Here is a fun (weird) conversation I had the other day.
My friend and I are from very similar backgrounds. We both come from a type of church that would classified as charismatic – even if it is mildly so. In our circles there is a very popular preacher on the west coast that tons of people listen to and quote religiously.
I was out for drinks with my friend and we were comparing notes on all that we were learning and he brought up a quote that I have heard the preacher say many times (when I used to listen to the podcast every week) – a quote that is used over and over again by those who run in these circles.
My friend said “what do you think of the quote “Jesus is perfect theology” ?” We had a great conversation about it.
I happened to have insomnia that night and kept thinking about this quote saying it is not quite right but how would I approach it with someone who had really bought into that…
Then in morning it dawned on me so I texted my friend and here is how the exchange went:
I have been thinking about this all day and night because so many people quote it.
I think I have solved the riddle.my answer: No! Jesus is perfect revelation. The church is the theology.
Nice. but you should add that there is no perfect theology. If theology is defined as faith seeking understanding, there is no such thing as perfect theology. Jesus is perfect revelation, not perfect theology. Yeah?
Right! That’s why the revelation is perfect but the theology is not 🙂
Ah, yes.
The End.
Bo Sanders: Public Theology 
February 23, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Just adding to the conversation…
Theology…
Theos (God) logos (word) or our words about God…
Our words about God are never perfect, Jesus was THE WORD (Logos) and also God (Theos), so If there is a such thing as perfect theology, it seems Jesus would be it. However, I would concur with you, the church is now the “body of Christ” who was the Word. So therefore, the church would be the perfect theology, again, if there is such a thing, especially with your given definition of theology as seeking and searching.
If we are just referring to whether or not the man Jesus spit out a perfect theology when he spoke, then I would say… Probably not.
February 23, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I feel like that’s is just a weird statement in general. It does two contradicting things:
1. It seems to assume that Jesus’ identity can be perfectly grasped from a single perspective
2. It makes Jesus into am abstract idea rather than a person.
This bothers me because a statement like “Jesus is perfect theology” is usually followed by “now let me tell you what that perfect theology is.”
And what IS perfect theology? Is it some sort of modern construct that assumes it can come up with a one single unifying and universally applicable way of talking about God?
February 24, 2011 at 11:10 am
you both have said this better than I could possibly could have. Thank you for posting!
p.s. guest blogs are welcomed from top rated ‘post’ers 🙂
March 12, 2011 at 5:17 am
Great post! He is perfect revelation but we are always interpreting Him based upon our preconceived cultural and social biases. It’s good to stay humble.
March 12, 2011 at 5:35 am
I guess we could also say that he is perfect theology. He is after all also a man and He is telling others about Father. In this sense He is “doing theology.”