What is "Good" Theology?

Yesterday, I quoted my neighbor, a man who used to own a bar and pool-room. (I just say that so you know kind of where he was coming from.)  He said to me, "I don't know if anyone is good enough to go to heaven."  Actually, though I said his theology was wrong, he, like the good thief, is closer to the truth than many others.  The Good Thief had no time to straighten out his life and become good; all he could do was to ask for remembrance when Jesus entered His kingdom.  And that was all it took:  Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise!"

A lot of people just don't want it to be that easy; they cannot accept that we don't have to be "good" in order to enter the kingdom of God.  I told my neighbor that it wasn't about being good; I told him that the ones who followed Jesus were Matthew, the cheat; Mary Magdalene, who had seven devils cast out of her; and the Good Thief.  I told him it was just about asking Jesus to consider us, to "take us on" as His project.

I said our theology was important -- and it is (more about this tomorrow).  But here's what Richard Rohr has to say:

Even theology can be a human failure.  We study and learn, and we debate and dialogue, and when we get some measure of agreement, we think we're getting somewhere.  But in the end, mere theologizing doesn't satisfy.  It's talking about God rather than communicating with God, and unless our study of the scriptures and our analysis of the doctrines leads us into a personal relationship with the Lord, it's just another word game.  It's no better than an elaborate crossword puzzle.  We think we want solutions to our religious problems and answers to our theological questions, but really what we want most deeply is divine life.  But only God can give us that, by leading us into union.  All we can do is trust and receive a life of union, and then act from that center.

--The Great Themes of Scripture, p. 93 (emphasis mine.)

Now I just love that!  "What we want most deeply is divine life!"  The man who thought no one is good enough to go to heaven was sad -- what he wanted most deeply was divine life.  And here's the good news:  it's available!  It's available to everyone who wants it!  God could not wait for us to 'figure it out for ourselves.' He lept down to the Virgin's womb so that He could walk with us, speak to us, look us in the eye, accept us in our failings of body, mind, and spirit, and embrace us on the cross.  "Come," He says, "today -- today--you will be with me in Paradise!"  

How do we 'get' good theology?  There's just one way: by accepting His invitation to "Come," to walk with Him, to receive the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the Spirit of Truth. God cannot deceive nor be deceived.  He will not give us a stone if we ask for bread; He will not give us a snake if we ask for a fish.  If we want Truth, and if we ask for Truth, we will receive Truth.  Why would we ask anyone else?

Tomorrow, more about theology and faith.