The internet seems to be brimming with an angry mob mentality currently with prominent Christian bloggers loosing attacks on everyone from Rob Bell to Ann Voskamp. It may just be those two being attacked, but really? Anyhoo...No, they're not being attacked because they've sinned grievously but because of their theology. Now I do understand the importance of sound theology, but a disagreement over theology should not justify some of the vicious personal attacks going on.
I may be very wrong, but I don't really care about theology. I should probably clarify that I hold to some rather conservative theological viewpoints, and I do understand the importance of sound doctrine. After all, I have read the warnings about false teachers. Scary stuff. In my own life, I've seen what happens when theology gets twisted. It ain't pretty. But all the same, I don't really care. You can debate all you like whether the rapture is pre, mid or post-trib or women's role in ministry. Talk about hell, what constitutes observing the Sabbath, whether or not we can eat pork. Just leave me out of it. I may offer some interesting perspective, but for the most part I really don't care. (I do however have some opinions on whether or not a Christian should eat halal meat. Technically, that counts as food offered to a false god. Paul is fairly clear that we are freed from those laws and can eat whatever we feel we should, but I still think it's a very interesting dilemma that we typically don't think about. For the record, I do eat halal meat occasionally because disrespecting my friends' deeply held beliefs would be a stumbling block between them and the gospel. Oh, and because M*slims have very good food. Mmmm...shawarma....)
The problem with theology is that for the most part it is pretty abstract. Some of it, like women's role in ministry, impacts how church actually works, but for the most part all of our arguments about the rapture, predestination, hell, etc don't impact the here and now. And for me, that's what I'm most concerned about. Yeah, not ending up in a lake of burning fire is a bonus, but I'm much more aware of what the consequences of salvation are right now. Colossians 1 v13 says that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. Did you just read that? We are rescued! We are set free from all the sin and bondage that enslave us. Having been terribly enslaved, I am loving that verse. Although it has been a very bumpy road, this freedom in Christ, being brought out of darkness into light and redemption has transformed my life. When I look around at my friends, family, children, neighbours, this is what I want for them. Yes, I don't want any of the people in my life to go to hell, but I long to see them live lives transformed, to know the glorious peace and freedom that comes from this relationship with God. My heart is in the present, not the future.
Not only are we set free, we are transformed. This may be my favourite part of the gospel, that we are filled with the Holy Spirit's power and can be forever changed. Sometimes we get this idea that the fruits of the Spirit are ideas to aspire to rather than real changes that happen in us as we believe. As we pursue God, we are made righteous by our simple belief. I love seeing the changes happen in my life when I draw near, the gentle response in tough situations that is not my natural reaction. It's hard to put this into words, but I am blown away by the changes I see in my life and in the lives of others when they allow the Spirit to work. I'm not talking about people trying harder and living fake lives, but rather a very real transformation out of sin and towards holiness. It blows my mind.
So really all that theological stuff I mentioned earlier doesn't really do it for me. Why? Not because I don't believe it is important, but because my energy and focus is on the very real transformational power possible only through the shed blood of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If I'm going to get up in arms about anything, it would be regarding our culture's indifference to such things, to the fruit of the Spirit and to the concept of real and possible holiness. Nope, I'm not talking about legalism(been there, done that, gave back the t-shirt), but rather a drawing towards God and away from the world. We shouldn't be competing to see how worldly we can be while still embracing the Christian label. Neither should we be secluding ourselves from our culture and only taking part in "Christian" things. Somewhere in there should be a middle ground where we are part of our culture and yet set apart by in the indisputable presence of God.
If I am going to get up in arms about anything, this will be it. Let others argue about the existence of hell or possible depth of our relationship with God. I'll be over here with my cup of tea mulling over how best to reach those around me for Christ or how to raise my children to be relevant and yet different, Christ-like even. I'll also be the one who gets all passionate and loud about the amazing power of Christ that breaks the bonds of our sins, addictions, habits and junk. I have no desire to go back to when I was uber-conservative and bound up in sin. Because of the profound freedom and changes I experienced, I'm also gonna be the one sitting there praying for our youth who may love Jesus but look, act and sound just like the church. I'm going to be the friend that initiates some hard conversations on what following Christ looks likes practically. I'm also going to be the girl that screws up lots, and so speaks from desperate experience as to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. If it weren't for Him, I'd be screwed.
I respect that there are a lot of Christians with some strong opinions and voices. It would just be nice if that strength was directed towards calling us as a body towards holiness instead of attacking people over theology.
when it comes to theology, i find a few foundational tenets critical, and the rest non-essential. and even within the important stuff, i know what i believe is just my best guess based on scripture and the Holy Spirit's guiding. so am i off? most likely.
ReplyDeletelike you, i'd much rather focus my energy on bringing others to know, love, and glorify God than debate murky views at best seen darkly, through a glass.
Wonderfully said friend! Lets focus on the love of Jesus and how He offers grace and love to those around instead of getting caught up in all the debate.
ReplyDeleteI tend to be more concerned about the practical implications of any particular theological question. If a theological debate has no impact on the decisions I make in my life, it's an interesting theoretical question that, while I may have opinions on, it's not something that I care to put much energy into.
ReplyDeleteWhere the rubber hits the road is what's important, as far as I'm concerned. On many theological debates, holding views lightly tends to result in making better decisions about life, as near as I can tell. For example, if I'm convinced of when Christ will come back, I might use it as an excuse to ignore what's going on around me, or let slide stuff God has called me to do. If I live as if Christ might come any time, I have to pay attention, and obey.
In my experience people use firm dogma as an excuse to stop thinking. Never a good thing. Granted, there are some things that we need to be firm on. But in most areas of theology, knowing what you believe, while holding it lightly enough that you're able to keep thinking, and actually try to understand where others are coming from, results in deeper understanding, more grace, more growth, more Christlikeness.
Been there, done that, gave back the t-shirt. That made me laugh! I get this tension, I do, between having a passion for sound theology (after all, if there's anything worth shedding blood over, shouldn't it be the truth about Christ) and the desire to live, authentically, those truths we say we believe. I have a tendency to swing back and forth like some kind of crazed pendulum. I think I'm learning ever-so-slowly that the choice isn't between one or the other, but that our lives need to include both/and, all slathered in a heaping dose of humility and grace. Speaking of grace, thank you for your kind and gracious words to me over at my place. May God give you eyes to see his path of impossible deliverance!
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! Well said. Isn't living and obeying the greatest commandment hard enough? I don't want to waste time. "I'll be over here with my cup of tea mulling over how best to reach those around me for Christ or how to raise my children to be relevant and yet different, Christ-like even". Amen.
ReplyDeleteI did not even know that people were criticizing Ann Voskamp, when I read this I thought who could find fault with sweet Ann. So sad to hear, good post, we need to encourage each other.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - you have a wise take on things!
ReplyDelete"been there, done that, gave back the t-shirt..." :) me, too. i think i like you.
ReplyDeleteGosh this post resonates with me. I feel so much of the way your do.
ReplyDeleteI gave back that T,shirt too :)
Great thoughts. Not sure of the validity...but was just reading yesterday how Paul's last preaching was a call toward holiness. Complete, utter holiness. Mind, body, soul. Seems Paul knew was was important. Bless you today ~ jen
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