Interesting Theology

There are times when people come up with 'interesting' bits of theological thinking which result in crowd pleasing acts which, at best, leaves me with some degree of discomfort or uncertainty.

There are times when I struggle with aspects of theology for one of many of the reasons listed below:

Sometimes because I can't quite see how the position was reached without a bit of a twinkle and a wink of the eye because it's so blinking off the wall.

Sometimes because it is obviously designed to be a bit of a wind-up.

Sometime its probably just because I'm a little bit thick!

Sometimes it's a struggle because the construction is just tough to accept because what it (rightly or wrongly) comes up with is difficult to apply to ourselves or others.

'Theology is our attempt to explain, understand and live with the stuff that's in the Bible.' 

Well that's what a man I admired at the time (and still do long after his demise) once told me in a tutorial. He continued, 'It's our attempt to make sense of what's before us and the potential for inspiration and brilliance is tempered by our ability to deliver the absurd as something of value!'

And this is where I often find myself challenged on a daily basis as I encounter brilliance, weirdness, excellence and heresy as we (you, them and me) seek to understand and explain what is before us. 

Sometimes it's the standard fare of the theological student that surfaces as we debate the Virgin birth, the resurrection and all that Bible stuff. Sometimes it's the weird and wonderful esoterica of the Christian faith and explanations that quench the author's disquiet and cause the reader (well this reader anyway) great angst. Finally, we have the discussions relating to how the world (that usually means 'non-Christians') see us and the many ways in which we engage (or perhaps don't engage) with stuff - often billed under the joint labels of 'rights' and 'equality' - and it is here that the most vitriolic and contentious battles are to be found.

The problem is that whilst many of us are rather reluctant to express our personal doubts publicly for  fear of conflict should we express our views, our failure to acknowledge and engage with this in a measured and balanced public arena is where I think we find ourselves falling down and failing those we seek to pastor. If we are to afraid to voice our concerned, the difficulties we have with theology and praxis that emerges then we create a culture of fear that leaves us a goal down before we begin. The problem is (and there's always a problem somewhere) that when those 'difficulties' appear, failing to acknowledge and address them is to puts aside debate and invite something quite unproductive and displeasing below the surface.

A colleague recently took me to task for 'always engaging' with the difficult stuff. As they did they offered my their mantra: "If you don't engage with it it doesn't exist and if it doesn't exist then it isn't a problem."

But if it exists for others, surely we have a duty to consider, understand and be willing to discuss what is real for others and bring some light into their, and our, understanding.

If this is wrong, then I'm confused.