Fear of the Lord, The: Essays on Theological Method

by Michael Allen

This volume examines what it means to proceed in the path of wisdom by beginning with fear of God, that is, mindfulness always and everywhere of God’s being and presence. Michael Allen describes the praxis of fearing the Lord, how that posture of contemplative pursuit marks the theological task and defines our theological method; in so doing it takes up the significant topics of divine revelation, theological exegesis, intellectual asceticism, and retrieval/ressourcement from a distinctly doctrinal perspective. In each of these conversations, doing theology in the presence of God functions as a consistent thread. God is not mere object but truly functions as subject in the process of theological growth, though God’s presence and agency fund rather than negate creaturely theological responsibility. The Fear of the Essays on Theological Method explores some of the most central questions of contemporary theological method – revelation, Scripture, theological interpretation, retrieval, intellectual asceticism, scholastic method – by asking in each and every case what it means to think fundamentally of the perfect and present God involved and active in these spheres.

Genres: Theology

220 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2023

Reviews

[Scott Bielinski]

Allen's theological sensibilities - the implications of Trinitarian and Christological doctrine for theological practice, the scholastic shape of Christian doctrine, the ascetical character of Christian theology, theological interpretation of Scripture, and retrieval theology - are on full display in these brilliant essays on theological method. In many ways, this volume is an attempt to move Webster's theological theology project forward (with a more obvious Reformed Thomist/Scholastic bend). It successfully lives up to Webster's project in that it takes seriously the shape of theology in God's redemptive economy and demonstrates the rich, methodological resources of the Reformed tradition. However, Allen has all kinds of essays here that, to my mind, importantly develop and deepen many of Webster's insights, especially by leaning into the moral/spiritual nature of theology, with a tremendous essay on the contemplative and active life. Leaning heavily on Aquinas here, Allen argues for a "Reformed Thomism" that "relocate[s] the exercise of theological reason in the economy of the gospel and [re-envisions] its practice as an exercise of intellectual asceticism in the contemplative life" (156). Because the purpose of theology is to contemplate and see God, it is a moral/spiritual activity, made possible by and sustained by God's prior act of grace in the gospel. Thus, theology is not a mere intellectual endeavor, but for contemplation, our intended end as creatures: "as those who eternally and blissfully contemplate God with his own knowledge in which we graciously participate through Christ and by the Spirit" (167-68).

Allen's essays offer an important theological reminder for the Reformed retrieval movements to be anchored to the glorious economy of God's grace, always yielding to the Lord who rules, reigns, and speaks in His church through His Word, by His Spirit.