they thin my life with little things
Whether you have a Ph.D. in theology or not, you’re a theologian. We all are. One way or another, life itself will force you to try and answer questions like, “where is God in all this” and “what is God up to.”
Unfortunately, and maybe you’ve already noticed this, many of the answers that get tossed around ring pretty hollow. They ring hollow.
…Way back in 1518, Luther addressed this. In fact, it was the ubiquity of all those empty, prepackaged answers that drove Luther to what we call the “reformation breakthrough.” The theology of the cross.
Because, and this is the thing, Luther wasn’t trying to do theology right. He was trying to find out if theology actually had anything to say about real-life.
See, Luther’s problem was never that he was the smartest guy in the room. No, his problem was that all the peddled answers didn’t have a rotten thing to do with real-life—certainly not those places where those questions about God are most asked, anyway.
Like Wilco sing on their 2004 album, A Ghost is Born, “Theologians, / they don’t know nothin’ / ‘bout my soul.”
Which might clue you in, although we live over five-hundred years after the reformation breakthrough, theology hasn’t changed that much. Those same, tired, old answers are still traded-in. More troubling, though, those same old problems still vex us…
What passes for theology most of the time is some sort of feeble attempt to try and explain away all the things in life that defy explanation.
If that weren’t bad enough, all the explanations are really just trying to save face for God. Saying things like, “Everything happens for a reason.” Insinuating that if only you were a little more godly, you’d know why. And, you’d have the capacity to accept the answer, too.
As Luther realized, it’s a bum deal. It’s theology all backward! Carrying an impossible burden to try and save face for God.
…Here’s the good news, though, there is another way. In fact, refusing to accept all those easy, old answers that are all wrong every time will drive you there. Because, and here’s more good news, this way of doing theology didn’t originate with Luther. It didn’t end with him. And it’s certainly not proprietary to him, either.
Way back in the 300’s Augustine spoke of this way of doing theology. And before him, in the ’30s, Saint Paul founded churches upon it! But, behind them all is Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ. Because while Jesus may not be Lutheran. Luther is thoroughly Christian! Even to the point where most people want to look away.
The way to really do theology, Luther found, is to keep your eyes fixed on God. Even when God goes against the way you think God ought to behave. Which is, of course, the cross. The cross.
Luther realized there’s nothing to see but humanity, infirmity, foolishness, and the like at the cross. In other words, about nine-tenths of life.
But, as he also found, that’s the place all those so-called theologians look away! Instead of talking about what’s plainly taking place at the cross, all those wannabe theologians start harping about God's invisible qualities. As if they’ve become readily apparent there. But, at the cross, all of God’s godliness is actually most hidden. It’s hidden…
Much of theology hawks some kind of humanity with no infirmity and foolishness. Which may sound good, but it’s not real. And it’s not even really human. It’s something less, actually.
And God, like good theology, is for real people! Real people, living real lives. Real people who really need God to show up amidst the foolishness and infirmity of life and get to work.
Which is precisely what the cross reveals!
The way to really do theology is to refuse to look away from the cross. To see all the humanity, infirmity, and foolishness therein, and then hear God’s promise that nothing less than salvation itself is being worked out there!
And then, to know nothing else!
This is a vision of theology that can actually speak to life as it really is!
…“At that time, Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven AND earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants(!); yes, Father for such was your gracious will.”
Those who presume to have the intelligence to know a thing or two about God and the wherewithal to go and find God there will never actually see God! They’ll be too busy looking where they think God ought to show up. Instead of where God has promised to, the shadow of the cross! Life in all it’s infirmity and foolishness.
God has refused to be found in power. Instead, God has promised to show up in the thin places of life. Places full of weakness, helplessness, and suffering. In other words, the places where we live. Where real life happens.
And those of you who have been pinned down there. Who can’t look away. Who have as much control over your life as an infant. You are promised a full revelation of what God is all about. And right there, too!
Are you weary and carrying heavy burdens? Are you struggling and lugging around too much? Are you worked over? Having a hard time of it and overwhelmed? Well, that just means you’re right where God wants you! Where God has promised to show up!
Life itself is making a real theologian out of you! Someone who knows a thing or two, not about how God should be, but who God actually is!
Now, this may not seem all that godly to the wise and intelligent. For those of us who are tired and worn-out by all those empty, old theories that have nothing to do with life, though, this is nothing less than the very power of God being worked out in our lives as they really are!
So get a full glimpse of this holiness Jesus Christ has decided to show you! It isn’t too high and holy to meet you in the places where all those easy, old answers evaporate into thin air. Instead, it gets to work there, giving you something so much better than any answer. The Holy Spirit delivers to you the full revelation of God, Jesus Christ, and him crucified!
When that happens, you’ll see, for yourself, just how gentle, humble of heart, restful, easy-going, and light Jesus truly is. And you’ll become a true theologian. All because God has gone on being God when and where you least expected but most needed; real life.
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