Theology Out of Nothing

My daughter has chided me for not posting more frequently to this "blog." I told her she would be even more bored by reading of what I do each day. For the past recent days, I have been reading the archives of a challenging writer, Al Maxey. His readers generally either love him or hate him - because he cuts to the nub of whatever his current subject is.

Here is a "jewel" - but it is not one of Jerry's Jewels. Rather, it is one Jerry discovered at http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx101.htm where it appears in the archives of the site, http://www.zianet.com/maxey/.

I hope you enjoy it as I did! Perhaps one reason I enjoyed it is that I once studied under Dr. Cottrell at the Cincinnati Christian Seminary way back about 1975 as I was pursuing my M.A. in New Testament Studies.

REFLECTIONS

by Al Maxey
Issue #101

January 27, 2004

It is in our lives, and not from our words,that our religion must be read.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Theology Ex Nihilo:

The Problem of Exegetical Blindness

and Doctrinal Calcification

Dr. Jack Cottrell has produced a fascinating study of the history, development, and philosophy of the feminist movement. This eye-opening study, which is entitled Feminism and the Bible: An Introduction to Feminism for Christians (College Press, 1992), provides a much needed insight into the reasoning processes of this movement, especially with respect to the biblical hermeneutic of its adherents.

It is not the intent of this issue of Reflections to seek to pass judgment, either pro or con, upon either Dr. Cottrell's work or the feminist movement. That responsibility I readily leave to each individual reader. Rather, my focus will be upon an extremely significant point that the author made near the end of his book with regard to the interpretation of the Scriptures. Commenting upon the feminist movement's use of God's inspired Word, Dr. Cottrell contends much of their hermeneutic "is a case of theology ex nihilo." This is a Latin phrase which simply signifies "out of nothing." The author continues, "My point is that their finding this view in the Bible is a sheer act of will: They want to find it so badly that they unconsciously call into existence that which does not exist" (p. 298). "It is a case of theology ex nihilo;" a theology which has been "willed into existence in order to support" their previously established system of beliefs and practices (p. 313). Dr. Cottrell delves even deeper into their psyche by stating this is all "symptomatic of exegetical blindness caused by doctrinal calcification" (p. 312).

Just how accurately these statements by Dr. Cottrell characterize the various segments of the movement being scrutinized in his work is, of course, open to debate. However, there is little doubt that the above quotes do reflect a tremendous truth which is applicable to us all: unless extreme caution is exercised in our interpretation of the sacred writings, we may well find ourselves embracing a theology ex nihilo. What a sobering thought: that some of our practices and beliefs may not be firmly established upon a foundation of ultimate, objective Truth, but rather upon little more than willful, even wishful, expressions of a self-made religion.
Tragically, all of this is merely symptomatic of a much deeper problem: a basic blindness to the great principles of Truth, as conveyed by God in His inspired Word, due to the fact that one has become calcified over the years in one's own religious biases. Jesus soundly rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for invalidating the Word of God for the sake of their traditions, stating that their worship was in vain because they were elevating the doctrines of men rather than esteeming those of God (Matthew 15:6, 9).

One of the reasons for so much division within the Body of Christ is that far too many persons seek to impose their own theology upon the Scriptures, instead of extracting our Lord's teaching from out of those inspired writings. This tendency is an example of theology ex nihilo. If the only basis for our religious preferences and practices is an appeal to what God didn't say, or the creative manipulation of what He did, we have formulated a theological system "out of nothing!"
By failing to perceive the Truths God has revealed to us in His inspired Word, we often feel compelled to formulate our own "truths" out of what He has not revealed -- theology ex nihilo. We elevate to the status of divine LAW our own notions about which God has declared nothing. We then seek to impose these doctrines, dogmas, and decrees upon others, and will restrict our fellowship to those who meekly accept our self-made theology. In so doing, we have embraced the shadows and rejected the substance! We have prostrated ourselves before a system rather than a Savior! We have entered into a religion rather than a relationship!

The apostle Paul warned the young evangelist Timothy that a time was fast approaching when men would no longer desire the substantive Truths clearly revealed by God. Instead, "they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Demonic doctrines and deceitful spirits would be the companions of their new-found theology, and blessings which "God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth" would be forbidden (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

There is ultimately only one source to which man can turn for his theology when he rejects God's wisdom from above: the vast empty void of earthly wisdom (James 3:15). When our preferences, practices, and perceptions become our "pattern" ... when our earthbound traditions are elevated to eternal Truth ... we truly have nothing! We have severed ourselves from our Savior in our futile quest to become self-justified, and have only succeeded in becoming self-righteous!

Our Lord's most scathing rebukes were leveled against the rigid religionists of His day who had become so calcified in their own system of theological biases that they were no longer willing to openly and honestly reflect upon God's revealed Truth. They traveled far and wide to make converts to their system, but in so doing were in actuality making them "twice as much a son of hell" as they themselves (Matthew 23:15). By proclaiming a theology formulated out of nothing other than their own traditional teachings and personal perceptions and preferences, they were delivering their disciples unto destruction.

In view of the grave consequences of doing the opposite, it is essential that each of us "preach the Word!" (2 Timothy 4:2), for only therein lies Truth (John 17:17). All else is theology ex nihilo, and such theology will lead those who embrace it into the great eternal void away from the presence of God, rather than into the substantive joys of life everlasting.

Hasidic Jews: "I can see why some people hate them"

I just got back from a short trip to Ukraine. Short in time, not in distance. Ukraine is 7 hours east of my time zone!

