theology battleship
I love theology.
To me, it’s like an art. Maybe even a dance.
There are certain moves you should make. Certain ways to speak. It’s a dialogue that exists between two or more people, but simultaneously exists in a timeless way. When I speak, I am entering into a conversation that is thousands of years old. When I take part in theology, all of history is my dialogue partner.
When I am in a moment of dialogue, discussing topics of theology, I do my best to speak as Christ himself would speak. I listen. I question. I bob & weave.
For the most part, I even maintain a calm tone. I am focused more on saying a few things simply rather than saying a many things ambiguously. Yet there are times when I debate. I banter over a certain idea. Yet even in these moments, I stay focused on the purpose of theology - to lead us in worship of God. You may think “theology” has other motives, but this is it - worship. Any theological conversation that isn’t rooted in a desire to be drawn closer to the living God, that doesn’t bring you to a position of humility and amazement, that doesn’t lead you to worship, is simply a waste of time. There is not point to “winning” theology.
So the purpose of theology is worship.
Why then do so many people play “theology battleship”?
Each person taking turns, launching their best “attack”. Doing their best to “sink” their opponents theology.
The game lasts several turns, both opponents fighting to the very end. Each desperately trying to stay afloat.
Until ultimately, one miserably declares - “you sunk my theology”
I think we can do better than this.
