fuse

"Much Modern theology presupposes the deistic assumption that the first step is to prove God exists. No, the biblical question is what kind of God exists?"
~ Hauerwas and Willimon

It seems to me that truth of this statement is best shown in ancient Israel's approach to understanding history. Unfortunately we have lost an appreciation for the interconnectedness found in their history and theology. To know history was to practice theology. This is largely because our modern world has decided that it is fashionable to question the very existence of God, something that the ancients would not have been so inclined to do. What made Israel's monotheism unique was not that they held to a supreme power at work in the universe, but that it was a different understanding of the supreme power than existed in the ancient near east at the time.

For example, the study of creation is critical to the foundation of Israel. Because it is a historical-theological account of how this world came into existence it does not offer scientific proofs and apologetic evidence to prove that a theistic god was behind all of this matter. As said above, it was simply not an intelligent position to think that there was no supreme power behind this world. Rather, what kind of god is behind all of this? And from this appreciation for how this god filled this world in the manner in which he made and separated creation comes a very human response of love and adoration.

Fast forward to the poetic literature found in the written psalms. These are unique in the Bible becase they contain humanity's response back to this god. In other words, this is our response to the statement which has been made in history-theology. And these responses show an entire nation and worldview being shaped by an understanding of what kind of god exists.

He is a creator god, and in his creation he displays his sovereignty.
He is an omnipotent god, and his creation of a universe (not a multiverse) attests to his order.
He is an imaginitive god, and the wild diversity shows his mind.
He is an open god, and his care for this world is seen in his outstretched arms.

And it would benefit us greatly to fuse the events of this world (:history) with our understanding of what kind of god is out there (:theology).

For he is there and he is not silent.