This is just a quick thought.  This March I had the opportunity to spend a week in London.  I could ramble on, quite extensively, about Aida at Royal Albert Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum right across the street from my hotel, my lunch at Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus, or hearing Big Ben strike six directly above me.  However, I will refrain and focus instead on forty-five minutes of that week. Forty-five minutes spent in Westminster Cathedral.

Let me pause to say here to say that the following is not meant to be in support of Anglicanism, the Church of England, or any particular religious organization or form.

Okay, that being said, Westminster Cathedral is breathtaking.  It is the only building that has moved me to tears.  And it’s not just the architecture, which is, admittedly, grandiose (almost to the point of the obscene), it’s the history.  The cathedral vibrates with British-ness, and history, and religion — it’s astounding.  But, frankly, this is all unimportant.

I attended Evensong at Westminster.  It was forty-five of the most Spiritually glorious minutes of my life.  Scripture was sung, prayed, and read.  Just Scripture.  Only Scripture.  No interpretation – except perhaps ninety seconds or so in the closing prayer.  Let me reiterate, for effect, it was forty-five minutes of the words of the Bible being sung, prayed, and read aloud without commentary.

It made me think. When was the last time that your church, my church, got together and just enjoyed/celebrated/ingested Scripture?  I’m not suggesting that preaching and teaching are not important.  Clearly they are. Read any, or (even better) all,  of Paul’s epistles.  I guess my question/thought/comment now is, well, do we trust the Word of God, the Bible, to preach and teach without our help enough to shut-up and listen? Or do we feel, are somehow convinced although we would never verbalize our conviction, that Scripture needs our continual interpretation/interference? (Why do pastors seem to feel guilty if they read more than ten or fifteen verses during their sermons? )

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119: 10-16

So, “It’s all Theology” was actually a quip I used to end a conversation/discussion with a professor. At the time, I have to admit, it was more for effect than intentionally substantive. However, I think I shocked myself with the statement much more than I did my professor (who thinks of me as a religious eccentric at best). The thought that everything (and I mean everything) was related to theology made the world go right again. Let me explain.

Starting my doctoral work at BGSU was one of the more disorienting experiences of my life. It was like walking into a world where all the rules were changed and none of the words meant quite the same thing. It took a three semesters to find a footing in the mess. (And it is a mess. The world post poststructuralism, post postmodernism, and now into what? We aren’t sure, but it looks like the rise of posthumanism, whether of the cyborg or animal variety.) Frankly, I’m ashamed it took so long. However, the Lord used the months of uncertainty to teach me a great deal (of which you shall doubtless hear more).

I’m a Christian school kid. I’m a super-Christian school kid — I even grew up on the campus of a Christian school! And I went to a wonderful Christian university (Bob Jones University) were the professor really did do their best to try to teach me how to think. However, there seems to be a natural delay when switching from training mode to solo-flight. This lag time can be disconcerting. I’m afraid too many people interpret this natural process as something inherently bad – a weakness, a flaw, a setback. I’m not convinced it is.

My Christian teachers and my alma mater did everything possible to give me, and my classmates, a taste of the best possible Christian experience — the wonder of true Christian fellowship, the ability to listen quietly to the Spirit, a feast of Bible meat. The goal was to get our souls addicted to this type of living — a healthy addiction — I hope you agree! But it is the transition period, the time when the enriching environment is first gone, that demands you learn to provide these things for yourself which is some of the hardest work in the world. (Although, really you can’t do it yourself — it takes a church and a very patient God. More on this another time.)

For me the first few months away from my support structure felt like a cross between starving and dehydrating — not a fun experience. But I learned to appreciate the Psalms. (O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.) I learned to trust that God is good even when I can’t feel it. (Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!) I learned to trust that God can protect me from myself. (Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.) Of all of these I should more accurately say, “I am learning . . .”

Anyway, the solid ground, the only solid ground, is the Bible. I know our teachers always told us this and we always nodded and “amen-ed” our agreement, but it won’t really be true for you, it wasn’t for me, until you’ve had your spiritual legs swept out from under you. Until you’ve had to fight to find your footing. Of course, at that point you may also realize, as I am realizing more and more each day, that I didn’t need to fight. I needed to rest. (Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!)

It is out of this moment of discovery — that the Bible really is the answer to ALL of life’s questions whether they be social, spiritual, cultural, or academic — that this blog is born. And the Bible isn’t just the answer, it’s the explanation. The Bible makes sense of the world (even when the world seems pretty senseless).

Well, this post has been slightly less than completely coherent. I apologize. Still . . .

Thanks for listening,

Sarah

Well, to start, I think blogs are a little ridiculous.  What good can possibly come of sending one more voice into the cyber-universe already teaming with too many voices?  So why I am I here . . . now . . . blogging? Here stands living proof that “hope springs eternal.”  There are conversations that I would love to have.  This forum acts as an invitation for all two people (I love you Mom and Dad!) who may read these posts to join in these conversations.

What conversations you ask? Hopefully, the name of this blog says it all: It’s ALL Theology.  What do I mean by “It’s all theology”?  Just that.  Everything I see, experience, say, think, or do reflects the character of God or reflects my relationship with God.  This means it’s all important — everything. But the scope of this blog won’t, I don’t think, be quite that broad. My interests include theology (specifically how theology works in the world), story (what stories are told, the impact of stories, and why stories matter), performance (and if you buy certain schools of performance studies this could encompass everything from tooth-brushing to theatre), and church life (most specifically, right now, what makes a good church member).

Expectations:

1. Ideas expressed here are developing — except those which have been tried and proved with Scripture. My mother’s life motto has been “If you can prove it from Scripture, I’ll do it.”  I hope and pray this mentality for this blog as well. (And I hope you will hold me to it!)

2. I’m eager to expand my theological library. I’ve just completed the third year of a Ph. D. in Theatre.  I enjoy the scholarship, but I miss intricate theological discussions.  So bring on the theology.  What works inspire, inform, and influence your thinking on Biblical issues?  Let me add this caveat. There’s plenty of “bad” theology out there. (By which I mean theology that is Biblical in name only.) Theology needs to, as accurately as is humanly possible, reflect the mind of God on any given issue.  This means consulting the whole of Scripture without ignoring inconvenient or uncomfortable bits, and without being pressured by cultural, societal, or church norms.

Things that will never happen:

1. This will not be a DIY blog.  I have no desire to bore you with another blog about how to clean your house (anyone who has seen mine will laugh that idea to scorn),  raise your children (I haven’t any), or be nice to your spouse (haven’t got any of those either).

2. There will never be a regular schedule for blog posts.  Life is too chaotic!  And sometimes there is nothing to say.  If I don’t have anything to say, I will try not to say it!

That’s all for now. I imagine I’ll think of other important definitional points as we go, but I think this covers the basics.

Thanks for listening.

-Sarah