Old Stories Recounted Again: Luke-Acts and Theologies for Innovation

Abstract

The aim of this article is to read efforts in Christian churches and theological education alike to engage in innovation in light of the theological narratives of Luke-Acts. Such a theologically inflected notion of innovation contends that innovation is the faithful act of catching up to God’s previous acts of grace while leaning in trust into the future fulfillments of God’s ancient promises. That is, innovation is not merely an act of human creativity but even more a trust that the path before us mirrors and transforms our sense of who God has been, is, and will be among us. Such an approach to innovation might eschew trepidation about the future and embrace God’s promises of renewed life more than our fragile efforts to stem the tide of loss and dissolution