can we just speak?
I have had the opportunity since moving to Denver to strike up a great mentoring relationship with a seminary student named Paul. He is a great guy, with a heart the size of his head in his chest. I have enjoyed our time spent together immensely over the last few months. The other day during our time hanging out, I asked him a question, that I pondered for a long time afterward.
We were discussing theology and theologians. We spoke about how so many people are concerned with nailing down the perfect way of articulating a propositional truth that for so many seems irrelevant to daily life. We reflected on how some are concerned with the world of “scientific theology” and others are concerned with how people are living theology.
As we discussed these subjects we began speaking about those who study all of this. So I asked him, “Have you ever had a conversation with an Evangelical about theology in which one or the other wasn’t trying to prove why he or she is right?” We both sat silently for a time. As I asked this question, I began to wonder why we do this.
Beyond trying to prove our point, there are also things like anger, aggressive language, and dogmatism that begin to creep in. Why? Why do have to speak about our faith in ways that challenge the beliefs of others? What would our beliefs look like if we spoke about them as a love story?
I have told a lot of people about my wife. I have told her about the things that I do that she loves, I have told them about my shortcomings as a husband, I have told the story of how I asked her to marry me, and how we met. In all of this I have never challenged the love that anyone else has for their spouses. I have never claimed to have the best wife ever, and told everyone else their wife is inferior. I simply tell others that I am in love with an amazing woman, and that everyday I can’t believe she is my wife. That’s it.
So what would it be like if when we told people about our God whom we loved? As we discuss what we believe what if we began telling them about our life? What id we told them about our shortcomings as Jesus followers, what if we told them of what we believe about God and why, and what if we spoke about the love that we believe he has for us?
What is interesting is that when I simply tell people about my wife they often say, “I would love to meet her sometime.” And why wouldn’t they? They have just heard a husband speak about how wonderful his wife is and how in love with her he is. What would people say about a God of love, hope, justice, compassion, who challenged the prevailing culture, and allowed himself to be a sacrifice for all humanity?
Rather than backing someone into a corner with our brilliant arguments maybe we should just tell people about a relationship in our life. Maybe our theology should become more of a love story about God and humanity. After all the book on which we base our beliefs is a great love story. Why do we have to argue and become defensive? We have nothing to fear, and no reason to be defensive. We have a story to tell, not an argument to win.
We were discussing theology and theologians. We spoke about how so many people are concerned with nailing down the perfect way of articulating a propositional truth that for so many seems irrelevant to daily life. We reflected on how some are concerned with the world of “scientific theology” and others are concerned with how people are living theology.
As we discussed these subjects we began speaking about those who study all of this. So I asked him, “Have you ever had a conversation with an Evangelical about theology in which one or the other wasn’t trying to prove why he or she is right?” We both sat silently for a time. As I asked this question, I began to wonder why we do this.
Beyond trying to prove our point, there are also things like anger, aggressive language, and dogmatism that begin to creep in. Why? Why do have to speak about our faith in ways that challenge the beliefs of others? What would our beliefs look like if we spoke about them as a love story?
I have told a lot of people about my wife. I have told her about the things that I do that she loves, I have told them about my shortcomings as a husband, I have told the story of how I asked her to marry me, and how we met. In all of this I have never challenged the love that anyone else has for their spouses. I have never claimed to have the best wife ever, and told everyone else their wife is inferior. I simply tell others that I am in love with an amazing woman, and that everyday I can’t believe she is my wife. That’s it.
So what would it be like if when we told people about our God whom we loved? As we discuss what we believe what if we began telling them about our life? What id we told them about our shortcomings as Jesus followers, what if we told them of what we believe about God and why, and what if we spoke about the love that we believe he has for us?
What is interesting is that when I simply tell people about my wife they often say, “I would love to meet her sometime.” And why wouldn’t they? They have just heard a husband speak about how wonderful his wife is and how in love with her he is. What would people say about a God of love, hope, justice, compassion, who challenged the prevailing culture, and allowed himself to be a sacrifice for all humanity?
Rather than backing someone into a corner with our brilliant arguments maybe we should just tell people about a relationship in our life. Maybe our theology should become more of a love story about God and humanity. After all the book on which we base our beliefs is a great love story. Why do we have to argue and become defensive? We have nothing to fear, and no reason to be defensive. We have a story to tell, not an argument to win.