This week I am working hard on my dissertation for my Beeson Doctor of Ministry degree. Actually, I am writing a twenty-five page paper for Dr. Steve Seamands' "Theology of Ministry" class. The paper will hopefully be morphed into significant parts of the first two chapters of my dissertation. So, because I am very excited about what I am writing, and it is taking up a significant amount of my time right now (the paper is due December 15th), I thought I'd start a new category for the blog to share some of the insights and ideas I am developing for the project.
First of all, the overarching subject of my dissertation project is "a Strengths-based approach to the minstry of all the people of God." In baptism, all disciples are called to, even ordained for, ministry. The Scripture refers to all followers of Christ, collectively, as a priesthood. So, what I want to do is figure out how to help people discover their strengths and use them in ministry.
The study of human strengths is part of a new discipline within the larger scientific discipline of psychology called "positive psychology." Positive psychology proponents argue that each person is endowed, as part of their personality or temperment, with specific potentialities for optimal performance that can be developed into strengths (strengths are not automatic, but may be developed in our areas of potential strengths).
The Gallup Organization, specifically Dr. Robert Clifton, a psychologist who worked for Gallup, developed a method for helping people discover what they refer to as Signature Strengths. I am using their paradigm of strengths in my project. You can look up info on the book Now, Discover Your Strengths, which was my introduction into the whole strengths thing.
Now, for just a brief preview of what is to come: Our strengths, or really "potential" strengths, seem to be part of our makeup, part of our DNA. The psychological research is pointing to the amazing truth that strengths are somehow biological. They aren't learned from our environment or experiences, they exist in our psychological makeup. They are a part of how God made us. So, they are part of what makes us unique.
Various Scripture references (which I am exploring in detail) refer to the uniqueness of the human person as created by God (Genesis 1-2; Psalm 139:13-14; Ephesians 2:10). This uniquness is an expression of our being, our personhood, that part of us that is created in the image of God, particularly in the image of the Trinity, a commuion of persons inseperably related. This is now getting into systematic theology, particularly theology of the early church in the East, which I have been exploring, so you'll hear more about it, along with an exposition of the related scriptures.
Then, this all ties into a fascinating topic to me: what makes human beings happy? Not happy in the fleeting sense of a brief good time, but in the deeper, life-fulfillment kind fo happiness? John 10:10 talks about the "abundant life" that Jesus offers. That's what I'm getting at. What is the abundant life? Certainly, without a doubt, the abundant life must have as one of its components the embodiment of our personhood in our actions, particularly, in the redemptive activity of joining Jesus Christ in his ministry to the Father through the Spirit for the sake of the world. This is not exhaustive of what ultimate happiness entails, but it is a huge part of it.
Well, I've rambled. Do you think this stuff can take up 120 pages or so in a dissertation? I hope so!
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