The Flight from Creation

by Gustaf Wingren

""I have always sought to choose topics that throw light on the integrating function of the Christian faith in human life as a whole. For this reason I have felt that the modern tendency to cut the church off from ordinary human life is the most profound theological tragedy of our time."" This statement by noted by Swedish theologian Gustaf Wingren reflects his independence from the primary train of theological thought in the twentieth century. Where many other theologians, following the lead of Karl Barth, have centered their theologies around the second article of the Apostles' Creed, Wingren has re-emphasized the first article in an attempt to recover the theological importance of the doctrine of creation. Wingren's view, developed in faithfulness to the church's theology, is consonant with the increasing demands that world concerns and problems that are placing on the church. It makes a place for the church within the world, not apart from it; and it opens up the doors of the church to meet life's problems on their own ground. Developed from a series of lectures at the Contemporary Theology Institute in Montreal, this is an important theological work. Here Wingren explores another facet of a theme that he has consistently maintained in his writing. The critical dialog with prominent theologians of recent years develops a strong case for the doctrine of creation as a basic context for theology and leaves no doubt as to which direction the church should move. Gustaf Wingren (1910-2000) was Professor of Systematic Theology at Lund from 1951 to 1977. His other books include The Living Word and Creation and Law.

94 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Chris Hulshof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read. Wingren examines what it might look like if we began our theology with the first article of faith (I believe in God the Father…) rather than immediately skipping to the second article of faith (and in Jesus Christ His only begotten son).
Wingren’s contention is that often times we start with this second article and it end up being problematic for the practice of our theology. One example he gives is in relation to Christology. Wingren points out that when starting with the second article of faith in social justice we simply turns Jesus into a revolutionary or a social justice warrior rather than showing him to be the savior and redeemer. He argues that when we root the defense of/argument for social change in Christology the Gospel is contaminated and Jesus is diluted to nothing more than another revolutionary. He then explains why starting with the first article of faith would be much more profitable (God is almighty and creator of life).
The one issue which I think dates the book (originally published in 1971) is his belief that there are common sense arguments that can be made and agreed upon regardless of your theology. However, in our modern culture common sense seems like a rare commodity and not something that can no longer be assumed and used as a starting point for discussion.