So navigating through some contemporary issues we find in systematic theology there are many challenges that

we come across So before we start I want to first congratulate you for making it to this section for

making it here And let's begin as the world evolves So too do the challenges faced by systematic theology So

in this lesson we will explore some of the more modern issues within this framework we will consider

how the Bible offers insights and provides guidance for us in addressing these challenges So let's start with pluralism and

religious diversity So in our world it's increasing with diversity One challenge is navigating pluralism

So what is pluralism It's a state where people of different faiths live together in

peace and have the freedom to worship or choose to not worship So it also means that all

religions are considered equal and there is no one superior religion So how does Christianity engage with

other belief systems without compromising its core We see this in John 14 6 Jesus said to him I am

the way I am the truth and I am the life No one comes to the father except through

me So we see here Christianity It holds firm to the belief that Jesus is the exclusive path to

God is the only path It really highlights that salvation can be attained only through Him

So the faith recognizes Jesus as that doorway to God to eternity This conviction it does not diminish our

Christian obligation to engage with people of different beliefs in a spirit It's more characterized by that love and respect

So despite affirming Jesus is unique and central role Christianity it fosters an attitude of acceptance and more understanding

towards those who hold diverse different spiritual perspectives So we as Christians are called to build those

bridges rather than putting up walls seeking that common ground while still and most importantly upholding those strong convictions by

genuinely listening to others engaging in that thoughtful dialogue We as followers of Christ can cultivate

more meaningful connections and build a spirit of genuine compassion It is within this context of

being open more empathetic that we can coexist in harmony with people of various faiths striving

to have a mutual understanding and a peaceful coexistence that we can build on and we can grow with And

number two is ethical dilemmas So theological discussions in the context of contemporary really grapple with some

more complicated ethical issues such as bioethics technological advancements things like social justice So how does systematic theology

provide a framework for more ethical decision making Let's go to scripture first Micah 68 He

has told you Oh man what is good and what does the Lord require of you But you do

justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God So this verse it

really is showing us the fundamental principles of justice of kindness and humility These can serve as those compasses

right Guiding us in our ethics and our decisions in those situations These principles they're

essential for guiding us through those moral dilemmas making those more informed decisions which is

important So firstly justice stands as a cornerstone of that ethical conduct It requires fairness impartiality and really upholding

of rights for all individuals So in any circumstance we want to prioritize justice ensuring that every person

is treated equally regardless of their background or their circumstances So by sticking to this

principle by following this principle of justice we are contributing to creating a more equitable

and just society overall So with justice we have kindness This plays another very important role in ethical considerations calling

for more empathy compassion and really a genuine care for others How do you genuinely

care for others Do you feel that way We demonstrate kindness We're not only uplifting someone but we're promoting

an understanding with harmony within communities So when we embrace kindness and justice we are building and growing a

culture of goodwill that is contributing to more compassion and a more compassionate world should really humble our

egos and should really encourage us to listen to different perspectives and recognize our own limitations People will

not always agree that is ok Humility allows us to acknowledge when we have made mistakes we can

learn from them and we can really grow as individuals overall So when we embrace humility fully this should enable

us to approach these decisions with a more open mind and a greater willingness to understand and adapt

Now number three is gender and sexuality So as societal pressures perspectives on gender and sexuality evolved theological discussions on

these topics they become more relevant they will continue to become more relevant So how does systematic

theology address these issues while sticking to the biblical principles that are most important Let's go

to Genesis 127 So God created man in his own image the image of God he created him

male and female He created them So what does this passage tell us in Genesis This

has been a source of inspiration sorts of thought more deep thought and studying for many years

throughout history This holds a deep philosophical implication regarding the nature and the purpose of our human existence

Why are we here on earth Why were we created being created in the image of God has often

been understood as conveying the worth and dignity of every individual regardless of their gender their race

any other characteristic This is also suggesting that humans possess qualities that reflect different aspects of God different Godly aspects

such as things like reason creativity Capacity for love and compassion That's what separates us from the animals This verse

also acknowledges the importance of equality and interconnectedness of men and women Really highlighting and showing us their

shared origin and importance in the eyes of God Now number four is environmental stewardship The

ecological crisis possesses a theological challenge This should prompt us on discussions of humanity responsibility for the environment So

how does systematic theology contribute to a biblical perspective on environmental stewardship Let's go to Genesis 215 the Lord God

took the man put him in the garden of Eden to work it and to keep

it So what do we see here in placing Adam in the garden He was meant

to work He was meant to keep he was meant to take care of the animals take care of of

the life in the garden This shows us God's intention for mankind which is to actively participate in the

cultivation preservation of the natural world that we live in This act of stewardship is signifies and is really highlighting

the importance of taking care of the earth and its resources is showing us the harmony

between mankind and the environment Also showing us the responsibility that we have to nurture and to safeguard the garden

earth by extension the planet So this verse it serves as a reminder that humans we hold a significant

role in maintaining the balance and the beauty that we see around us We are meant to take care

of it and should give us that deep sense of respect for our surroundings and

the creatures that inhabit it So in conclusion contemporary issues systematic theology this invites us to engage in

thought OK think about the challenges of the modern world think of the Bible foundational source

