11 July 2006

Today's piece by Joseph Sittler seems to address the creativity of theology.

A constructive theologian has a second job. He or she is supposed not simply to teach, transmit, and elaborate, but also to ask what meaning such a statement would have in view of the contemporary situation. That is to say, theology is not an accumulation only; it is a work. It is not just what people have thought, but it also investigates how the church's message might make sense, how its truth might be made clear, given the body of new learning in our generation.

Sittler goes on to give the example of the study of cosmology in the last thirty years. the universe is so much more than we had once known. So now how do we use what was known with what is now known. This would include findings of people like Copernicus. Imagine if we were still trying to fit our thinking into a pre-Copernican mind! In the past two weeks I've been trying to keep up with work being done in the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. Some of their conversations have to do with women taking historic position in the church and others have to do with the life of the Church with gay and lesbians as fully welcome and participating saints. Sittler notes that theology is also a "work." I take that to be an adventure in progress like a piece of art or a construction job that is often about upgrades as the world continues to change. We have a great work in front of us know as we attempt to look at what we know now about homosexuality and what was known in biblical days. In addition, we are adding to the work more and more understanding of what was being discussed in ancient times and why it was being discussed and how it was being used in discussion. We also have in the "works" trying to have some clarity about how we will be the Church when we disagree and when we need to be up front with a notion of ethics that will widen our vision but also establish parameters in which we will agree to keep the "work" going. Some pastors don't like to "do theology" and yet if we do not continue to be involved in the "work" we will find ourselves unable to talk to the world in a sensible and challenging way.

Connection: We have been given so much by those who have gone before us. But then there comes a time that each of us must become a part of the "work" that will then be handed off to the next generation. Don't be afraid to step forward and join the tasks of the day.

Come, Holy Spirit, use us to design lives that will boldly face the questions of the day with the wonderful gifts of knowledge that are presented to every generation. Then encourage us so that we will not run away from the work that has been given to us as the faithful followers of our Lord, Jesus. Amen.