I received a text message two weeks ago from my sister\u2019s sister-in-law, Jane, asking me if I would \u201cdo her wedding.\u201d While this sounds like a reasonable request that would be a note that plays rather readily in the song of my mind and life, it actually has become something sounding like a high pitch screech trying to harmonize with the other voices signing in my head (of which there are many I might add).<\/p>\n
The problem is, I am at a theological intersection with many signs and signals and I am not sure of how to actually proceed. Technically speaking I am having trouble contextualizing my personal theology into a public theololgy that will interface with a different public theology that involves a praxis model of considering the crazy world we are living in, the pluralism that runs rampant in our culture, the institution of marriage, the bible and all of its parables communicating truth, and the feeling of responsibility to \u201cget this one right.\u201d<\/p>\n
So here is what is swirling in my head. First, my theology on marriage (in a nut shell) would be that marriage is the ultimate, God-designed relationship for his earthly creation. Marriage is about two lives becoming one through discovering God\u2019s plan for each of their lives. Ultimately, one should get married because one has a relationship with God. Both parties would be in a relationship with God through Jesus being at the center of their lives and to the best to the hearts, souls, and minds of the couple, there would not be any un-confessed or hidden sin in lives of the couple. In my mind, if I were simply a simple pastor in a simple church with a simple couple wanting a simple marriage in a simple world, this simple theological framework for the simple wedding would simply work!<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it is just not that simple. Here is what I know about Jane. She has a very successful career. She lives with her fianc\u00e9. They are in their early 40\u2019s. They are the product of our pluralistic culture. They are very good people but are not Christ-followers. They have been together most of their adult life. I see them two or three times a year at awkward family functions and they are very excited about me doing their wedding . . . but I have no idea why???<\/p>\n
I am not sure of Jane\u2019s theology. I am pretty much assuming it is that of the \u201cpublic theology\u201d of our day on God and marriage, but ultimately I am not sure. My questions are: Where is Jane coming from asking me to do her wedding? Does she want me to just officiate the ceremony? Is this like a \u201cVegas\u201d deal to her? Is it just about the wedding or is she asking for my involvement with the marriage? Does she want pre-marriage counseling? She knows I am a pastor, does she know that my faith is central to my thinking about everything? Does she know how much I care about marriage and what God has designed it to be?<\/p>\n
Jane obviously has a public theology and I am rapidly using a praxis approach to contextualize my theology to a communicable form that is honest and sound and yet interfaces with the public theology of our day as it pertains to marriage in a pluralistic society. As Stephan Bevans states it in his writing, \u201cModels of Contextual Theology,\u201d \u201cThe contextualization of theology\u2014the attempt to understand Christian faith in terms of a particular context\u2014is really a theological imperative.\u201d[1]<\/a> I am truly feeling that imperative in this situation.<\/p>\n I feel similar to Shelia Briggs who stated, \u201cBut on the bus I was not only sitting next to people, I was traveling with them through an urban space in which all our lives were emplotted.\u201d[2]<\/a> While initially being on a bus looked like a common experience, the reality that was taking place and being experienced had many more moving parts and a much higher complexity to be noticed if an accurate picture of how God and culture were colliding and interacting in lives she found herself among. I feel like that in this situation.<\/p>\n It sounds a little bit like I might of just jumped off of the high-dive into the deep end of the pool, but to have eyes to see the opportunity to contextualize my faith to meet Jane and her fianc\u00e9 in this season seems somehow very possible, although seemingly very complex. This doesn\u2019t just feel like an opportunity to perform a wedding, this is an opportunity, and there is a need, to say something about God, our world, faith, Jesus, marriage, justice, the culture, life, meaning, purpose etc\u2026 As Stephen Garner articulates it, \u201cThe crucial question for public theology, then is how to communicate in a credible and intelligible manner the riches and insight of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the variety of publics found within the contexts of church, state, civil society, the marketplace and the academy. \u201c[3]<\/a> Or better yet how do you do that in the context of a modern family where all those domains collide.<\/p>\n I feel like I am searching for my public theology by contextualizing my personal theology through a praxis approach that is considering\u2014\u201ccultural identity, popular religiosity, and social change\u201d[4]<\/a>\u2014along with \u201cexpressions of personal and communal experience, cultural expressions of faith, and expressions of faith from the perspective of social location\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n My greatest hope and prayer in this situation is to display a public theology that sounds like the words of Christopher Marshall. \u201cDrawing from \u2018it\u2019s treasury of faith\u2019, public theology should strive both to shape a more just and peaceful society for all and to tilt it towards the higher obedience of the Kingdom. It will seek to construct a practically viable social ethic for general society, yet without surrendering the \u2018extra mile\u2019 radicalism of Christian discipleship and it s meaning.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n And while this is all on more of a personal than truly public level, I believe our greater society \u201cthe public\u201d will be shaped ultimately by how these personal stories play out and actually either engage, interface with, and shape a secular, humanistic pluralism or whether the church never actually finds its voice and continues to be pushed into the vast margins of silence.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Bevans, Stephan B. (2013-11-20). Models of Contextual Theology (Faith and Culture) (Kindle Locations 191-192). Orbis Books. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Tanner, Kathryn. Spirit in the Cities: Searching for Soul in the Urban Landscape. Minneapolis, Minn: Fortress Press, 2004. p.2.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Neville, David J., ed. The Bible, Justice and Public Theology. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2014. p.177<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Bevans, Stephan B. (2013-11-20). Models of Contextual Theology (Faith and Culture) (Kindle Locations 754-755). Orbis Books. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n