The principles in the Bible are what we always go back to what we always

stick to to navigate through those issues There will be diversity in religion there will be

ethical dilemmas gender and sexuality dilemmas As Christians we are meant to grapple with these challenges not

shy away from them not turn them off not turn somebody away because they disagree but share

the word share scripture guided by love with humility focusing on justice This really becomes

the central part of what we should do of how we should go about sharing

that message how we should go about guiding others in that message when these questions

when these issues when these problems come up which they always will systematic theology and social issues how do

we go about navigating through challenges modern challenges with biblical wisdom today So in this lecture we will

examine how systematic theology approaches these social issues and how it draws inspiration and wisdom from the Bible We

always keep the Bible as the core So let's start with social justice and equality the

pursuit of social justice and equality This is a constant concern especially in today's world Systematic theology

seeks to oh understand it apply biblical principles to address the issues we find with inequality with injustice We

go to Proverbs 3189 speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves for the rights of

all who are destitute So what is this first telling us here speak up and judge fairly We

want to defend the rights of the poor of the needy This message powerful message from scripture

should serve as a reminder of our responsibility to advocate for the marginalized and seek justice for

the oppressed This also causes us to use our voices to speak out against that injustice

when it's right the right way to be fair in those judgments and to really actively

defend the rights of those who are less fortunate So in today's world where poverty and equality are

persistent this look at this like a biblical mandate and a challenge to go take action urging us to

look beyond our own privilege and reach out to those in need whether it's big or small regardless of their

status regardless of what they have So by standing up for the rights of the poor of the

needy what can we do We can contribute to the creation and help create a more just and equitable society

So through acts through compassion through empathy we can and we should try to be the voice of

those who are often neglected This should really help focus on their cause Ensuring their rights

are protected just like ours So number two is migration and refugees So the global movement of people driven

by factors such as conflict of a lot of economic hardship This raises a lot of theological

questions about hospitality compassion What should we be doing is this right The Christian response

to refugees Let's look at Matthew 2535 for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat I

was thirsty and you gave me something to drink I was a stranger and you invited

me in So Jesus words here they really are highlighting the importance of showing hospitality and providing care for those

in need including strangers including refugees So it's important that we remember that now number three

technology and ethics So advances in technology present dilemmas right Challenges and demand theological reflection We really

want to look at this systematic theology explores these implications of technological innovations OK Such as what artificial intelligence

we have genetic engineering to name a few Let's look at first Corinthians 619 to

in you who you have received from God You are not your own you were bought at a

price Therefore honor God with your bodies So what is this verse Telling us this verse is prompting

us to consider the ethical boundaries and responsibility in the use of technology that is impacting

our human lives what is going on with genetic engineering What is going on with A

I it's not all bad but we want to be careful and we want to

discern and sift through what is good what are the good parts and what is

bad And more importantly we want to make sure we are sharing that message with our sphere of

influence with our people around us in the proper way So we can have the correct impact on those around

us from that biblical perspective which is always the goal and always what we're looking to do And number four

is racial recognition So in a world that's again really marked by racial tensions Systematic theology helps us engage

with those biblical principles unity and love in the context of diverse cultural background So we see

in Galatians 328 there is neither Jew nor gentile neither slave nor free nor is there any male and

female for you are all one in Christ So this verse telling us and showing us giving

us the biblical wisdom of that unity in Christ going beyond the racial and social distinctions

and seeing everyone as people created from God not focusing on color not focusing on gender as much

