Saturday, September 6, 1997

Answer to theological questions can sometimes be hotly debated

By MICHAEL O'CONNOR

Abilene Reporter-News

I wandered into a post-breakfast conversation at a youth event I was attending and heard a fellow preacher discussing the passage where Jesus tells his disciples to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect with one of the youth leaders.

He was telling her that no one could be perfect, so what Jesus had to have meant was that we were to strive for perfection but not be too upset with ourselves should we fail to attain it.

I jumped in and explained that a better translation of perfect was mature and that in the context of the passage, Jesus was telling his disciple to act maturely toward others - by treating all the same - the way God does. In essence he was telling them to grow up.

My colleague then looked at the youth and said, "See, everyone has a different opinion."

My reply was to point out that he had not studied Greek and I had. He was dismissive and changed the flow of the conversation. I could see that the youth had found my explanation to be more satisfactory than his, but his attitude disturbed me.

So much dialogue about religion seems to assume that all opinions about religion are valid. People who have had no connection to the church or religion in general like to engage me in argument when they discover my ministerial background. When they disagree with me, however, I am usually dismissed with, "Well, that's just your opinion."

Many religious folks are just as argumentative, believing they have been "led by the Spirit" into their particular understanding of Scripture or doctrine.

Admittedly, theology is not a science. Answers to many questions can and have been hotly debated through the centuries. But not all opinions are equally informed.

I would not dare argue economic theory with an economist. When my doctor makes a diagnosis and I decide to seek a second opinion, I do not visit the neighborhood plumber. And I don't argue scientific theories with my science teacher wife.

Those who have trained and dedicated themselves to the study of theology do need to avoid the hubris of believing they are always right and that those who are not similarly trained have nothing to teach them.

I was shocked when my cousin the priest told me he refused to discuss the Bible with his parishioners. If they want answers, he declared, they could look them up in their approved, annotated Bibles and find the answers the church had decreed. Such an attitude started the Protestant Reformation.

But pew sitters and seekers need to understand that not all of religion is subjective. A preacher's knowledge of biblical languages, church history, varieties of theological disciplines and hermeneutical principles means that when he or she speaks on religion - even though you may consider it to be his opinion - her opinions are probably better informed than yours and should not be quickly dismissed.

Michael O'Connor is Online Editor for the Abilene Reporter-News and is an ordained United Methodist minister.