If you’re a Ted Lasso fan, you’re familiar with the homage to stay curious and not judgmental. Remember the game of darts?
A lot of Christians – especially evangelical Christians – have been taught that certainty is the best bulwark against doubt. In seminary, we were given required classes and books to read to teach us the discipline of Apologetics. Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith through reason, logic, and discourse, and it’s been used throughout the centuries to bolster the faith of Christians. The Christian market was flooded with 1000s of titles intended to build our faith: Evidence that Demands a Verdict, The Case for Christ, and Mere Christianity are all worth a read. In the last fifty years, Christians have relied heavily on Apologetics to “prove” Christianity. Unfortunately, it’s been inadvertently used by many to replace something all Christians must have – faith.
The problem with certainty is that it doesn’t produce trust or a closer walk with God, as promised. In fact, it can have the opposite effect for a thriving Christian. Certainty without faith brings judgment.
It brings “us vs them.”
It brings entrenched beliefs in something that might not be true.
Should we be curious about “false teachings”? Yes, even curious about “false teachings.” The Pharisees and crowds in the gospels that were curious about this “new teaching” from Jesus were heralded because they weren’t afraid of something new. They wanted to know more. They wanted to find out if what Jesus was saying was true or not. They wanted to know if HE was real. When the Pharisee Nicodimus came to Jesus at night in John 3, he wanted to find out if Jesus was the true Messiah, and not just a con artist. Nicodemus wanted to test it. Yes, test it. Isn’t that what we should all be doing, instead of dismissing out of hand arguments of universal salvation, acceptance of LGBTQ, or different historical atonement theories?
When did Christians come to believe that reading, thinking, and praying was destructive or harmful? We should be trying to figure out whether something is actually true or not.
And as I become older, I recognize the propensity to think I know everything. The truth is, I know a lot more than I used to. I’m competent in a lot more things. And so I’m tempted to think I know just about everything. Of course, I don’t.
I see people my age and older who triumphantly and smugly pronounce what they call “The Truth.” I truly believe my generation has fooled themselves into thinking they can’t be taught anything. Ironically, this thinking has made us fools. In fact there’s been a whole political movement dedicated to go back in time and erase what this generation has taught us.
For instance, as I study atonement theories – the meaning and efficacy of Jesus’s death on the cross – I realize that there’s a BUNCH of mystery surrounding it. I believe that Jesus died for us. I absolutely do. I believe that by faith. The “how” of atonement – how did Christ’s death save us? – is veiled in mystery. There have been theories, but those that say they understand exactly how it happened have to ignore some Bible verses and play up others, or they have to lean on their scientifically laced biases. In other words they, probably unaware, are more comfortable with things they can see, touch, and control.
When I think I’ve figured God out…
– when I believe I know pretty much everything I need to know about him…
– when I’ve stopped being curious about God, I have to ask the question, “Am I just worshipping myself?”
Ted Lasso is an amazing show, with so many beautiful life lessons. Thank you, Jonathan, for sharing your education and insights with us. I always enjoy my deep dives into learning more after I read your blogs!