Welcome to my blog, (Re)Visioning Orthodoxy. My name is Ben Davis; I live in Wichita, KS, with my lovely wife, Lauren, and my precocious son, Henry. Currently I'm a distance graduate student in Theology and Biblical Studies at Northern Seminary in Chicago, IL, as well as the COO of a start-up company called Fair Market Health. Before going into business, I worked in vocational ministry; before that, I worked in religious nonprofit; before that, I worked (again) in business; and, before that, I worked in politics (where I nearly lost my soul). Like my wife, a fellow job connoisseur, I like to say that I have interminable "career ADD." Although I've done many things in a relatively short amount of time (I'm 34), I count each experience as a parable of grace in my life, for in each instance I've learned a little more -- inch by inch -- about what it means to follow Jesus and to love others who are (radically) different than me. 

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Theologically, I'm a little odd. That is to say, at different points I find myself deeply resonating with each of the three Christian traditions -- Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. Often I like to refer to myself as a "Barthian-Thomist with an Athanasian twist." Since I sit so comfortably in that theological intersection, I've found

it easiest to identify as an Anglican. Anglicanism, as I see it, is historically situated in such a place as to catch all three of the Church's prominent streams, nicely coalescing them into a rich theological tradition. My journey to Anglicanism, as well as my theological inclinations in general, will inevitably become more apparent throughout my time on this blog. 

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Now, turning to the blog itself, let me say a few words of orientation. First, the title. The word "orthodoxy" simply means "right" or "true" belief. In the case of Christianity, orthodoxy means the right or true belief about the Triune God as he is disclosed in the person of Jesus Christ and witnessed to by the Apostles. The best statement of orthodoxy Christians have is the Nicene Creed. The meaning of the word "revisioning" should be fairly straightforward; but for the purpose of clarity, it means to "look at" or to "reimagine" something again -- perhaps with fresh eyes. So, there you have it. The point of this blog -- besides giving me a place to rant -- is to offer content that is meant to encourage all of us to explore the bottomless, expansive reservoir of Christian orthodoxy, perhaps, for some of us, for the first time. 

 

Concretely, the only way I know to "see" orthodoxy rightly is through theology, the retina of the Church. So the primary focus of this blog will be theological in nature (if you didn't already get that). But, additionally, always in my periphery will be such topics as philosophy (especially), history, literature, science, and politics -- the "stuff" of culture. Not only are these subjects conduits through

which we may glimpse the sacred, they are also subjects I'm keenly interested in from an intellectual point of view. So if you're looking for something more characteristically devotional, then you might need to look elsewhere. But, before you posit that fashionable if false dichotomy between "head" and "heart," consider this insightful quote from C.S. Lewis, which nicely sums up everything I'm aiming to do in this space: 

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“I believe that many who find that 'nothing happens' when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.”

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Practically speaking, I plan to do "blogish" things, such as write book reviews, offer extended thoughts on books I'm reading, engage in occasional cultural criticism, and otherwise share a miscellany of other things I find interesting at the time -- videos, various links to other blogs, and essays and reviews by other authors to name just a few. I hope you find something here worth your time and consideration. More importantly, I hope you will speak up and join in the conversation. Seeking the truth is not a static affair; it requires your participation!