Good theology, like good bowling, means rolling the ball down the center of the lane. We study theology partly to learn from the gutter balls of history.
My bowling analogy came to me while teaching theology for four years at a Christian graduate school in Ethiopia. We were talking about a classic biblical paradox: God is both transcendent (i.e., far beyond us—holy, sovereign, almighty) and yet also immanent (i.e., near to us—caring, compassionate, merciful). The transcendent God is the awesome God thundering from Mt. Sinai; the immanent God is Immanuel, “God with us,” born in a lowly manger. God is 100% awesomely beyond us and at the same time 100% compassionately near to us. To think of God in only one way is to throw a gutter ball.
Why is this important? The USA network recently won the Golden Globe for best television drama with an edgy new show, “Mr. Robot.” An executive explained the network’s move away from sunny shows like “Psych” offering “drama with a dollop of humor” this way: “The world isn’t blue skies, it’s very complicated. The generation that is growing up right now is willing to accept that life is complicated, that decisions aren’t easy. They don’t tune in because it’s fun. Anything that hits an honest authentic nerve, they’ll basically embrace it.”
I find this is increasingly true for all generations. More people admit life is complicated and refuse a worldview built only of stark polarities. For example, faith vs. reason is a lane you’ll often find me bowling in.
In America, our Enlightenment-fueled confidence in human reason makes us question anything we cannot understand, especially the supernatural. As a theology professor in Ethiopia, my students had a refreshing passion for the supernatural but were often suspicious of critical thinking. In America, I often defended supernatural Christian faith (miracles, healing, resurrection) to skeptical rationalists; in Africa, I defended the value of reason to equally skeptical supernaturalists. Of course, we need both! But how do we throw the ball down the center of that alley?
To “hit an honest authentic nerve” (bowling a strike?) often means a path between opposite tensions—refusing to choose between faith or reason (or between God as transcendent or immanent). In fact, in these and many other cases, each side of the tension constantly corrects to produce authentic life (or the authentic God of the Bible).
My new blog is focused on helping us become better bowlers! How can we avoid the gutter balls swerving toward one extreme or the other? How do we “roll” through paradoxical tensions that are often presented as false extremes—as though we could choose one over the other?
Good questions all. Keep reading!
Question: What “lane” or contrasting tensions are you currently bowling in? What gutters do you want to avoid? Please take a moment to write a comment to share it!
I’m writing a book about self-denial. The tensions here include identifying the boundaries of the self (who is the real me, to be distinguished from false concepts of my identity?) and specifying what it is that I need to say No to (just bad stuff, or some good stuff too? Where should I draw the line?).
Stuart, Good to hear from you! Thanks for your thoughts on navigating those tensions. I’m just getting started with this blog, but I sense there is a great deal to explore together. Thanks again!
I THREW MOSTLY GUTTER BALLS, WHAT A WASTE! OF EFFORT!
I DON’T WANT MY LIFE TO BE A WASTED EFFORT, JUST PLEASING TO GOD.
Doreen, thanks for sharing. Great to hear from you!
Your reference to “bowling” and the need to avoid extremes (“bowl strikes”) reminded me of Robert Putnam’s book “Bowling Alone” in which he analyzes the nature of social interaction in the US since the mid-1950s. Increasingly we have given up bowling (sharing activities with others in a social setting) and have gone our separate ways. In some ways this explains the decline in the number of people actually attending church yet proclaiming they still have faith in God. Worship is most fulfilling when we commune with God not only in the quiet of our own thoughts, but also when we join together with the community of believers to affirm our beliefs.
Dale, thanks for your comment. I have read Putnam’s book as well and agree that we, as a culture, are losing the community focus which used to be a good counter-point or buffer to extreme individualism. Hope you are well.
Great start on your blog page, Rich! I’ll look forward to reading it. I think I’ve bowled some “gutter balls” too, like Doreen! As I try to live out my beliefs I’m hoping to bowl more strikes too.
Great perspective and wisdom, as usual. Thanks, Rich!
Thanks, Sherri. Great to hear from you!
Dr Rich I am glad to see your blog.As you mentioned in the article I am witnessed two extrems of faith and logic. Which have both benefits and dilemma in my journey of Christianity. I am struggling to use combinely but it is not a such easy to living it practicality.l need your suggestions how to achieve both at a time in this moment.
Abiy, thanks so much for commenting! My goal is exactly what you say–to explore how to live in these “tensions” of Christian faith so we stay connected with both sides of paradoxical issues. I believe this is where authentic discipleship is best found. Hope you keep reading!
I’m preaching a series from Philippians. The first week we noted that God will complete the work he began in us but we also need to abound in love so we can discern what is best as we grow. The second week we discovered that while we are challenged to work out our salvation with “blood, sweat and tears” God is the one who gives the desire and the power to obey him. This Sunday we will engage Paul’s call to press on for the goal God set for us while living up to the spiritual maturity we’ve already achieved.
Hi Mark! A great example of a two-sided paradox! “Work out your own salvation” BUT “God is at work within you!” Each of your three messages hits a great tension of the Christian life. Thanks for sharing and I hope you’ll keep reading and commenting.
How great to find your blog. Although I may not still have the opportunity to hear your Sunday sermons, perhaps your blog will fill the intellectual and spiritual void you left when you moved to Ethiopia.
Hi Billie, great to hear from you! Actually, all my current sermons are saved on video at my current church’s website. You can visit at http://www.tvpchurch.org Blessings to you and your family.
Rich – I so appreciate your stretching my faith and the exciting concept of Paradox which I am beginning to see in all of the life and apply it. Thought it was stunning how you looked at different cultures today and how they see the paradoxes . you said “In America, our Enlightenment-fueled confidence in human reason makes us question anything we cannot understand, especially the supernatural. As a theology professor in Ethiopia, my students had a refreshing passion for the supernatural but were often suspicious of critical thinking. In America, I often defended supernatural Christian faith (miracles, healing, resurrection) to skeptical rationalists; in Africa, I defended the value of reason to equally skeptical super naturalists. Of course, we need both! But how do we throw the ball down the center of that alley”