When People Want To Modify Your Theology

One day someone on Facebook said that my theology was "concerning" to him because it is so clearly "unorthodox".  He reached out to me via messenger because he was worried about me and the path I was headed down and he was hoping to set me back on the "right" or "orthodox" path.

Hm.

In the moment I thought to myself, "bless his heart" and then muttered some things under my breath before responding with a sweet smile on my face, but I've recently come across an idea called "modified theology" that's helping me see what might have really been going on that day.  

In his article on Modified Theology, Bo Sanders says that "one of the changes that is most notable in our era is the addition of modifiers to nearly every noun" and this is important, he says, because we live in an age of specialization where many things can be customized and many different categories now have so many known sub-categories that those sub-categories require their own set of specializations.

Think about the medical field, right?  We don't just have "doctors", but we have …

Internists.

Proctologists.

Pediatricians.

Cardiologists.

Surgeons.

Etc.

… One doctor can't possibly manage the many sub-categories of medicine (unless you're Dr. House, I guess) and so different categories and different sub-categories require a modifier of some sort in front of (or around) the word "doctor" in order to pinpoint exactly what his/her/their specialty is.  

When it comes to medicine this is a good thing because it helps put a spotlight on an individual's profession or area of expertise, right?  If you're a cardiologist that means you're a heart doctor, which means you went through countless years of school, completed countless hours of practice, countless hours of interning, read countless books, articles, journals, etc. … all to become the specialist that you are.

Modifiers in the medical field are generally a good thing.

BUT.

Modifiers in the theological world aren't always as helpful.  In his article on Postcolonial Theology Brian McLaren says, "call me cynical, but here's my suspicion: adjectives (modifiers) in front of theology are deceptive."

They're deceptive, he says, because UNmodified theology (or theology without modifiers or adjectives in front of it) keeps a death grip on its privileged position as normal or standard or orthodox or correct or whatever.  

This is what was insinuated when my friend messaged me on Facebook, right?  

He said that he was concerned about my "unorthodox theology" - he placed a modifier in front of my theology, but not his, which makes his theology just "theology" and my theology "unorthodox theology" meaning that his theology is somehow elevated or superior to mine.

In other words, "I'm right and you're wrong."

In seminary we talked a lot about "theology" and whenever we mentioned "theology" it was always in reference to our theology, which was the right or proper or most complete theology.

"Have you taken the theology course yet?"

"I had theology class this morning and it blew my mind."

"I'm writing my theology paper for theology class."

“Our theology professor is so wise!”

BUT.

Then there were other theologies that were talked about in theology class, but always in lesser ways as if they weren't as significant or as important as our theology … as if they were flawed in some way.

"Feminist Theology."

"Liberation Theology."

"Progressive Theology."

"Queer Theology."  (GASP!)

“Black Theology.”

It was like THOSE theologies needed some sort of modifier in front of them not so much because they are specialized like a heart doctor, but because they are incomplete and not as good or strong or complete as our "theology" that was taught to us in our weekly theology classes.  

And so I've been wondering lately - what if I began to give the theology that my friend subscribes to a modifier?  

Hm.

Like, if my theology is "unorthodox" or "progressive" or "forward-thinking" or "evolved" or “radical” or whatever label we're going toss on it.

Well.

Then perhaps his theology is …

"Evangelical Theology" … ?

"White Man's Theology" … ?

"Anti-LGBTQ Theology" … ?

"Ancient Theology" … ?

"Angry God Theology" … ?

"Tribal Theology" … ?

“Patriarchal Theology” … ?

Right?

Because I think that adding a modifier to EVERYONE'S theology instead of just SOME PEOPLE'S theology sort of brings EVERYBODY'S theology onto an equal playing field where you nor I nor my friend on Facebook has an upper hand or corner market on the Divine.  We all have something to say, for sure, but with a modifier in front of ALL of our theologies none of us can then take for granted that OUR way of thinking or OUR way of understanding God is …

The ONLY way.

Or the BEST way.

Or the MOST BIBLICAL way.  

… I guess we could say that it keeps any one theology from being elevated on too high of a platform and any one voice from thinking they are the Gate Keeper of all things theological.

Me?

I'm happy to call my theology "radical" or "unorthodox" or "inclusive".  Go ahead and modify my theology all you’d like; I don't see it as an insult, but a compliment. 

Radical?  The root of "radical" is "rad" and with "rad" we create words like "radish" because "rad" refers to something that has roots or something that goes deep.  And yeah - I think my theology has roots, I think it goes deep, I think it's sustained by a deep river of Divine substance that flows beneath the surface of all of us. 

Unorthodox?  I think it's "unorthodox" in the sense that it's going to push up against people's boundaries, it's going to question the norm, it's going to refuse to accept mediocrity in our thoughts regarding God and the Divine, it's going to think outside of the box … it's going to move through the world as if there is no box.  

Inclusive?  I think my theology is “inclusive” because it doesn't exclude anyone.  I think that God's table is a table that is open to everyone, everywhere, and I dare to think that the words of the Angel in Matthew's Gospel are true - that the Good News of Christ is Good News for ALL people.  

I'm happy to modify my theology by placing a modifier in front of it, but it's not to demean it - it's to point out what's special about it.  And so go ahead, come into my Facebook messenger and place modifiers and adjectives in front of my theology … and know that I will do the same for yours.

Peace.