THE PEOPLE OF GOD

THOSE WHO SEEK to understand scripture in a systematic way generally propose some biblical theme or concept that serves as the focal point for their theology. Some theologians, for example, have emphasized God's sovereignty, while others have stressed human responsibility. Some have started with an aspect of human experience or existence, while others have developed their theology around the theme of liberation. All of these theological starting points need to be judged on the basis of how well they represent the whole of scripture, or-as one of my professors used to say how well they string all the beads of scripture. If important concepts in scripture are overlooked or distorted, that theological view should rightly be questioned. Another way to approach this search for a unifying theme in scripture is to see if scripture itself offers us one. I am convinced that scripture does in fact provide us with just such a theme. Intriguingly, the Brethren, and especially the Anabaptists, viewed this theme as a key for understanding God's eternal purposes. In fact, I was initially made aware of this theme by my reading in Brethren and Anabaptist sources. This theme answers probably the most basic question we can ask about our faith: What is God's ultimate purpose in human history?