Responding to Ordinary Christology

Abstract

Abstract This article uses empirical data from a previous study to explore how theological educators should respond to ordinary Christology as well as ordinary soteriology. It begins by addressing the question of how to respond to beliefs about Jesus that do not conform to the canons of official orthodoxy and proceeds to argue for the functional Christology of ordinary believers to be given a say in defining orthodoxy and enlarging normativity. Some of the implications for theological education of exemplarist soteriology, together with its corollary pluralism, are also discussed and a plea is made for ordinary theology to be taken seriously by those who are engaged in Christian education, as well as those involved in Christian mission and ministry. Finally, various pedagogical implications of ordinary Christology are briefly explored in the light of the findings from the previous study.