I've been struggling with the idea of whether or not theology is allowed to be innovative. I'm not talking about the practice of theology, but theology itself. Are new ideas okay within the realm of orthodoxy or even a particular tradition?
Our gut reaction is yes. Of course we like new ideas, new approaches and new allegories for how God works. If theology is speaking about God, or prolegomena, then we certainly should allow for innovative theology. What happens when an innovative theology comes out, however, is that it is very rarely taken on within a tradition, but rather pushed to the outskirts or the creation of a new tradition in and of itself. Why do we let our fear of innovation drive us?
Innovations in theology can still be tested against truths. For instance, if you know my ideas on baptism, then you know that I favor adult baptism, but favor it within a Reformed context. Regardless of how you feel about believer baptism, could you accept this as a Reformed person within your church or would you point me to another denomination that fits that view better? One of my seminary profs did.
Take then, my previous posting about the nature of God's love for humanity and the need for escape. Hold it up against your theology. Is it Arminian? Is it Reformed? I don't think so. Does your view of God's sovereignty make logical sense? You tell me why there was a tree in the garden. I love church history, but what I love about it is the continuing innovation, much of which got people burned and then weaseled its way into our churches anyway.
Read Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis". He argues for taking out the bricks and examining them without having the whole structure falling apart. Beautiful. Confessions, catechisms, creeds: imagine these as the walls on the gym you move in rather than the seat you're strapped into. Now what?
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3 comments:
You go girl!
"A single friar who goes counter to all Christianity for 1,000 years must be wrong!" - Charles V to Martin Luther at the diet of worm... worms taste like buttermilk on a Tuesday.
I lived in an innovative, modernized and very accepting church (the first church in North America to have a legalized gay marriage) this summer. Once, we had a muslim homosexual preach. And every Sunday our litany was, "This Church does not belong to the United Church of Canada, the Government-- or even Christendom. This church belongs to YOU!" And once, we couldn't sing a hymn, because Jesus was mentioned too many times. And on Wednesday nights there was Buddhist Meditation. Oh! And there were tarot card readings in the healing center that the church allowed to set up business. Once, I think my staff and I tried to exorcice a demon, or else the man just had mental health issues, or both. In any case, his demon-voice tried to tell me that Jesus went down Niagara Falls in a barrel. Want to know the scary part: the pastor was a fan of our dearly beloved reformed Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto and took some courses there... Just a word of caution: innovative, yes. But stick to the Bible.
Good advice. Thanks....Ann?
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