SAET » The Smell of a Theologian » The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology

February 14, 2012 by Jason Hood

The Smell of a Theologian

Tweet

A friend posted this on FB; it juxtaposes Matthew’s previous post rather nicely and reminds me of more serious points for self-reflection.

Just yesterday, trying to understand the rising fascination with Barth, I wondered whether we have a need to believe that a theologian really could be a rock star rather than an awkward servant. It’s not just Barth, of course; some have a “rock star” perception of Calvin, even though his life reveals him to be anything but.

Perhaps we want to believe that it’s possible to be celebrated on the cover of Time or appear on The Daily Show. Or that we’ll be the next great, young, well-known British preacher. (Let the reader understand.)

The reality of course is very different. We bear the scent not of celebrity, but of “the refuse of the world” (1 Cor 4:13). But if our work has any value, we also become the fragrance of life and death and the knowledge of God himself (2 Cor 2:14-17).

Categories: Ecclesial Theologian | Ecclesial Theology | General | Jason Hood | off-topic
Recent Comments
- Ray Hollenbach said...
  
  For three years I’ve been working on my British accent in precisely the effort to be “the next well-known British theologian,” but to no avail. Do you recommend I actually move to England?
  
  02/15/12 7:49 AM | Comment Link
- Jason Hood said...
  
  It’s amazing how valuable that can be–and it doesn’t matter whether you’re charismaniac, reformed, emergent, anglo-catholic, etc. Accents open the door regardless. I haven’t heard your accent Ray but you might want to look into an accent coach. You also have to pick which type of British accent: Cockney, aristocrat, etc. I think you’d sound great with a Judy Dench…
  
  02/15/12 8:40 AM | Comment Link
- laura said...
  
  My ministry is transfiguration glory unto rapture. Which meaning, if we do really well in our theological pursuits – we will seek and find the face of God. We will have the testimony of Enoch — that he walked with God and pleased God and he was not for God took him… never tasting death.
  
  Who wants to be a rock star??
  
  Let’s just break the Matrix… and leave. It is a Matrix, you realize.
  
  02/23/12 1:37 AM | Comment Link
Leave A Comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published)

Website

About the SAET Blog

Welcome to the SAET blog. Herein you will find the theological/pastoral ramblings of the Rev. Matthew Mason, the good Doctor Jason Hood, and Pastor Gerald Hiestand. All three write under the premise that theology and the pastorate belong together, and that (at least some) pastors must once again function as writing theologians for the wider church, for the ecclesial renewal of theology and the theological renewal of the church.

Contributors

Gerald Hiestand
Gerald has served as the SAET board president since 2006. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1999, and serves currently as the Senior Associate Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL.

Jason Hood
Jason is a graduate of Rhodes College, Reformed Theological Seminary, Highland Theological College and the Univ. of Aberdeen. Jason works as Scholar-in-Residence and director of Christ College Residency Program at Christ UMC. He's trying to figure out the twitter thing, @jasonbhood, and sometimes writes for ChristianityToday.com.

Matthew Mason
Matthew earned an MTh at Oak Hill College, London. He is an Assistant Pastor at Church of the Resurrection, Washington D. C. (Anglican Mission in the Americas), and edits Ecclesia Reformanda, a journal of Reformed theology.

The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesiological Theology

The Smell of a Theologian

Recent Comments

Leave A Comment

About the SAET Blog

Contributors

SAET Blogs

Blog Categories