I have been re-reading a book which I like and use for a particular class. Every time I re-read something, I realize how our situation in life affects the reading of the text. We may know more the second time we read a book than we did the first time we read it. Life may have dealt us some issues which we did not have when we read a book for the first time. I might simply have different interests the second time around. And it could be as simple as I was more awake when I read a particular page or even a whole chapter.
To this point, while reading again Richard Rohr’s book, Everything Belongs, I hit a couple sentences that I honestly don’t even remember seeing. This time I not only saw the sentences; I was arrested by the content and wanted to reflect on them. The context for these couple of sentences is Rohr’s ruminations about what he calls “dualistic thinking.” This is a big issue for Rohr, but certainly not unique to him.
By dualistic thinking, Rohr means the kind of theology---or view of God---that imagines there are two levels of reality: the material and spiritual. Usually there are two levels of moral life: sinner and saved. Typically, there is a particular kind of theology that teaches and perpetuates this kind of thinking. Normally there are winners and losers. Sadly, winners often feel much better because they made it and others didn’t. Of course, this can lead to all kinds of nasty outcomes. I agree with Rohr that we have seen too much of this in Christian history. And for sure, we are not past those days yet.
This raises for him what in this section he calls “the God question.” This is an interesting and profound issue. At its core the question is nothing more than “who is God?” The corollary question is “and how does God work in this world?” While those of us who go to seminary and graduate school read and think a great deal about this kind of stuff, Rohr is not about to let us be the sole determiners of the answers to the God question. Simple, uneducated folks may have a better take on the question than some of us who perhaps have been privileged with education. Humility is a good thing to value here.
And then come the couple of sentences I want to give focus. Rohr says, “You do not resolve the God question in your head---or even in the perfection of moral response. It is resolved in you, when you agree to bear the mystery of God: God’s suffering for the world and God’s ecstasy in the world. That is much harder, I’m afraid, than just trying to be ‘good.’” The first note is to recognize Rohr does not allow this to be simply a theological question. I am intrigued he wants to “resolve” the God question, rather than simply “answer” it. The resolution of the God question should lead to a transformed life rather than another book on theology!
Finally, the God question is not an issue of theology or of morality. The italics in Rohr’s text are significant. The God question is resolved in us---in you and in me. And it is resolved if and when we agree to bear the mystery of God. This is the point at which this reading of Rohr was totally new to me. To bear the mystery of God: what does this mean?
First, I am convinced it means to experience God. This is why it is more than a cognitive reflection about theology. Bearing the mystery of God is experiential. It means to know, accept and incarnate the God who is by nature mystery. The true God---mysteriously---should make us think and act much like Jesus did. If we want a cue to what bearing the mystery of God would look like, we need to read the gospels again. We need to pay attention to the folks Jesus paid attention. We need to be willing to act in the same fashion as he did.
To bear the mystery of God probably will entail more suffering than being superior. That mystery will probably humble us more often than put us in position of privilege. We likely will become servants rather than the served. Bearing the mystery of God will call for less ego and more care for my amigo. There is a good word for all of this: love.
The longer I live, the more I think religion and spirituality is really about love. I am sure it is probably more than that, but if we could get love right---actually to love and be willing to be loved---most of our problems would be solved or solvable. If we really get love right, theology and morality should take care of themselves. When John’s Gospel says that God so loved the world, that Jesus was the result, I think we have the paradigm or model. Jesus is God’s love running lose in the world. Pay close attention to what he said and did.
If we can bear the mystery of God, we also will become God’s love running around in the world. We should have the effect and be as effective as Jesus was. It certainly was not an ego trip for him! And it likely won’t be for us. This is a challenge. Perhaps that is why so many of us prefer a kind of domesticated theology.
Bear the mystery of God…that really is the God question---for you and for me.
To this point, while reading again Richard Rohr’s book, Everything Belongs, I hit a couple sentences that I honestly don’t even remember seeing. This time I not only saw the sentences; I was arrested by the content and wanted to reflect on them. The context for these couple of sentences is Rohr’s ruminations about what he calls “dualistic thinking.” This is a big issue for Rohr, but certainly not unique to him.
By dualistic thinking, Rohr means the kind of theology---or view of God---that imagines there are two levels of reality: the material and spiritual. Usually there are two levels of moral life: sinner and saved. Typically, there is a particular kind of theology that teaches and perpetuates this kind of thinking. Normally there are winners and losers. Sadly, winners often feel much better because they made it and others didn’t. Of course, this can lead to all kinds of nasty outcomes. I agree with Rohr that we have seen too much of this in Christian history. And for sure, we are not past those days yet.
This raises for him what in this section he calls “the God question.” This is an interesting and profound issue. At its core the question is nothing more than “who is God?” The corollary question is “and how does God work in this world?” While those of us who go to seminary and graduate school read and think a great deal about this kind of stuff, Rohr is not about to let us be the sole determiners of the answers to the God question. Simple, uneducated folks may have a better take on the question than some of us who perhaps have been privileged with education. Humility is a good thing to value here.
And then come the couple of sentences I want to give focus. Rohr says, “You do not resolve the God question in your head---or even in the perfection of moral response. It is resolved in you, when you agree to bear the mystery of God: God’s suffering for the world and God’s ecstasy in the world. That is much harder, I’m afraid, than just trying to be ‘good.’” The first note is to recognize Rohr does not allow this to be simply a theological question. I am intrigued he wants to “resolve” the God question, rather than simply “answer” it. The resolution of the God question should lead to a transformed life rather than another book on theology!
Finally, the God question is not an issue of theology or of morality. The italics in Rohr’s text are significant. The God question is resolved in us---in you and in me. And it is resolved if and when we agree to bear the mystery of God. This is the point at which this reading of Rohr was totally new to me. To bear the mystery of God: what does this mean?
First, I am convinced it means to experience God. This is why it is more than a cognitive reflection about theology. Bearing the mystery of God is experiential. It means to know, accept and incarnate the God who is by nature mystery. The true God---mysteriously---should make us think and act much like Jesus did. If we want a cue to what bearing the mystery of God would look like, we need to read the gospels again. We need to pay attention to the folks Jesus paid attention. We need to be willing to act in the same fashion as he did.
To bear the mystery of God probably will entail more suffering than being superior. That mystery will probably humble us more often than put us in position of privilege. We likely will become servants rather than the served. Bearing the mystery of God will call for less ego and more care for my amigo. There is a good word for all of this: love.
The longer I live, the more I think religion and spirituality is really about love. I am sure it is probably more than that, but if we could get love right---actually to love and be willing to be loved---most of our problems would be solved or solvable. If we really get love right, theology and morality should take care of themselves. When John’s Gospel says that God so loved the world, that Jesus was the result, I think we have the paradigm or model. Jesus is God’s love running lose in the world. Pay close attention to what he said and did.
If we can bear the mystery of God, we also will become God’s love running around in the world. We should have the effect and be as effective as Jesus was. It certainly was not an ego trip for him! And it likely won’t be for us. This is a challenge. Perhaps that is why so many of us prefer a kind of domesticated theology.
Bear the mystery of God…that really is the God question---for you and for me.
Comments
Post a Comment