talking about theology

One of my favorite things is to talk about theology with my wife. We took a walk early one morning this past week through Kufstein. The streets were still vacant. It was quiet and the sun was shining. We walked through the city and along the river.

We talked about the corner that Christians will back themselves into when they insist on a black and white world. They make it impossible to live in the tension of this world. What is needed for example to love these people like David who for whatever reason seem to break our code? Do you first ask if they have some sin or not before you help?

We end up trying so hard to walk the fence, afraid to fall left or right. Worst of all, we end up afraid to error on the side of grace -afraid that we might embrace a sin. We all need help to be lifted out of what is often a faith culturally imprisoned and poisoned.

To get to this place of grace is hard. It takes the right ground and this may take years to prepare. In the end it is a work by God himself. What does this mean for us in the mean time? Do we give in? Do we walk around them? Do we turn our cheek? How do we respond in these situations?

More often than not these people we are called to love will be outside of our boat. They will be on the other side. And as long as they are outside of a relationship with us, it will be easy to judge and to stay at a distance.