Monthly Archives: July 2014

#28 Part Three: On Being a Theologian

14 Monday Jul 2014

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At this point you may be thinking I’m starting to sound like Paul, because that’s what I’m thinking – with this litany of semi-accomplishments – you know, like he did in Philippians 3:

Though I myself have reasons for such confidence … circumcised on the 8th day, etc., etc.

 A litany of sorts to secure my spot in the theologian world.

And oh how easy it can be to grow confident in your own eyes — whether it be with big titles, great theological works, journal articles, knowledge of ancient languages, or people who will actually listen to what you have to say — I don’t need to re-read humpty dumpty to know that pride truly does come before a great fall. But like Paul, I have an Achilles heel – more like several of them.

One being, I think I’m the most non-academic woman in the world – and not just because of my limited time spent in a college classroom – but because I really am very non-academic – I struggle greatly with understanding or retaining most theological & theoretical texts. I’d much rather get my theology from reading a Francine Rivers’ novel than reading Calvin. And, I can’t help but recall the free tutoring I received weekly from my fellow classmate (the brilliant theologian Garnet Slatton). He was great at explaining the answers to the Systematic Theology quizzes. Oh how he could make the complicated simple for such a non-academic student.

Two being, much study wearies my soul. (Now that’s one quip from Qoheleth that I agree with.)  I can spend just so much time in a book before I need people interaction. All the theologians I know personally prefer to spend hours with their writings and books – and could probably go for days without seeing another human. My limit is 3 hours.

Now before utter humiliation completely overtakes my soul, I’ll stop with two.

But here’s the thing, when I truly ponder what a GOOD theologian looks like, I don’t think it is really about the amount of time they spend in the study of theology – but what they LOOK like after they have spent all that time in the study of theology. Hence my justification for Ephesians 5:1 and 1 Corinthians 15:10.

A good theologian will imitate the One they are studying more and more the older they get. And, the grace that God bestows on them will become very effective, hence its results will be quite obvious in even their briefest encounters – my personal example being my very brief but wonderful encounter with Dr. Torrance.  (I also had one of these brief encounters with Dr. Waltke.  Talk about a gracious man!)

And then there are my lengthier encounters with theologians like Carolyn James, who takes me into her heart every time we are together.  Or, Dr. MacKenzie who has been described as a modern day pied piper because theology students just can’t help but follow him all over a seminary campus. I took Dr. MacKenzie to the airport over 13 years ago—before 9/11—when you could still walk your loved ones all the way to the gate – and he finally said, ok, you may go now.  My response was: I don’t want to go!  It’s those people, the ones with whom you can’t help but want to remain in their presence, because I do believe if Jesus were walking this planet today, we’d feel the same way.

Please don’t make me leave you yet.

And then there’s H. Wilbert Norton, Sr. – with more accomplishments in one lifetime than I’ve ever seen in one human, yet at 99 years old, he will still spend much time with me over the phone now that he’s moved hundreds of miles away to a retirement village in Oklahoma. I have a strong feeling the greatest theologian in Dr. Norton’s life is his one hundred year old wife, Coleen.   I’ve often thought that God has kept them alive just because they pray for “us” daily. For some reason, I have the comforting feeling that God hasn’t brought destruction on America all because these two saints are still living in the land.

Yes, these are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.  And then there are my daily intimates:  my mom who can’t go one minute without bringing her every thought captive to her heavenly Father.  She embodies that verse, “pray continually.”  Or my personal saint, Elsie, whom I go to every time I want to know where some gem is located in Scripture.  She wants to spend eternity sitting at the feet of every Puritan she’s ever read – and yes, I’m sure she’ll be at Jesus’ feet as much as he will allow.  And I’ll stop with one more example — the one that hits closest to home — the man I sleep with every night.  At 80 he is still in great demand for the wisdom he exudes which he lovingly lavishes on anyone who asks.

That, my friends, is how I see it. That’s what a good theologian looks like to me. The embodiment of what I envision Jesus to look like with skin on. Those people whose side you never want to leave because they are infectious. The ones who let God have great effect on their lives and take pleasure in pouring all that effectiveness out on me and others!

You see, I don’t think it has as much to do with how much you know of God and his Word – as what kind of effect all this knowledge has had on you. It’s about who you are becoming. Paul says it so beautifully with his preface to the “Love” chapter in 1 Corinthians 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

These are they—the ones who love well—the saints in the land who I long to emulate the older I get – because I can’t help but think they have done an excellent job of imitating and representing well the God of the Universe. These are they who have not brought the way of truth into disrepute.

