DOING THEOLOGY…3.20.09
by SteveIn my Sunday School class this week, my topic is “Adventures in Misunderstanding Theology.” As I prepared, I remembered this little story, one of my favorites. If it strikes a cord in you…see ya Sunday at 10 am in the choir room!
Mark Shaw has a little book called Doing Theology with Huck and Jim. It begins with Huck and Jim climbing aboard their raft, about to take off on a life with no cares at all. They talk for a minute about all the things they will not miss, and then Huck says:
“What’d you bring for food, I’m hungry.”
Jim unwrapped his bedroll. His worldly wealth was contained in it. There was a hat and some fruit, a pair of socks, and rabbit’s foot and a book. Jim tossed Huck a piece of fruit.
“What’d you bring a book for?” asked Huck with a tone of irritation.
”T’read,” said Jim. “What else a book good for?”
“Didn’t think you could read,” Huck said, and then wished he hadn’t.
“I can read,” Jim responded with intense seriousness, gazing into the night.
“What kinda book is it?” Huck asked.
“Book ’bout theology,” Jim said, his voice trailing away.
“Theology! I hate theology almost as much as I hate schools and rules,” Huck said, and emphasized the point by spitting into the river. “What good is a theology book on a trip like this?”
Jim was silent for a long time before he answered. “Trip like this is long. Lotta things gonna happen. Might come in handy.”
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Heh. Some time ago, I happened upon a frustrated young lady trying to choose her courses at ASU. It seems her fiance, being a ‘good Christian’, had taken her catalog and marked out fully one half the courses, telling her they were not acceptable study for her! Silly me, I assured her that nothing taught at University could change God, she should endeavour to learn as much as possible, and would likely find a deeper love of God in the process. Alas, she may have found comfort in my words, but her betrothed certainly did not, and found me later that day to express his displeasure. I fear, in my youthful exuberance, I added more fuel to his inflamed sensibilities when I exclaimed, “Your faith must be unbelievably weak, if it cannot withstand the simple knowledge of ideas.” Indeed, we were almost to blows when I made some reference to “his theology”, to which he replied, “I don’t believe in Theology!” After recovering from my fits of laughter, I explained it to him – Theo, meaning God, logy, the study of. Since he had just stated he did not believe in the study of God, I questioned why he had initiated a conversation regarding this very subject, and, I suppose, lacking an answer, he left. Yes, a little theology “Might come in handy”.
O Berry, that is a classic! Thanks…with your permission, I will use it Sunday! Hope you guys can be there!
Steve, you have my blessings to use anything that’s mine to offer, particularly anything I’ve written. Hope to see you Sunday,
Bj
It was used, and quite effectively! The class loved it! thanks
Great article. Thanks for the great resource.