Even though I wouldn’t have a clue how to pronounce his last name, I’ve often found Helmut Thielicke’s little book A little exercise for young theologians a quite helpful resource. Consider this:
Theology can be a coat of mail which crushes us and in which we freeze to death. It can also be—this is in fact its purpose!—the conscience of the congregation of Christ, its compass and with it all a praise-song of ideas. Which of the two it is depends upon the degree in which listening and praying Christians stand behind this theological business. As a Christian, as a listening and praying Christian, each must fight not to be crushed by theology and thus, instead of being a Christian solider, becoming a corpse in the battlefield.
If you are a seminary student or an aspiring theologian of any sort you may want to pick up Thielicke’s book. I’ve also found The Trials of Theology and Think! helpful primer’s.
