As I sit to write my first post for Think Theology, I had this elaborate piece displaying the theological aspect of No Church in the Wild by Kanye West and Jay-Z. I am still going to write it but I stopped midway because I experienced a theological moment that really made me “think theologically.”
I was at lunch picking up something to eat, paid for my food, got in my truck and bounced. As I am leaving, I roll by the dumpster and there was a guy who appeared to be eating out of the dumpster. Now I was not sure but I was arrested by the fact that I thought he might have been eating form the dumpster. I instantly went into a query- should I approach the dude and ask him if he wanted something to eat or keep going because maybe he was one of the employees dumping trash. Now, I went with the latter but this really tugged at my heart and continues to do so.
Is it possible that we have become so theologically astute that we have missed the main ingredients of theology? It is quite possible that for many theology has become a head game that has alienated the heart. When our theology has no streams of application, we have reduced ourselves to “tingling cymbals.” We sound good but we serve no distinct purpose.
To think theology for the believer is a duty that requires us to soldier up and move into action. The question is poised in the name as well as answered by the very same question, Think Theology. (I hope that made sense) To think theology causes one to always be in a state formation. He/she must continually be on the verge of change as the understanding of truth dictates. So as we think theology, that thinking is causing us to reevaluate what we deem as truth in light of the absolute truth. Now this truth will ultimately change how we govern our everyday walk (or should). This in effect is what thinking theologically activates in the life of the believer. It causes one to exegete life as we live out the scripture while simultaneously being challenged to think theologically the more.
As I watched this young man in the trash (whether eating or dumping), I instantly connected the theological perspective of being Christ centered. What would Jesus Do? (a bit to commercial for me but the message speaks volumes), a motif that Russian sickled my brain. Though I was thinking theologically, I did not apply the theology which called upon me to now reevaluate my theology, again.
Here I am with a few extra dollars and a bag full of food speculating whether someone is hungry? Instead of hitting reverse and asking whether dude was hungry, I moved into the arena of he was just dumping trash because I did not want to embarrass him, if he was just dumping trash. I didn’t engage the brother to really find out what was really going on. I pulled a James 2:15-16 and chalked it under-prayed for.
Here is the linchpin…sometimes we need to inconvenience ourselves for the sake of the Gospel. We need to get up in people’s face for the sake of transmitting the nutrients of the word of God. It is a sad commentary when our theology is sharp but our application is weak. The truth of the matter points back to the fact that you theology is really weak because it had no impact on you walk.
So you really didn’t think theology and neither did I…lesson learned. Now thinking theology…
I think you’re being too hard on yourself….But welcome to Think Theology.
I’m not sure I’d be quick to say that. It’s not that it can’t be true, but it’s possible that the Holy Spirit might be at work here. Perhaps that could be a line of questioning…
I’ve seen a lot of people try to passify conviction by basically just shoving it aside…
Thoughts?
Everyone has to follow their own conscience. Sometimes, if there is no clear objective right course of action, than one just has to do the best they can. I don’t the situation mentioned above presents a clear ethical imperative.
Correction: I don’t think the situationmentioned above presents a clear ethical imperative.
I agree with Christian, you are being too hard on yourself but maybe that’s what we all need, a proverbial kick in the cerebral cortex. I love your article Luke, I really belive as I as discussing with Debz sometime ago that we need to have “functional theology”, where theology is not just a head game but a life flow.
Sean,
A functional theology is what many lack. The aforementioned example is just one example of many…We should have a theology that navigates every facet of our life.
Christian thanks for the welcome…But let me say that many times we place out sorriness in timeout instaed of killing that area of weakness with application of the word.
It’s odd how you can be challenged by the things you randomly come across. Last night as I was leaving to grab dinner with my stepson and I saw a woman in the alley, digging through garbage cans. I immediately thought of this blog and felt challenged, but figure, “What can I do?” Sure enough, as we returned with our food, she was still there. We went into our apartment and I sat there deliberating for five minutes. Finally, I concluded that if she is looking for food and I do not go out and feed her, one day I will have to look Jesus in the eyes and explain why. So I went out and said, “Ma’am, I don’t mean to sound rude, but are you looking for food?” Well, it turns out that she wasn’t and it was a pretty uncomfortable 30 seconds. But then she suddenly started explaining to me what she was doing. It turned out that her hobby was salvaging and restoring items that people throw away (one person trash is another person’s treasure quite literally). Then a very cool thing happened. This opened the door to explain what I was doing. Why on earth a random person would approach an elderly woman digging through garbage on a Saturday evening? At that moment I felt it… I was being missional. Did I give her an entire gospel presentation? No. Did she fall on her knees and receive Christ as Savior? No, but I was able to season the conversation with salt. I did my best to let my theology find application. In the end, as I was walking back to go eat dinner, I could feel Christ’s joy in my willingness to be uncomfortable that He might touch another life through mine.