I am no theologian.
But as I was thinking about the political ideologies needing salt and light, it occurred to me that there may be the same issues with theological “systems”
I know, I know…heresy, damnation, liberal, and whatever theological heretical descriptions that can be drug up from antiquity…a pox upon me.
Yet, As I read any number of “Christian” blogs I find an interesting occurrence. On most of them, eventually, you get to the the issues about their theological system and why it’s right. It may not be a direct statement, it usually is one that disparages another’s wayward thinking…
Let’s see…Arminians are…Calvinists should…emergents think…mainliners ….evangelicals…
I’m beginning to wonder if Evil is using theological systems in much the way it uses political systems. It divides us, directs our attention to propositions and ideologies, it focuses on how we must somehow all think alike (and don’t) about what the Gospel is, what salvation is, what it means to be transformed…and puts everybody else in the “other” box.
Phooey! Yes truth is important. But our view of it is inherently skewed. There is a reason that He said….I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life. I need to figure out just what that means. I ask humbly….don’t we all?
Something I’ve wrestled with for years is the tension between “I come not to bring peace, but a sword, separating even mother from daughter, son from father” with the numerous calls to peaceful (“if at all possible for you, be at peace”) unity. The “you’re either for me or against me” premise was certainly held by Christ, yet it was left at that B/W breakout.
Or maybe I got all of these schismatic ideas from Apollos?
Greeks were good for schisms…it was more fun to debate. If it’s not dualistic, its ambiguous and that’s not nearly a secure an area to stand, and not something one can take his/her identity from. Perhaps many of those arguments really stem from people trying to assert who they are and differentiate themselves by the debate and classification.
I can’t help but think Jesus’ remarks are about the battles that take place over the primacy of relationships and the contests that come when Christ comes first over someone else’s real or perceived interests. I can’t imagine He meant that these primal divisions of family would be over doctrinal differences, interpretations, denominationalisms, or any propositional, apologetic, or even epistemic issues…except that of the truth that Christ became flesh and dwelt among us.
“It divides us, directs our attention to propositions and ideologies, it focuses on how we must somehow all think alike (and don’t) about what the Gospel is, what salvation is, what it means to be transformed…and puts everybody else in the “other” box.” (Rphiliph)
I agree…the substance of this faith needs to be simplified and not over strained all the time – we need to get back to the basics of ‘following the faith’. Blogs tend to lead to the idea of debate (which I will call discussion) and we see plenty a views that think ‘they are right’.
I think ‘I am right’ – but not to the exclusion that I cannot learn from discussions and others…it’s a tragic mistake to think that way. I guess, like you, I want to talk about the faith in a ‘good way’ where we all can get along in the same faith – different but the same.
Have you ever read “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis?