all that is beautiful

One of my favourite Canadian artists/poets/activists (Steve Bell), in describing his musical interests and influences, recently talked about how xian art/music/hymnology has often ‘spoon-fed people doctrines’. The xian tradition has often emphasized (in its art/music) doctrinal clarity and trying to get people to understand…leaving ‘no room for discernment, because we have the truth’; as an alternative, Steve called for the obscuring of the truth in poetry.

I remember wondering what exactly he meant. And then I was reminded of another thought I came across: that beauty exists in this world for no other reason than astonishment and nourishment. So I started thinking about whether our community’s art, music, and poetry invokes awe, or whether we use what should be beautiful to be functional. Shouldn’t our theology be marked by our efforts to describe divine beauty? Wouldn’t it be more effective if our faith commitments astonished and ‘fed’ us?

What I think such questions acknowledge is the notion that theology (literally, the study of God or his nature) should be less systematic and far more poetic. What if our response to the world’s questions about God and his existence looked less like ‘explanations’ or defences and more like poetry, song, or ‘sketch’? There is part of me that feels that we would be better off if we stopped clamouring for answers and did our best to hint at the beauty that He is. Like now…at Advent, when we should be overwhelmed by nothing more (or less) than the fact that “God is with us”.

Our theology should be attuned to the beauty that is in Christ, and then reflected in His world. I get the sense that we too often turn to theology…to truth…to ‘what is right’ for its function. What if, instead, we measured our theology by its capacity to astound us? Couldn’t it be argued that a theology that isn’t captivating isn’t worth entertaining?

Example? What if we looked at the words of Jesus less as formulas or tools, and more like brightness and beauty revealed? What if we looked at His name less as an incantation necessary at the end of our prayers…and more as beauty described?

He is the Way. Many of us make a point of emphasizing the exclusivity and the wayness of Jesus’ life. But what about just dwelling on the fact that there IS a way? What about standing in awe of God’s provision of light through His Son? What about quietly weeping over (tears come now) our incredible blessedness at being some of those who KNOW the way?

Theology that is systematic has a way of turning our Scriptures and spirituality (in fact, all that is life giving) into equations. And equations are only functional (in mathematics) when they are balanced…when they provide clear answers…when they are perfect. The problem is that life doesn’t always ‘balance’…and that may be why our theology often doesn’t connect with real life, and why it often doesn’t resonate in our hearts.

Am I the only one that finds our ‘explanations’ wanting from time to time? What if we chose to describe Him as we know Him TODAY? For me, that would be beautiful…and it would be enough.