We are all created from God we are all God's Children So we want to

try to get past those initial judgments that we all probably have at some point and move beyond that

remembering we are all Children of God Remembering to share the message of the Lord share scripture the correct

way when these issues come up when these issues arise The most important thing is

we are always going back to scripture using that as our foundation as our reference

point to then talk on to then share on to then move forward on helping others and also

in our own lives That's what we're being shown and being taught here So in conclusion

it's systematic theology it's really grapples with some of these issues Some of these more social

issues also showing us the wisdom that can be found in the scriptures Going back to scripture Anytime we

have a question not seeking opinions or seeking things that may or may not be factual when

we go back to the Bible those are the facts that we need to use Why it's God's word It

was written by God That is what we use to move forward with offering guidance on these issues on justice

focusing on compassion focusing on hospitality and really taking the technological advancements into consideration what's coming what

is going on in the world and how can we better prepare for that better prepare others

for that by using the Bible in the context of these issues So thank you

for completing this lesson We'll see you in the next lecture Let's talk about ecumenism and some

interfaith dialogue So how do we embrace unity and systematic theology combined with the contemporary context of ecumenism and

interfaith dialogue So this lecture we will explore how theology rooted in biblical principles contributes to a deeper

understanding among people of different faiths So let's start with ecumenism seeking unity among Christian traditions What is

ecumenism is the theological effort to promote unity among different Christian traditions So in systematic theology how does this engage

here with this issue by focusing on the shared beliefs fostering more collaboration we see in Ephesians 43

make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace So this

verse is encouraging Christians to actively pursue and maintain the unity of the spirit This is promoting co-operation

and understanding among diverse believers which is important now interfaith dialogue Uh beyond bridges beyond

Christianity interfaith dialogue really involves conversations and more mutual understanding between members of different faith traditions of different religions How

do we find common ground How do we find talking points Systematic theology contributes to this

by identifying common ground and really promoting that those more respectful discussions Let's look at first Peter 315 But in

your hearts revere Christ as Lord always be prepared to give an answer to everyone

who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have but do this with gentleness and respect

So this verse is really telling us showing us the importance of engaging in dialogue but doing

it in a humble gentle way with respect providing a more Biblical foundation for those deeper conversations Now recognizing

shared values OK And systematic theology this really acknowledges these values and ethical principles among

different faiths as well while recognizing their differences OK That's the important part It seeks common ground

for collaboration and addressing the more societal challenges we see this in Micah 68 he has shown you oh

Mortal what is good and what does the Lord require of you to act justly and to love

mercy and to walk humbly with your God So this is a very important verse

really giving us the universal call to justice to mercy and humility Now when we use these we use

these as points of connection to connect across those different fades to connect with people through these different ways

There are two ways to do things we can shut down because we don't agree with

something that we think is not correct or we know is not correct or we can find ways to bridge

that gap to get in to have those discussions have those conversations That's what we're seeing

here And and these are some great examples of how to do that Number four is

theological humility So engaging in ecumenism gauging in interfaith dialogue really requires a more deeper humility OK

A recognition that no one tradition holds a monopoly on divine truth necessarily systematic theology encourages an open minded approach

to learning from others There's always things we can learn from others as long as we

are sticking with the Bible first in Proverbs 26 for the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth

come knowledge and understanding So acknowledging that God is the source of all wisdom this gives us that attitude

of humility that we should all have and that we can all work on Recognize

that theological insight can be found diversely can be found across different traditions If we are looking for different

things we can learn This does not mean that we believe in all the different

religions We focus on the Bible We know the Bible is correct We stick with the Bible as our foundation

but you can always learn different things from different people and different religions Take those different things

use them as ways to bridge the gap use them as ways to speak use

them as good talking points and then move forward from there So in conclusion the contemporary issues that we

see this modern world ecumenism taking that to talking with other religions which is interfaith dialogue through systematic theology OK

This should help us build a stronger unity have better collaboration by grounding those reflections in biblical principles What are

those biblical principles Focus on focus on respect shared values humility So believers can engage

in more co better conversations deeper conversations contributing to creating more harmony contributing to finding ways to

bridge the gap finding ways to bring someone over to see things from a biblical perspective that maybe they're not

seeing from that biblical perspective There are ways to do that to not turn off to not

shy away but share finding that inner connection finding those things we can connect with we can

agree on and then moving forward from there So thank you for completing this lecture I'll see

you in the next one So what are some practical applications Right Of the theological insights we've discussed in

this section study of theology is not meant to be combined to academic discussions or

even doctrinal debates It's meant to shape the way that believers that we shape our lives

So that in this lecture we will explore how these insights can be practically applied in everyday situations

