, spontaneous
devotional thoughts, and lengthy
theological musings.

Tool: Journaling

A journal can be a notebook, an art
sketchbook, an electronic notepad, or a
blogsite (or more).

It can be prose, poetry, or other visual
artforms.

The process helps one focus one's
thoughts.

Being put in written form, it also allows
opportunity to go back, review, and build
from later.

Tool: Prayer

Theological Reflection is, to some extent, a
conversation with God.

Therefore, it includes prayer... talking to
God.

Theological Reflection must come from a
healthy relationship with God... and this
includes listening to God, and speaking to
God.

Tool: Solitude

Christianity, especially in Evangelical circles,
tends to clutter up “sacred time” with music,
preaching, teaching, and all sorts of
distractions. These are not wrong--- in fact,
they are good. But they can work both
against listening to God and reflective
thought.

“Quiet time” is often described as limited to
reading and praying.

But we also need quiet time to listen to God,
to contemplate, and to rest in His peace.

Individual Theological Reflection
(ITR)

There are many different ways to do
theological reflection.

However, most rely on meditation/reflection
on experiences and actions in the light of
one's understanding of God, God's Word,
and one's faith tradition.

We will discuss a very limited number of
them.

ITR: Lectio Divina

Lection Divina is an old form of reflection...
developed in Benedictine Monasteries.

It has four major steps:
− Lectio (Reading)
− Meditatio (Meditation)
− Oratio (Prayer)
− Contemplatio (Contemplation)

ITR: Lectio Divina

Lectio. After a period of quiet preparation
and silent prayer, read a short passage of
Scripture. Read slowly, gently, thoughtfully.

Listen in one's heart for a word or phrase
that suggests itself to be focused on.

ITR: Lectio Divina

Meditatio. Focus on the word or phrase.
Perhaps say it slowly over and again... as
an act of mental rumination.

Dwell on how the word/phrase and the
passage interacts with your fears, hopes,
thoughts, and memories.

ITR: Lectio Divina

Oratio. Put the meditation into a prayer---
your hopes and longings--- as an offering
to God.

Meditatio and Oratio should be given
time... don't rush them.

ITR: Lectio Divina

Contemplatio. Spend some time in
quietness, in the presence of God.

It is a time to relax, resting in God's love.

Lectio Divina Exercise

Try utilizing the passage, the 23rd
Psalm.

In it, after reading the whole psalm, focus on one
or two verses, and then down to a key word or
phrase.
− Lectio: 5 minutes
− Meditatio: 8 minutes
− Oratio: 8 minutes
− Contemplatio: 5 minutes

What insights, if any, have you gained?

ITR: Midrash

A Midrash is a narrative that expands on a
Biblical passage.

The Midrash creatively deals with things
that are left unanswered in the Scriptural
Text.

The Midrash does not have to be “true,” in
the sense that it correctly interprets the
passage, but it honestly and creatively
explores the passage in story form.

ITR: Midrash

For example, in Genesis 3, God told Adam
not to eat, but Eve says that God said not to
eat or touch. A well-known Midrash suggests
that the first sinner could be Adam, because
perhaps he said that God said something
that He did not say.

Another example. Why did the lame man
choose to sit near the pool of Bethesda year
after year when he knows that he is too
lame and slow to get healed in it?

ITR: Midrash

Midrash may be done as a personal
exercise, but can be often more useful in
group, as people discuss and consider the
story.

In this way, a Midrash becomes like a
Narrative form of Group Theological
Reflection.

ITR: Progressive Theological
Reflection (PTR)

PTR is an Iterative (cyclical) form of
theological reflection that seeks to connect
Action or Experience with Theological
Reflection.

There are different versions of this. Here,
one will be focused on... but all follow a
fairly similar cyclical pattern.

Reflection (PTR)

A Typical Cycle
-Experience
-Analysis
-Reflection
-Planning
-Experience

Reflection (PTR)
The following is one way to do PTR:
1. Focus. Consider what has been the best
thing (or most significant thing) that has
happened to you or for you this week. Write
it down in a brief sentence or phrase to
identify it and make it specific.

Reflection (PTR)
2. Fill out the memory of the event as richly
as you can. (Thicken the story thread.) Add
sights and sounds to the memory, and
consider how it relates to you or others, and
other events in your life. Perhaps draw a
little picture or flow chart seeing how it is
significant.

Reflection (PTR)
3. Find connections. Connect the event to
your faith or faith tradition. How does it
relate to God's word or your theological
perspective. Explore the feelings that come
from this reflection. What sort of prayer
would be appropriate based on what you
are discovering? Pray it.

