The Dangers of Untheological “Theology”.
“Quotation Text”
Quote Author 2023
When it comes to experiences of suffering, it is not your half-baked, insensitive theological advice that sustains the sufferers, but how you practically apply even the little theology that you may know. To be honest, some sufferers have more sound theology than yours; be it Joseph in prison, or Daniel in the lion’s den, Daniel’s friends in the furnace, or David in the cave, the solo Elijah, Job … oh Job! Whether it’s Paul being flogged or headed for arrest in Jerusalem, or any of the Apostles amidst persecution; or Jesus facing the Cross. Consider C.S Lewis – one of my intellectual and faith heroes from the 20th Century, or my relatives the Karimojong whose attitude and perspective on suffering I have found quite amazingly close to the Biblical! All these have had their theology very sound and intact when facing suffering, majority of which is innocent suffering. Unfortunately, like Job’s wife and friends, or Peter with Jesus, we continue to get it wrong, but claiming to be “theological”.
Many sufferers are far better off with our absence than our presence amidst their ordeals. Because we often don’t add the value we ought to. Our careless use of Bible verses is a clear manifestation of a theology so deficient of compassion. While good theology has its place in processing and navigating suffering, it can actually be the very reason for intensifying the suffering experience as one wrestles to reconcile their circumstances (personal or relational) with everything they know about God. His Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Love, Justice, Wisdom, Sovereignty …! Hence the agonizing “Why” question(s), most of which have no satisfying theological answers. And it can be okay, until someone decides to pour out all their untheological theology on you. If you knew, you would perhaps stop making them up.
If indeed we know our Theology well, the Apostle James challenges us to practice it. Put it to work. Faith without action is dead – a false religion (James 2:14-ff). Good and wise theology demands the manifestation and practice of God’s presence towards the suffering. I can personally attest that sufferers will have a more steadfast hope and go a much longer distance in firmly enduring their trials, if they are surrounded by genuinely loving and supportive family, friends, and community. Sadly, that is diminishing against the individualistic and materialistic tendencies, and fake theologies of our time. Being often replaced by a couple of verses shared virtually, or much worse, a recommendation to a powerful “man-a-ghaa” for deliverance or exorcism.
“Good and wise theology demands the manifestation and practice of God’s presence towards the suffering.”
What God has demonstrated in Christ Jesus, He also wants and expects of those who claim to know Him or have “theology”. In Christ, God came to a broken and suffering world, but even with all His knowledge and “Theology” He gave, not just as advice, but Himself and His presence as a loving and committed companion that every sufferer can trust through their journey and trials. This means that we are not alone when we suffer, whether self-inflicted or caused by others, which is inevitable in this broken world. Suffering alone is worse and destructive than suffering within a present, loving, and caring family or community.
So, next time you are in the presence of someone in pain and suffering, which will be sooner than later, don’t turn it into an opportunity to showcase your broken and untheological theology. Because if the same was offered to you in your personal suffering, it would be rather meaningless. Ask God for wisdom and genuine compassion. Sometimes even silence is more theologically sound than slapping a sufferer with all those verses. Well-meaning as they be. Some of them can be quite untheological on Suffering. Yes, knowing Bible verses is not the same as being theological! And when you speak, let it be because you love, care, and are a present friend – not a great theologian. I guess you realize why God commands us to Love Him with all ourselves, and our neighbor as ourselves. For true and biblical love is the foundation and backbone of any theological, and hence biblical theology.
“Sometimes even silence is more theologically sound than slapping a sufferer with all those verses.”
~ Raymond L. Bukenya ~
Speaker & Director Tru Tangazo Uganda (MA Missions, University of Winchester)