So, am I a theologian? Did T. F. Torrance see any of that in me during that brief encounter? I doubt it – but perhaps what he saw was desire – and one month into seminary, perhaps that was enough to bestow on me the title of theologian. I don’t know. But what I suspect is that to really know the answer, I will have to wait until I’m at least 70. In tThe Endhe meantime, I only pray that I am heading in the right direction.

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6) 

 

 

 

 

# 27 Part Two: on being a theologian

11 Friday Jul 2014

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In the words of Bruce Waltke to Carolyn James:

“Carolyn, if you’re going to be a theologian, be a good one.”

Carolyn wrote this in one of her books, but I’m too lazy to go and find the original quote.   Yet it has always rung true with me because I’ve equated it with my T.F.Torrance encounter.

So, perhaps it’s time to see what my Mac Dictionary thinks about the subject and see how well I measure up to the title:

  • Theologian: a person who engages in or is an expert in theology.
  • Theology: The study of the nature of God and religious beliefs

OK. I engage in theology. I read theological works regularly.  After all, Dr. Sherry MacKenzie—my favorite theologian—chastised a whole class of would-be-theologians, saying: “Most students leave seminary never having read through Calvin’s Institutes” — I took him up on the challenge and read Calvin’s Institutes – cover to cover – over the course of a year. However, ten years later, could I tell you one thing about those two massive volumes? Unfortunately no. I know I know, I’ve had several men tell me they found the Institutes to be very devotional. But perhaps that was the problem – it’s a very manly book.  Here’s what I often do after this type of theological reading: I pray, God, perhaps you will bless me anyway.  Also, if possible, I try to find at least one thought or sentence to retain in my memory.  I’ve become OK with reading a book only for one great take-away sentence or thought.

Sorry for the tangent. Back to the subject at hand.  Am I theologian?

Perhaps this will score me some points:  About four years ago I read texts on a particular controversy going around in my own Christian circle (some actually thought of it as the current heresy). So, I read at least two FULL books on that subject – pros and cons – straight from the horses mouth – and also from the mouths who rejected said horse.  I will now admit, I came away from that theological exercise feeling more confused than when I started.  And, often I find myself coming up empty in many ways—and dare I say it—even spiritually dry.

So does reading expert theologians make me (or you) a theologian?  Because if reading the experts and understanding them (key issue here) made one a theologian – I’d have to hand over my theologian title immediately. (Not to mention even using a word like “sorta” would automatically exclude me from any and all theologian clubs. Surely.)

So, what was it that Dr. Torrance saw in me that made him think I was a would-be-theologian?  I wish now I would have asked him, instead of just standing there dumbstruck. Because now I am left to figure it out for myself.

Of course, the best place to figure anything out is Scripture – prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in your quest. So, I’ve come up with two verses that ring true (dare I say: ‘to me’) when contemplating what a good theologian looks like.

Ephesians 5:1:

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1 Corinthians 15:10:

But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.

In part three, yet to be written, I will attempt to justify why I picked these two verses out of the whole of Scripture to describe a good theologian.

 

#26 Part One: On being a Theologian

07 Monday Jul 2014

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“So you’re a theologian!?!”

That comment is seared in my brain for all time.

It came from renowned theologian, the late Dr. Thomas F. Torrance. And even though it may have sounded more like a question than a statement to some ears, to mine it sounded like prophetic affirmation.

I’ll start from the beginning.

I met Dr. Torrance when I had been in seminary (aka graduate school – smile) less than one month. That would be September 1996. I can still feel the soul-warming impression he left on me. He wanted to dictate a letter – so my boss (another renowned theologian, Dr. Douglas F. Kelly) recommended me. After all, I did possess shorthand skills and I had no problem using them just so long as it was clear to the one dictating that they could only speak 100 words per minute – or less.

There are two things I remember from that moment 18 years ago: One, I struggled greatly with his British accent, and two, he called me a theologian – sorta. And I have sorta kept the title ever since.

Here’s the conversation:

Dr. Torrance, I just signed up to be a seminary student! [great enthusiasm]

Oh, so you’re a theologian?! [greater enthusiasm]

[Look of wonder – not remembering what I said to that, if anything]

You know, my mother was the greatest theologian in our family.

I can’t remember anything else that was said, yet I do believe in that moment, the challenge to become a theologian began within one month of starting seminary. And it is all because this gentle giant in the body of Christ gave me this affirming encouragement.

You see, the Torrance family oozes great theological scholars.  And, of course, anytime someone mentions a Torrance family member I am quick to share my own encounter.

Now, eighteen years later as I sit and reflect on that impressionable moment, I have to wonder, what is a theologian really – and what makes a good one?

I’m going to ponder this for a while and see what I come up with.