Reflection (PTR)
4. Return to the event. How does step 3
affect how you remember or find
significance in the event. Is there a new
perspective? Is there added details or
nuances or feelings that one finds in the
event based on this theological reflection?
Write down anything that is significant in
this step.

Reflection (PTR)
5. Action. Write down 2 or 3 actions, no
matter how small, that your reflection leads
you to consider taking as a way of living out
the truth that you have discovered. Also
consider how your insight now might affect
how you would respond the next time a
similar event occurs.
… And then pick one action and commit to
doing it.

PTR Exercise
Pick a significant event, and go through the
five steps of PTR. Use paper to help you
focus your thoughts/meditation if necessary.
-Do not over-spiritualize or under-spiritualize.
-Seek to see where the sacred and mundane
overlap or interact.

While a Group can come together and seek a
common theological understanding
together, in this case what is meant, is
utilizing a group to aid personal reflection.
This is NOT Theology by Committee.
The group should be mature, non-judgmental,
benevolent, and willing to abide by ethical
standards such as confidentiality.

An Individual Theological Reflection can
become a Group Theological Reflection by
bringing the group into the reflective
process.
It can be done several ways, but would
typically follow a basic pattern.

1. Reflective Creation. Create something that
can be presented to the group. The creation
may be a metaphor, a story, a work of art,
or more.
The goal is that it is the source and/or product
of theological reflection.

2. Safe Presentation. Present the Creation to
a Safe (trustworthy, non-judgmental,
benevolent, mature) group.
If it is a case or a story, it may be useful if
each member has a copy of it to analyze.

3. Self-Interpretation. The presentation
should also be explained... from one's own
perspective. This is not just about “facts,”
but also of meaning and relevance.
Why is it important? What impact does it
have? What has been learned?

4. Loving Interaction. The group will seek
clarification, provide possible insights, and
(lovingly) challenge the presenter.
This is a time for mutual edification.

5. Creative Reflection. The presenter will
respond to the comments and insights of
the group. This should be done with the
group.
However, it is desirable if the presenter would
also write down personal insights later
about the experience after a period of
reflection.

These 5 Steps Can Be Used For a
Wide Number of Presentations
Art Therapy
Client Creates Work of Art
Client Presents Art
Client Explains the Art Meaning
Client discusses art with others
Client reflects on insights

Narrative Therapy
Client Develops a Story
Client Tells the Story
Client Interprets the Story
Client discusses story with others
Client reflects on insight

Case Presentation
Client Writes a Case
Client Presents a Case
Client Interprets the Case
Client interacts with group on case

Dream Interpretation
Client Has Dream
Client Shares Dream
Client Interprets Dream
Client interacts with others regarding dream

Exercise: Metaphor

Think about your role as a child of God, or as a
minister of God.

Choose an object or an action that serves as a
metaphor for this role.

Reflect on this metaphor considering its
relevance and its limits.

Share your metaphor and reflection with the
group. Listen to the comments and insights.

Kairos and Chronos

Theological Reflection is not simply an
intellectual exercise. The goal is that it
leads to holistic growth/transformation.

Two aspects of this can be identified in
terms of two Greek words related to “time.”
These are Kairos and Chronos.

Some Christian faith groups focus more on
“Kairos” events, while others on 'Chronos.”
Both however, are necessary.

Kairos and Chronos

Kairos refers to “the right moment.” In
terms of theological reflection it can refer to
a special moment of insight.

Evangelical groups often focus on a single
event conversion experience. However, a
person can experience many forms of
'kairos events.'

They can be epiphanies (“Eureka!!”
moments) of special insight or major
decision. A paradigm shift.

Kairos and Chronos

Chronos speaks more generically about
the passage of time. Some changes are
rapid changes of perspective. But many
(most?) changes are imperceptible baby-
steps.

Transformation is slow, being pruned and
discipled, through the journey.

Kairos and Chronos

Both Kairos Moments and Chronos Growth
are parts of theological reflection.

One should not be valued over the other.
Both are needed.

Exercise

Take some time and think of a pivotal
moment of decision or change (preferably
not your conversion experience).

Think about what led up to that moment...
both “kairos event(s)” and “chronos
growth.” (Commonly both are associated
with major change or growth.)

Share with the group.

References

Thompson, Judith. SCM Studyguide to
Theological Reflection. SCM Press. 2016.

Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the
Christian Life. Navpress. 1991.

Pak, Jenny. “Color Your World,” Presentation.
NCF Seminar, Chiang Mai, 2012.

Kinder, Cathereina. “Art Therapy,” Seminar, Bukal
Life Care, Baguio City, 2017.

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