Going back to relevant Bible verses to use as that core So let's talk about love and action So

love is at the heart of Christian theology encompassing both God's love for humanity and the

command to love one another We see the practical application of this in verse John 47 beloved let

us love one another For love is from God and whoever loves has been born

of God and knows God So what is this telling us here What is the application that that

we want to start to utilize in our own lives This involves actively demonstrating love through

kindness OK Finding those ways to show someone how you feel to show someone that you're

different to why you're behaving differently when we deal with situations in life There are there is the general

way that the general reactions that generally occur anger getting mad at someone getting upset or

when you see those rare occurrences where someone is acting differently people tend to notice that like

wow that person handled that well or that person is dealing with that well so it's

good to focus on different ways to be kind how you're being kind and then doing

that from biblical principles doing that from a biblical way So when we're actively demonstrating

this love and kindness this also comes with a compassion and most importantly a service

to others This should reflect the love that God has shown for us All that is what we are

trying to do trying to be salt and light for this world show that reflection

So when someone sees those things they're seeing someone Godly they're seeing someone who is acting as the

Bible would tell them to act We are a reflection of God We are God's Children Let's talk about

forgiveness and reconciliation So the insight here that we get from from theology the Bible emphasizes forgiveness reconciliation reflecting

God's forgiveness through Christ So the practical application here Colossians 313 bear with each other forgive one

another If any of you has a grievance against someone forgive as the Lord forgave you So the obvious

implication here the obvious guide the obvious instruction is we are to forgive as God forgave

us This is not always as easy as it sounds to do Think of someone who's hurt you

maybe recently or in the past Have you forgiven them Are you able to forgive

them Was it something very bad that maybe seems unforgivable or was it something not so bad But you

just weren't able to get over it and you weren't able to forgive them We

need to remember no matter what happens and what occurs we are meant to forgive

This takes practice So some practical application of this means we should be actively seeking reconciliation so actively letting

go of the grudges that we have of the things that have been holding us

back of the people we have not forgiven because why Because it's not the Christian thing

to do It's not what the Bible says to do It's a challenge for us and it can be a

challenge to get past those things to forgive that person to let them know hey I

understand what happened I forgive you And that's the bridge that's the gap that you can

move forward from until that occurs It's hard to move forward from that and you end

up holding on to a lot of that resentment that resentment builds So we want to extend that

forgiveness Remember that we are a reflection of God's grace OK Number number three seeking justice What is

the insight here God is just believe are called to pursue justice in the world

So we that is our calling What we are called to do practical application in Micah 68 He has

told you oh man what is good and what does the Lord require of you But

to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God So this insight

prompts us to actively engage in what promoting justice standing against depression and advocating for the vulnerable advocating for

the less fortunate when we have those opportunities we should take them This does not mean we have

to be standing in the middle of the road smearing you know blood across the road and holding up big

signs and causing major disturbances Not that there's maybe not a time for that But this more means the personal

situations the small things that we see that are easy to walk by that are easy to kind

of brush off and get on with our busy days It's important that we try

to practice taking time to step out to help someone to listen to someone all

important things Now number four is hospitality and generosity So what's the insight here The Bible

is telling us the importance of both of these things So practical application we can see here in Hebrews 13

something people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it So it is important to understand here

that when we apply this this involves welcoming others sharing resources and really extending a helping

hand to people in need Most of the time this could be people we don't know which can

make it a little bit harder But we should get in the habit of that Try to practice that Even

if it's something small donating a couple dollars donating your time maybe something bigger It's a good habit and

a good practice to take Now number five is discipleship and transformation So what is

the insight here that we're getting The Christian journey involves continuous transformation continuous discipleship It is a lifelong

process It is never a mastered process We will continually get better at it We will make mistakes until we

end up leaving this earth So we see in Romans 12 2 we are not to conform to the

pattern of this world but we are to be transformed How by the renewing of our minds how by

reading scripture by prayer by studying scripture then we will be able to test and approve what God's will

is His good pleasing and perfect will So when we go to apply this this means

we should be actively seeking personal growth renewing of our minds through the Bible through scripture And we want

to live in accordance with God's word It's very important back to salt and light We want to be salt

and white How do we do that We live in accordance with God's Word How do we do

that We have to know the word and study the word and continually refresh our

minds with it Why Because the world is strong and powerful and we have a lot

of things coming in TV internet phone all the messages If we're not continually renewing

then it gets very tough And those messages can bog us down and they will bog us down

So in conclusion theological insights that we've gone over in this lesson when applied in practical

ways really do have the power to transform lives to build communities as believers We should

live out this love this forgiveness and discipleship that we see in scripture that is taught in

scripture These can become the agents of change in the world Positive change whether it's big or small

positive change is still a positive change So the application of theology it's not just an

intellectual exercise but it's more a call for us to embody the principles of faith

in our everyday actions How do we do this by remembering We are reflecting the

power of God's truth