From Nature to Scripture: Competing Paradigms in Theological Inquiry

In examining the interaction of natural theology within the systems of the Greek school and the Westminster Standards, it is clear that the controversy goes beyond mere philosophical inquiry into profound theological issues. The chapter skillfully describes how God's revelation in Scripture and nature is assessed in two competing paradigms. Whereas the Greek philosophical tradition is bound to have a coherent perspective on nature and man, Westminster Standards offer a strong position concerning general revelation that highlights necessity, authority, sufficiency, and perspicuity. Through careful consideration of these features, the chapter unfolds the need for general revelation in order to support human obedience and acknowledge divine grace, particularly within man's fallen state. This focus not only outlines the various views but also explains how the revelation of God in nature criticizes Greek philosophical assumptions, exposing its limitation and the threats of human freedom without divine truth.

Bavinck's exploration of the nature of religion furthers this conversation by emphasizing the vital bond between God and humanity encapsulated in the term "religare,” meaning to bind. He navigates the tension between objective and subjective perspectives in faith, shedding light on how modern philosophical tendencies have favored subjective experience over objective truth. This shift has led to a re-evaluation of concepts surrounding piety and worship, as seen in the works of Aquinas and the Reformers. Bavinck’s critique of 19th-century philosophical objectivity highlights the inadequacy of dissecting religion without acknowledging inherent convictions that shape human understanding. By framing religion as a holistic experience that engages intellect, will, and emotion in relation to the divine, he underscores the importance of grounding religious inquiry firmly in the reality of God’s revelation, while also advocating for a careful consideration of pluralistic perspectives that do not compromise the essence of Christianity.

As an answer to such controversies, Diogenes Allen's criticism of modernism and his appeal for a new Christian theology are all the more justified. Through chronicling the intellectual decline of modernist thought, Allen paves the way for the return of Christian participation in a postmodern era when relativism and pluralism challenge what had previously seemed certain. He argues that the decline of modern foundations offers theologians a great opportunity to look back and re-evaluate their ideas of faith and reason. Allen's insistence on developing a theology that honors the reality of other religions is both an invitation to inclusivity and a warning against watering down central Christian doctrine. This is the subtlety demanded of contemporary theological debate in that it operates in the subtle tension between reason and faith grounded in divine revelation. Ultimately, such speculations do point toward the necessity to balance theological inquiry with both reverence for ancient insight and an awareness of current cultural reality so that the church may be a prophetic voice within a progressively complex world.