Browsing by Author "Rousseau, David Christopher"

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    Towards an evangelical theology of the individual-in-community : a theoogical analysis and proposal
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Rousseau, David Christopher; Vosloo, Robert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Within evangelicalism there has and continues to be a growing awareness of the seminal benefit of a theology of community. For some time now, there have been signs within evangelicalism of a growing dissatisfaction with the negative aspects of individualism that are not only evident in the culture in which it was formed, namely, western culture, but also in its theology which has resulted in a neglect of community as an essential aspect of the Christian life. While the importance of the individual as person before God cannot be minimized, this dissertation seeks a greater balance between the individual and community but is heavily weighted in the direction of community because of the perceived weakness described. Therefore, the motif of “the individual-in-community” has been chosen and the proposed research question in this dissertation is as follows: The theology of evangelicalism is being awakened to the concept of community as a significant thrust in scripture, so how can some specific and helpful loci of theology be revisited so that its captivity to individualism is challenged and its theology is more community oriented? Because the recapturing of this important emphasis on community is a perceived need evidenced by the reading of a number of evangelical theologians and commentators on this movement, this requires revisiting some of the major underlying concepts which have underpinned evangelicalism. This is being done from the standpoint that the body of Christ as a community is of greater theological importance than is generally realized among evangelicals in the main. While a fully orbed theology of the individual-in-community is beyond the scope of this project, certain key loci and specific aspects of these loci of theology have been chosen because of their perceived importance in strengthening an evangelical theology of the individual-in-community: the authority of scripture, the related doctrines of the Trinity and the imago Dei, salvation, and finally, the church. The intended and ultimate purpose of this dissertation is that it will have the effect of revitalizing an evangelical ecclesiology. The motivation, therefore, behind this dissertation has to do with the present state of evangelicalism as observed by western evangelical theologians primarily but not exclusively where the ethos of evangelicalism seems to be undergirded by a cultural captivity to individualism which blinds it to the enriching aspects of a community orientation in its theologizing and its embodied ecclesiastical life. This cultural captivity, as will become evident, inadvertently diminishes the norms of evangelical theology even in key areas that it purportedly elevates. Hence, in this dissertation the motivation is to pursue a study of certain key areas or strands of thinking within evangelical theology where reductionisms have taken place and a more robust evangelical theology is necessary, and where this added emphasis will bring about a strengthening of evangelical theology as it becomes more “community” conscious.