A Call to Orthodoxy

Amid the anti-denominational war we see a cry from the post-modern everyman; we want to understand transcendent universal truth.  Post-moderns want to know what has been true across the vastness of the Christian tradition, and not the petty doctrinal disputes between sects.  We want to be a part of something that makes a difference and that is bigger than ourselves.  We want to be a part of something authentic.  Where people aren't involved in scandal, or where nobody is fleecing us for our “own good.”  Post-moderns can see a fake a mile off, we know when somebody is insincere, and we have no patience for us.  There is this attitude I feel in every group of post-modern adolescents that screams for sincerity.  Out of this we hear a call, a plea for teachers of good Orthodox theology.  We want to know the truth, beyond the opinion.  We are a part of the swing of the pendulum back to that which is held the most dear by the Church.  We discover this brilliant teaching from Vincentius, a Gaul, wrote a treatise outlining the problems with Augustine's view of predestination called “the Commonitory.”  He outlines an operating principal for the acquisition of theological understanding that I will embrace for all of my future academic pursuits.  In order for us to fortify our minds against heresy and pop-theology we must look first to Scripture, and next to the Tradition of the Church; that which is universal, has been held by antiquity, and is consensual among believers.  I will endeavor to delve into the vast pool of theology and to portray my understanding of its nature to the best of my ability.
One of the more interesting parts of my theological journey is simply the early years of my interest.  I started my reading in my bedroom, apart from society.  Whenever I would try to talk about it I was met with a consistent lack of interest.  So frustrated I became with this that I internalized all of my thoughts.  Untempered by society, and uncorrected by people of superior intellect my understandings remained narrow, and shallow.  It wasn't until my time at Indiana Wesleyan that I finally felt encouraged, being able to discuss and ask deep questions.  It has served as an invaluable part of my understanding of what it means to wrestle with theology.  I have come to the understanding that theology is meant to be discovered in the context of community.  That it is supposed to be discussed and corrected if one is to really learn and excel.
With these understandings I would like to state my intent for this paper.  I am departing on a literary journey to accomplish four ends.  First, to participate in the great conversation of theology, thus creating a framework by which to both teach those of lesser understanding, and to seek correction and guidance from those of higher understanding.  Secondly, to create a reference point to steer my future theological pursuits.  Thirdly, I aim to bring clarity to my systematic understanding, to be able to clearly convey the principles of theology in a coherent manor, and to create stock verbiage to use in my local church ministry.  Lastly, but most importantly is to bring more strength and love to my relationship with God, the author and perfecter of our faith.