Whole Hearted Ness

I once heart that Psalm 111 offers the ABCs of theology.  It starts off with one word: "Hallelujah" which means "Praise" (halle) "God" (ja or Yah...as in Yahweh).  Our theology is a word about God. At it's best, theology is a prayerful, hopeful, honest, authentic, good word about God.  After this first word, the psalmist invites both individually and communally to worship.  We lift our eyes to look, study, stay open to God.  God's movement in our lives.  God is the one who provides food, covenant (or relationship), justice, and wisdom.  Verse 10 is that truism that reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.  Reverence is not about putting God on a pedestal, but a reminder that God is God and I am not.  That within our relationship with God there is always a dance of glimpses of grace (or traces!), but also honestly admit that we don't know everything.

There are two types of theology: Apophatic and Kataphatic.  Kataphatic comes from the Greek word "kata" which means down into or down with, so it is a theology that sees God in our midst.  It is a positive theology that states we can know God and understand.  That is always balanced by Apophatic  which derives from the Greek word meaning no.  God is beyond all earthy symbols and human efforts, so we are careful not to overstate our case.  The point is not to pitch your tent and defend only one of these camps, but to let both inform, influence and impact how we enter into our connection with God.  God is the one we experience in events in our lives.  God is always beyond those experiences or events.  God passes by, as God does for Moses, but we only get a glimpse or trace of God.  But we keep striving.  Our Jewish brothers and sisters get this when they lay claim to the name, Israel...this is a word that means to strive and struggle with God.  Israel is the name given to Jacob after he wrestled all night with God.  Israel is the name given to the people of God after wilderness longing and being called, "Stiff-necked" by Moses.  Israel is place, promise of God made real in dirt and soil that touches the soul.  Just as Israel is a person, people, and place...so a bit elusive, so is the God who moved in the midst of all three bearing the same name.

So, who is God to you?
What would your ABCs of theology be?
How do you both talk about God...but also pull up short, knowing there is mystery?  Mystery by the way is a word that can mean, "Shut your mouth"....

Which is what I will do now.

Grace and peace!