Confession #1: I love truth and I love theology.
I have great respect for healthy debate and I deeply appreciate the work of the early apologists and theologians who fought for sound doctrine. These pioneers of the faith toiled long and hard in the salt mines of theology to sift fact from fiction and spirit from flesh. I am in awe (and a little envious) of such skilled intellect.
I’m not under the illusion that the debates of Athanasius and Augustine were a lot more elevated than those of today, but they were at least a little more contained, lacking the viral capabilities of our rapid-fire technology. Now it seems that disagreements fueled by facebook and You Tube devolve into Christian WWF matches by the time the second comment is posted. Maybe these disputes are necessary to keep truth clear and strong, but I wonder why it seems we enjoy it so much. Then I remember my own nature, which brings me to confession #2.
Confession #2: I love being right.
I have in the past trolled books and blogs, looking for error rather than common ground, maybe even subconsciously searching for stones to throw and splinters to pick with my Truth Tweezers. It’s bad behavior, but it uses big words and wears a very fancy hat.
Confession #3: I don’t think I have the stomach for it anymore.
My theology over the past two years has grown increasingly simple and increasingly strong. I used to have an opinion on everything. Everything.
But now I know a lot less about most things, and a lot more about a very few things. I no longer have the energy to defend my opinions – but bigger than that, I no longer see them as being at risk. If what I believe is really truth, then it will stand whether anyone agrees or not. And one of the greatest truths I could ever communicate is the truth that God is – of all things – kind*. My own opinions sound to me like the bells on Christmas morning, but to others I’m sure they have often been clanging cymbals, crashing over the sweet song of His kindness.
And I feel pretty done with that.
I don’t think He needs me to defend Him; He’s asked me to demonstrate Him. A real-life display of His goodness is a much more difficult gig than dancing on bully-pulpits that make us two feet taller than our opponents, but still a million miles short of the heart of God.
So, what’s a girl to do, then, with the theology she loves to study? Use it to become more and more in love with Jesus, that’s what. And if I can manage this trick of loving Him better than I ever have, I think the odds are good that I will also love more like Him than I ever have.
And love never fails.
That’s all for today.
Bo
P.S. Congratulations, Krista Dowding, you’ve won a ticket to The Well Conference in May! Shoot me your email address and I’ll get you signed up!
*Titus 3:4-5; Col. 3:12; Eph. 2:7; Romans 2:4
Ah, Bo…
Thank you for this.
Brilliant. Amen and amen!!
Right on, Bo! I was asked to sit on an ordination counsel not so long ago, and I hesitated a and said that my theology has become so simple that I don’t think in those terms anymore. I believe that a strong theology is important but needs to be worked out in the work-a-day world. Be like Jesus and let others know how to get to know Him too!
Great Blog….I am going through some dramatic changes myself.That to be kind and loving is the greatest gift we can give others.I constantly am seeking the depth of my love towards others. I have experienced kindness from our Savior firsthand and from friends such as yourself, and to tell you the truth, that kindness was instrumental in my healing.
I realized one day, in a cafeteria in Bible college, that there can be a lot of wasted breath and energy, and for what purpose? I completely agree with you, though increasingly, I find myself getting more riled when I see certain posts. But after seeing the thousands of comments/responses, I figure someone has already argued for me.
I love this. I feel like this is quite possibly the epitome of our current transitory season. It reminded me of something someone said that’s always stuck wtih me:
“Trying to get to God by our own righteousness (or rightness, I s’pose) is like trying to jump to the moon. We might get a little higher, or jump a little lower, than others, but we’ll never make it there on our own.”
Beautifully written, Bo! Thank you.
Wonderful post! Thank you for the honest words that you share.
My favorite theology is: Jesus loves me this I know and He’s coming back for me someday. I too no longer have the energy for big debates, they’re no fun. Really loving others well is what Jesus excelled in. I’d like to be accused of that. Love to you Bo and family
Thank you Bo. This touches me deeply.