How to Write a Theology of Chocolate: Reflecting on the Christian Faith in the 21st Century
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About this ebook
How to Write a Theology of Chocolate teaches theological reflection through the example of writing a theology of chocolate. Beginning with the foundation of how to read the Bible, the characteristics of a good theologian, and tools for Bible study, it provides a method for thinking through topics not directly addressed by the Bible. By using various tools and resources to write a theology of chocolate, the book demonstrates how anyone with patience and persistence can think theologically about the issues presented by 21st-century life.
How to Write a Theology of Chocolate is aimed at ordinary Christians, so it explains theological terms, is written in plain English and provides tools and methods that are simple enough for the layperson to use effectively. Instead of being a theoretical text, it demonstrates how real theological reflection is done. Using the example of a theology of chocolate and a Reader Exercise in every chapter, the reader is encouraged to pursue theological reflection for themselves. By the end of the book, the reader will be able to produce a theology of their own topic. Instead of providing the answer to one question, the book shows how to apply the Bible to any question.
Jennifer Anne Cox
Jennifer Anne Cox has a PhD in theology and is the author of several theological books. Dr Cox seeks to provide theological resources that will help the church to understand the Bible and to put Christ at the centre of all things.
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How to Write a Theology of Chocolate - Jennifer Anne Cox
How to Write a Theology of Chocolate
Reflecting on the Christian Faith in the 21st Century
Jennifer Anne Cox
Copyright © 2018 by Jennifer Anne Cox
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard
work of this author.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV
and New International Version
are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Acknowledgements and Dedication
This book is dedicated to my son David Cox, who many years ago asked me, What does God think about chocolate?
Thanks to my ever patient husband, who is content to let his wife sit around writing books all day long.
Thanks to all my beta readers, whose comments help shape the book.
And lastly, thanks to Dr Christopher Johnstone, colleague and friend, who believed that this book should be written.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements and Dedication
Introduction
Part 1: Preliminaries
Chapter 1: The Bible
Chapter 2: Character Qualities of the Theologian
Chapter 3: Tools for Bible Study
Part 2: Writing a Theology of Chocolate
Chapter 4: Writing Christ-Centred Theology
Chapter 5: Step One in Writing a Theology of Chocolate
Chapter 6: Creation and a Theology of Chocolate
Chapter 7: Sin and a Theology of Chocolate
Chapter 8: Using the Old Testament: Pluses and Problems
Chapter 9: The Person of Jesus and a Theology of Chocolate
Chapter 10: Words and Actions of Jesus and a Theology of Chocolate
Chapter 11: The Death of Jesus and a Theology of Chocolate Part 1
Chapter 12: The Death of Jesus and a Theology of Chocolate Part 2
Chapter 13: The Resurrection of Jesus and a Theology of Chocolate
Some Concluding Remarks about a Theology of Chocolate
About the Author
Introduction
Why This Book?
I wonder what prompted you to look at this book. Perhaps it was the title. What, you ask, does chocolate have to do with theology? After all, isn’t theology an esoteric subject, written in ivory towers about boring topics no one understands? And yet chocolate is tasty. Why would anyone write a theology of chocolate? Since the idea of writing a theology of chocolate has piqued your curiosity, I expect you are now wondering what that would look like. Allow me to explain.
The idea of writing a theology of chocolate began several years ago with a frivolous conversation regarding whether a theological library needed recipe books for chocolate treats. As a result of that conversation, I decided to write a short theology of chocolate just for the fun of it. Thinking about a theology of chocolate caused me to consider how a Christian might fruitfully contemplate topics not directly discussed in the Bible. The story of a theology of chocolate was continued in 2016 when I worked through the process with my theology students during one class session. It was well received. My immediate superior at the Bible College where I work suggested that I work these ideas into a book.
This book is less about chocolate than you might have hoped. There is not a glass and a half of full cream dairy milk
(a long-term slogan for Cadbury) hidden in its pages. Although it does contain a theology of chocolate, writing about chocolate is not really the point of the book. Chocolate is a foil, a means for teaching the reader how to think theologically about the issues, experiences and events which we encounter in life. As the book progresses, you will begin to understand the process that theologians go through in thinking through issues. Tools and skills discussed here are what you need to theologically reflect on the questions which you want answered.
Why might you want to theologically reflect at all? In some Christian circles, theology has been disregarded as if it were of little importance or possibly even a hindrance to the Christian life. However, this is far from the truth of the matter. What we think profoundly influences how we act. Every person, not merely paid professionals in academia, has theological ideas, whether they are willing to acknowledge them or not. Theological assumptions lie beneath all our beliefs. These underlying ideas inform the way a person acts, how other people are treated, the person’s priorities in life, the way money is spent and also a person’s relationship with God. So often our theological views are not made explicit and therefore seem to not exist. However, even those Christians who deny the significance of theology have theological views and live out of them.
As a consequence, if Christians are to do the will of God each one must deliberately reflect theologically. In many areas of life our theological views are vague and unformed and we find ourselves unable to decide how to act. The purpose of this book is to help Christians to form solid, biblical and informed theological views on life’s issues. Then we will know the will of God and how we should behave in the situations we encounter in life. The more our theology is deliberate and well-thought-through, the more our lives will give glory to Jesus Christ. Giving glory to God is most certainly the goal of Christians everywhere.
Your theology and mine has pastoral implications. What we think about people and their situations shapes the way we treat others and respond to their concerns. In a similar way, the theology we hold either helps or hinders our own lives. For example, good theology will help me relate to God with confidence, while poor theology will keep me in shame and fear. Theology really matters in dealing with people. Our concerns are not usually related to chocolate but are more likely to be founded on situations or events that affect people we care about. Quite likely, questions come to mind as you are involved in ministry to others. Learning how to reflect theologically will, therefore, help you to minister more effectively to the people you are called to love and to serve.
You, Me and the Bible
This book is written with a particular kind of person in mind. It is not for everyone. Although every person has underlying theological assumptions, not everyone wants to explore those assumptions or think through issues. This book is for people who want to think more deeply about how the Bible relates to twenty-first century life. It is for people who are unsatisfied with simplistic answers. It is for those who want more content to their Christian faith. It is for people who wish they understood how authors and pastors come to conclusions about particular issues. The book is written for people who desire tools for exploring the issues which trouble them and who are willing to work hard in the pursuit of finding answers. So if you are that kind of person, then this book is for you.
Now let me tell you something about myself so that you can understand some of my theological assumptions and what motivates my theological reflection. I am a theologian and author. My theology is evangelical and Reformed. That is, I believe that the Bible is God’s word in written form. Salvation is given by God’s grace because of the finished work of Christ. We receive this glorious salvation through faith in Jesus. I am also a charismatic in that I believe in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. He speaks today through the Bible and to individuals in a personal way. The Holy Spirit also imparts spiritual gifts to the church to equip people for ministry in the church and the world. We need both the Bible and the Spirit if we are to understand what God is saying to us about life in the twenty first century.
But