Every now and then I just have to get something off my chest. I just finished browsing a blog discussion about women in ministry on the Jesus Creed blog. There were about 150 comments! But in reading it I became more and more frustrated with a couple people promoting the traditionalist position on this issue. My frustration didn't stem from their position so much as an assumption that was driving their comments.
Stated simply--God gave me a better brain which is why I am 100% right and you're completely deluded!
They made comments that can be summarized as--"Why don't you go read the Bible?" Or "You just care about your position so much you read into the Bible whatever you want." I am so sick of theological arrogance like this. When people are seriously engaging the Scriptures to see what they're saying and then are told they're wrong without any reason other than, "I read the Bible right and you don't," it just drives me nuts! I am all for engaging each other's opinions and having debates about issues. And I don't believe that everyone's opinion is equally close to truth, but we still need some humility in how we engage each other.
Despite what people may say we cannot disregard the culture in which the Bible was written. We cannot disregard the assumptions we bring with us to our reading of the Scriptures today (we all have them!). We cannot disregard church history (though that doesn't mean it's always right). We cannot disregard the way the Holy Spirit works through the body of Christ as a whole (communal knowledge versus individual knowledge).
The reality we live with is that no one will ever have an exact grasp on truth. We do our best and continually strive to understand the revelation God has given us, but we're just too imperfect to flippantly tell others they're wrong.
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2 comments:
This is something I often feel convicted about. Theological arrogance makes me so irritated. For example, I can read Millard Erickson and think, "I disagree with almost everything he said, and I really respect him as an intelligent theologian." Then I can read Wayne Grudem arguing for the exact same beliefs and think, "What a jerk. I don't agree AND I don't respect him at all."
But then I worry, do I do the same thing with beliefs I feel strongly about? Probably. I have a lot of theological maturing to do. Dang.
I agree. There is validity in having a strong opinion but there is a right way and a wrong way to discuss it.
I think it is important to remember that theological arrogance is a challenge across the spectrum, not just on one side. Personally I have been pleased with the debates between Boyd and Piper in that both are respectful of each other. On the other hand I thought the discussion between Colson and Tony Jones was not so respectful. I am a fan of both so that was diesheartening to me. Just examples of how we see this played out.
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