Theology - General Archives - Page 5 of 16

Frank Viola wrote a post recently about a book about Bono, lead singer for U2.

I have been a U2 fan for nearly 25 years, although the more recent albums have not really been my favorite…. but whatever.

In the book, Bono had this to say about Jesus, grace, and religion. I don’t know much about the rest of Bono’s theology, but if these statements are any guide, Bono gets it!

My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don’t let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that’s my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that’s not so easy.

There’s nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that’s why they’re so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you’re a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross.

Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship. Why are you chuckling?

It’s a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.

I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace. You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.

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Is Theological Certainty Possible?

By Jeremy Myers

19 Comments

A reader recently sent in the following question:

I’m currently involved in a discussion and was asked this specific question:”Do you have an absolute certainty that when you die you will go to heaven?” What is your take, if you have the time?

Here is my attempt at a response, but I would love for you to weigh in on this subject in the comment section below…

Whew! What a question. In years past I would say “Yes.” But in recent years, I am not sure what “absolute certainty” even means.

To have absolute certainty about anything, you must also have absolute certainty about a whole series of other ideas that lead up to and support the one idea you are trying to have certainty about.

I suppose, if I were pressed, I would say that faith is like an “on-off” switch. It is not a dimmer switch. So you either believe something or you don’t. But in any single belief, there are often a multitude of other beliefs which lead up to it. Maybe you believe all the links in that chain up to the belief in question, or maybe you don’t. So if all the links in that chain are switched “on” then you can be said to have absolute certainty in that belief. But if all the links are not switched on, then you probably do not have absolute certainty.

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Dangerous Theology

By Jeremy Myers

19 Comments

I was recently chided for teaching “dangerous theology.” In the conversation I had with this person, I ended up trying to defend myself and my ideas, showing that they were not, in fact, dangerous.

Afterwards, I realized what I should have said.

I should have said something along the lines of what Mr. Beaver said to Susan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh,” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“Safe?” said Mr Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

So when accused of teaching dangerous theology, I should have said:

Dangerous? Of course it’s dangerous. We serve a dangerous God. But it’s good and true, I tell you.

In Seminary, it was not uncommon to hear Professors give this warning in class: “What we are going to learn today should probably not ever be taught from the pulpit… at least not if you want to keep your job as a pastor.” Then they would go on to teach some sort of dangerous idea about how a favorite “prophecy” doesn’t actually point to Jesus, or how a favorite text doesn’t mean what most Christians think, or how the misuse and misunderstanding of a particular point of theology could lead to sin.

At that time, I found out the truth of what my professors were saying. I blogged about seven of the dangerous things I was studying in Seminary. And guess what happened? I lost my job as a result.

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In Defense of Uneducated Bible Scholars

By Jeremy Myers

6 Comments

It is popular among the elite Bible scholars and academy-trained theologians to sneer at the uneducated lay person who seeks to teach Scripture and theology to others as being “untrained” and therefore, unable to accurately teach others what God is like, what He says in Scripture, and how to live life in light of what we learn.

It is often taught to know the Bible, to teach others, and to truly understand theology, you need a Ph.D. from a leading seminary and expert knowledge of Greek and Hebrew.

We Need Professionals

The argument from these professional theologians and scholars most often goes like this:

If I had a brain tumor, I would not go to my neighbor to fix it. I wouldn’t even go to a neurosurgeon who had just received his MD. If someone is going to be operating on my brain, I want the best neurosurgeon there is. I will research the available doctors in my area, and find the one with the most experience. And if I cannot find one that is suitable, I might fly across the country to get help from someone who is suitable.

So also with theology. We cannot get help on Scripture and theology from just anyone. We need to find the best and most knowledgeable — the ones with the most training and experience.

It’s true. We need a doctor when we have a brain tumor. But thank goodness we don’t all get brain tumors!

To the contrary, most of our day-to-day health issues do not require a professionally-trained doctor at all!

From a very early age, we learn that when we are sick, the first thing to do is “go to mom” who may not have a single hour of professional medical training, but can nevertheless help us better and more quickly than any doctor. As we grow up, we learn to help ourselves, and get input and advice on medical issues from friends and family members. We learn to read the labels on medicines at the pharmacy, and follow the commonly-known health advice of society and culture.

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