Theology & Fear
I am pondering a series, in partial response to Adam’s request for some sort of positive depiction of what I think theology is good for, and where it fits into the life of the church. Part of my response to that plea is to invite you to reread the first several posts where I talk about God and the structure of the universe. But I do need to keep moving this thing in a positive direction and, perhaps, explain a bit why some of the pleas for theology strike a raw nerve.
Why do the sorts of claims that I engaged last week about the benefits of theology set me off into a “down with theology” type of posture? Several reasons, some personal some historical.
First, I know from the personal experience of learning theology and watching others learn theology that there is no connection between theological knowledge and personal or corporate piety. Simply put, learning theology does not make very many people more loving and humble Christians, and denominations deeply saturated in their theological traditions do not stand forth as beacons of light shining in the darkness. I also know that my personal theological knowledge often has and does make me more of a jerk.
Second, historically the discipline of biblical studies separated itself from theology because theology was keeping biblical scholars from saying what the text says. A somewhat analogous thing happened in the Reformation. Having lived through a denominational experience where scripture was not allowed to correct the theological tradition, I can attest to the fact that theology can, and will, be used to silence the voice of scripture. I never want to walk into a position where it is given that kind of power.
This last point is why I reacted so strongly to the contrast between our subjective experience and theology. Yes, at its best theology is a corrective standing outside ourselves. But theology is, and always will be, even at its best, the corporate, subjective wisdom of a given person or people at a given time and place. It is sanctified subjectivity, but no less subjective for that.
Theology finds its power to silence scripture (and people) from this claim to its standing as objective truth. But while objective truth exists, we can always only at best approximate it. The challenge for theology is not only to confess this in word but to live like it in deed: to treat itself as provisional, always subject to change and development and correction.
While I fear theology exercising its power, I know that theologians fear slipping into a morass of relativism. I don’t think that the appeal to the objective strength of theology is the only way to keep us from such a slippery slope. I think there’s a better way forward.
I’ll see what I can do to articulate this vision a bit more in the days ahead.
I too have experienced myself how theology language can separate and distance us from larger culture. Language – I think – should be largely inclusive; but that is not to say we plateau in our vocabulary. This is a tension that I struggle with daily.
We might be better off by remaining closely integral with culture and church; in this way, we can be either negative and critical or positive and energetic without coming off as a jerk because we are on ground-level interacting with culture, not coming around now and then and standing on our soapboxes.
The prophet Jeremiah knew well the evils theological claims/badges could perpetuate. Check out Yahweh’s critique (via Jeremiah) of Judah’s false prophecy:
“In the prophets of Samaria
I saw a disgusting thing:
they prophesied by Baal
and led my people Israel astray.
But in the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen a more shocking thing:
they commit adultery and walk in lies;
they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns from wickedness;
all of them have become like Sodom to me,
and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets:
‘I am going to make them eat wormwood,
and give them poisoned water to drink;
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” (Jeremiah 23:13-15)
Samaria, which represents the Northern Kingdom of Israel, is the lesser of two evils, even though they worship false gods. Judah is the greater evil, where Yahweh has witnessed a “more shocking thing” than Samaria, even though Judah claims to worship Yahweh. Therefore, what does this message say about church and theology today? Can the contemporary person really be closer to God than, say, somebody who studies theology at a Christian university? Judah, according to Yahweh, is going to get what they have been giving the people; deception; water that isn’t living water, but water that will bring death.
Theological language faces the same hard question. Maybe cultural language and discourse is closer to God than that of theological discourse.
Challenging thoughts. Thanks for this.
Shouldn’t it more accurate say “doctrine and fear”? Theology is such a broad term and is not just used about systematic theology anymore. I know NT & OT guys have been focused on biblical theology for the last several years. Also, the “theological interpretation” of Scripture has been on the rise, with followers like Michael Gorman and Stephen Fowl (whom I imagine you wouldn’t be very critical of).
From your posts so far you seem to be communicating the dangers of doctrine, which I guess technically is just a narrow form of theology. I just hate to see the good get criticized with the bad.
Maybe… Although part of the point of the post, at least in my mind, was that the ways we all think theologically can be driven to a certain extent by fear. But your point is well taken.
Two things. One: Theology is a very broad term, and to just write it off as being good for nothing without taking the time to explain what it is you seem so worried about is not the wisest thing i’ve ever heard of.
Two: You say theology has no use for humility or Christ-like living. Seriously? If theology only makes you a jerk, then I would argue that you need better theology. If the study of God and of the Christian faith doesn’t lead to doxology, then it’s either bad theology or the student needs a change of heart and mind.
Lastly, if we throw out theology what do we replace it with? Is not reading the word of God and applying it to our lives theology in action?
Andrew, fair points. As someone somewhere has said at some point in these threads, it’s not about throwing out theology but figuring out a way to do theology in the right way.