We flew Orlando - Detroit (where we joined our group) - Frankfurt - Kiev - Sevastopol on our outward flight. In Kiev we missed our connection to Sevastopol in the Crimea.

We missed the connection because of the misbehavior of some Hasidic Jews.

The flight from Frankfurt-Kiev was full - with more than half (maybe more than three quaters) of the passengers being Hasidic Jews on a pilgrimage. Most were from Israel, but some were from the USA.

Most of them were as well behaved as any airline passengers. There were some, however, who made us late.

First, as we boarded the plane, we were taken by buses from the terminal to the plane where we boarded by both the front and rear doors. Naturally, some of the Jewish passengers whose seats were near the rear of the plane boarded from the front - and vice versa. That created a jam in the aisle as some pushed to the rear from the front and some pushed to the front from the rear. Everyone seemingly had to get past several other people to reach the assigned seats - with everyone carrying cabin baggage as well. NOT the most efficient boarding I've ever seen! (The airline was Lufthansa, a very good airline. I do not blame them. It was the utter disregard for other passengers shown by the majority group on the plane.)

That could have been the result of ignorance of how seating on a plane is arranged. What happened after we were on board was something else!

While some of the group went to the seats in a normal fashion, others felt they needed to "swap" seats with someone else. I had hardly gotten settled into my center seat with one of the majority group by the window beside me when he decided to swap with someone else. Of course, My wife and I had to get up to let him out and the other gentleman in. We were not the only ones who had to accommodate "swaps."

While all of this was going on, the aisle was in utter confusion. When the plane would, under normal conditions, have been ready to taxi there were still many people in the aisle. Of course, the captain could not move until everyone was seated and seat belts were buckled.

In spite of numerous calls for people to be seated, several were still wandering the aisle visiting with their friends.

Others were in the aisle preparing to pray. Those with prayer shawls had to twirl them around just so. One was doing this as he stood near my wife's aisle seat and hit her with a long tassle. She cried, "Ouch!" He kept on twirling his shawl. He also had a thong from his phillactory that he wrapped around his arm in a special way. When everything was set to his satisfaction, he sat down in his seat, leaned forward (as in the emergency preparing to crash position), pulled the shawl over his head and proceded to pray. Anyway, I think that's what he was doing. At least he was silent in this prayer.

After a long delay, the pilot was finally able to take off - several minutes late. Since I knew we had only a short time between flights in Kiev and that we would have to clear immigration/customs there, I began to be concerned that we might not make that next flight.

Enroute, the plane was not delayed - but the cabin crew could not serve the passengers in a normal way because the aisle was blocked. When they needed to move a service cart down the aisle, someone would be standing in the aisle talking with a friend. They were a very sociable group - among themselves, but not with anyone else! (In this, they reminded me of some church members who brag about how friendly their church is - while visitors are ignored as the members talk with one another!)

This became so annoying to the crew that they were really getting frustrated. The captain (a lady pilot) repeatedly tried to get them to sit down and fasten their seat belts - to no avail.

As we approached the airport in Kiev, the pilot again requested that all passengers be seated and fasten their safety belts. She was ignored. Could they not understand her because of language barrier? Maybe for some - but they were also ignoring their traveling companions who were trying to get them to be seated! It was taking so long to get them seated that I really thought we would miss our place in the landing pattern and have to "go around" again!

By now I was really getting concerned about catching that next flight!

Finally, the male members of the cabin crew were able to get everyone seated - but I am not sure that everyone fastened the seat belts! The plane landed, but as soon as speed was reduced to a normal taxi level, up they popped again. We were still far from where we needed to be to get to the terminal, but the captain stopped the plane until they were seated. It took several instructions from her before they would sit. Were they just not willing to listen to a woman, even one in command?

Finally the men in the cabin crew were able to get them seated - but not belted - and we continued to the terminal.

This group drew attention to themselves, not only by their behavior, but also by their dress. They were all "men in black" with black pants and long black coats down to mid-thigh or lower. They wore either a black skull cap or a wide brim black hat. Some wore both. Several had phillactories tied by bands to their foreheads. One very distinctive feature was two ringlets hanging from their sideburns. Nearly all of these were at least six inches long with some reaching to at least sixteen or eighteen inches. These were as beautiful as the ringlets on any little girl who was fully decked out in her Easter finery.

This was an interesting experience for me, but what did it mean other than than we missed our connecting flight and had to find seats on later planes? (We were able to do this - and were only about four or five hours late reaching our final destination.)

This particular sect of the Jews bears some striking similarities to the Pharisees of Jesus' day. In fact, they are spiritual descendants of the sect of the Pharisees who made a lot of outward show, but whose "religion" did not touch their hearts. These were on a religious pilgrimage to find a spiritual blessing. Yet, they showed extreme selfishness in their behavior.

I could see more clearly than ever why Jesus had so much trouble with the spiritual ancesters of this group. I understand more what he was talking about when he said they love to pray on the street corners to be seen by men to be praying.

This behavior tended to put people off. It certainly did not draw anyone to them! One of my traveling companions observed, "Now I can see why some people hate them."

Yet, as I think about this experience, I have come to wonder about myself as well. I have been in some groups that, while not being quite as obnoxious as that group, have acted in pretty self-centered ways. Have I affected others the way those affected me? This leads me to want to be more careful in my behavior. Maybe we all should, especially when traveling together in large groups. I must be more careful of how my behavior and attitude affects those around me.

I certainly do not want behavior like theirs to lead someone observing me to observe, "Now I can see why some people hate Christians."