Practicality of Doctrine

One of the things that vanHoozer is emphasizing in his hermeneutics book is the practical nature of doctrine. Doctrine is designed to help us live our lives as Chriistians. I can't think of any particular examples that he gives, but the main emphasis is that doctrine is not merely a propositional belief, but a belief that changes one's actions.

Another point of emphasis of vanHoozer's is that we are in a drama, the Bible is a dramatic book, a divine play so to speak. However, we are actors in this play. God calls us to act, not just sit passively. This definitely is a new approach to hermeneutics but an interesting one nonetheless. Too often people in churches believe that the Bible is a book to be read and quoted and venerated but it stops there. However, the Bible is a DIVINE book that calls us to act. It tells us how to act. It calls us to a relationship with God and to participate in God's works.