I have a friend named Anthony. He resides at one of the nursing homes I hold services in (we sing, pray, read from the Bible, speak on the passage, then sing again)–I’ve known him for a number of years and he’s been out to our church (he said it wasn’t his style). He lost both of his legs, doesn’t talk to his children much, and has different tastes than me in a lot of areas, it seems. But, you can always get him fired up when you talk about theology. I don’t talk theology much (at least in the scholarly way)…that might surprise people…and I don’t actually like theology. I think there are a few reasons for my general distaste of ‘deep theology’–but certainly part of it is due to the influence of David Bercot’s “Will the Theologians Please Sit Down” which followed his very successful “Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up”.
I could give some other examples of why I don’t overly value theology, but I’ll just suggest a couple. First, Jesus taught about the what more than the why. “Love your enemies”, not “here’s why love always wins over hate, blah blah blah.” I love the WHYs, but my WHY discoveries have always come after the WHATs. Here’s what doesn’t happen: “Here’s why love always wins over hate, blah blah blah….and therefore, I am going to love my enemies” The WHYs are discoveries–it is stepping forward in faith of the WHATs and then afterward, the AHA moment. Second, the smarter we think we are, the dumber we act. Prove me wrong…after all, I want you to poke holes in my theories. I have a Ph.D., woot woot!! I have rubbed shoulders with many ‘experts’ and sat in many a symposium-practicum-arboretum-of-nonsensium.
‘Expert’ theologians are no different than any other ‘expert.’ Pride blinds. Titles lull simpletons into spiritual sleep instead of proving all things and holding fast that which is good. (1 Thess. 5) Jesus warns against calling anyone rabbi, father, master (Matt 23). That’s because it is bad for the giver and bad for the receiver. I think this is reason enough to shy away from ‘expert theology.’
Back to Anthony. Recently after a service, he came up to me and asked what I’ve been studying lately. I told him we were enjoying reading from Psalms and Proverbs around our breakfast and dinner tables. He wasn’t satisfied–“but what have YOU been digging into?! I’ve been taking a course in theology and its the real MEAT.” I said, “I’m not into theology much, so I don’t tend to seek that kind of learning. Rather, I think the MEAT is the Scriptures, not some theology course.” He said, “If you are only reading the Scriptures, you are stuck in the milk, man. You’ve got to go on to the meat, not stay in the milk.” “Anthony, that is not what the Scriptures teach–the Scriptures are the milk and the meat, and all truth originates there. Are you saying the meat that the Scriptures speak of is found primarily outside of the Scriptures?! We are going to disagree on this one, brother.”
Now it’s your turn–can you poke holes in theories? How about refining my ideas?