Theological Yoga

There are many myths and misunderstandings. Galileo was not tortured by the Inquisition. He ended his days comfortably at a villa outside the city of Florence. Ironically, it was the Church officials who insisted on scientific proof of the Copernican theory. Galileo was unable to provide sufficient proof of the theory. He was supported by many Christian scientists of his day, particularly among the Jesuits. It turned out to be an interpersonal conflict and Galileo’s egotism that led to his retirement. Source: David Bentley Hart, Atheist Delusions   (Yale University Press)

As I was walking this morning I had a revelation. (Well, a few ideas.) This will be nothing new to my fellow pastors. The oft-used phrase came to my mind: "The truth shall set you free." Everyone uses this phrase. Even though it comes from the Bible, it is used by secular speakers and writers—as if it hung in the air for the picking. Just reach up and pluck it out of the air, not considering its origin. And I thought: You can’t just pluck the truth out of the. Then I thought: They are plucking the truth. Which led to: They are f---king the truth; or, they are f---king with the truth. They are plagiarizing Jesus and don’t know it. (See how my homiletical mind reaches out for associations.) The thought of f–king with the truth led me to the Scriptures. Specifically to John’s Gospel, the original context. The phrase, “The truth shall set you free,” follows other sentences which set the context. So, let’s look at it. Let’s go in reverse. What comes before Th

Theological yoga, huh? What's that? It's all about stretching. Sometimes it's mental gymnastics. Sometimes it's rambling  Pensées . Or merely fluff. Thinking out loud. Self contradiction. Exploration.