By Elizabeth West (BA 26)
Christian doctrine explains what we believe about God, according to the Bible, and why we believe it.
Fourteen courses are required in Grace’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. Of all the courses on that list, students repeatedly share that Essential Doctrinal Themes (EDT) is one of the most influential. The course sets students on a trajectory of studying basic Christian doctrine and encouraging them to personally determine what they believe.
What is Christian Doctrine?
Christian doctrine is at the foundation of the Christian faith. Christian doctrine draws central themes from the Bible and synthesizes them into concrete truths that inform the way we live.
Dr. Rob Neufer, a part-time faculty member in the School of Ministry Studies, has been teaching Essential Doctrinal Themes for 10 years. He defines Christian doctrine simply: “A doctrine is what the Bible teaches about a particular topic.”
Because of the importance of understanding our faith, Grace requires every student to complete core Christian theology courses that teach you how to study the Bible and understand your beliefs. The Essential Doctrinal Themes class has a discussion-based format that helps students explore the Bible through systematic theology. Each week, students will converse about a new doctrine in the classroom and in small groups with peers.
Ally Charleswood, a double major in elementary education and counseling from Indianapolis, Indiana, explained, “You learn about a lot of diverse topics, so some you may have talked about before and some you are just learning about for the first time. Then you discuss those topics with people who may not think the same way that you do.”
What Will I Learn in Christian Theology Courses?
The seven Christian doctrines covered in our Essential Doctrinal Themes class are:
- Bibliology/The Word of God: This doctrine discusses God’s special revelation and the attributes of the Word of God – Authority, Clarity, Necessity, and Sufficiency.
- Theology Proper/God: This doctrine covers the wholeness, character, and attributes of God with a focus on the Trinity.
- Anthropology/Man & Woman: This doctrine discusses the nature of man and woman and their identity as God’s image bearers.
- Christology/Christ: This doctrine tells us about the nature of Christ and focuses on His eternal attributes, as well as His life, death, and resurrection.
- Soteriology/Salvation: This doctrine highlights how we can be saved through Christ’s work on the cross and what results from a decision to follow Jesus.
- Ecclesiology/The Church: This doctrine covers the body of believers, the Church, and their role on earth.
- Eschatology/Last Things or The Future: This doctrine digs into Jesus’s second coming and the future judgement and renewal of the world.
The discussion-based approach exposes students to different perspectives and allows them form their own convictions about the doctrines they study. While every week’s content is useful, there are some topics that captivate the interest and attention of students more than others. Carolina Keegan, a journalism student from Terre Haute, Indiana, appreciated the wide range of topics covered by the class.
“You start out with some more straightforward stuff like the doctrine of God or the doctrine of Man, but then you start talking about things that are a bit more ambiguous, like predestination,” Keegan said. “Some things in the Bible are straightforward, but other things, like predestination, leave us with questions and that’s okay.”
“One of my favorite topics was when we talked about how God is always there for us and does not change,” Charleswood reflected.
Dr. Neufer’s favorite doctrine to teach is Christology, “because Jesus is so glorious and wonderful.”
MyKaila Culp, an elementary education student from Bremen, Indiana, shared that her favorite topic they discussed was the role of women in the church.
“I found it interesting to discover biblical references to women’s roles in ministry,” Culp said. “For example, as we discussed different views I concluded that women can use their gifts and talents within the church, but they are not called to lead over men.”
