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Questioning Theology

Today I had lunch with 2 of my fellow clergy people in town. A complaint that I heard was that people in my generational range don't just accept theological concepts anymore (virgin birth, Jesus as fully human and fully divine, heaven vs. hell, etc). These 2 folks are older than I am but we all struggle with congregations that are dying rather than growing. I believe that this comment has more to do with the frustration clergy feel about each week seeing that the numbers aren't going up and the pews look more empty than ever than with my actual generation's view on theology. However this is an important comment to pay attention too. My generation today no longer has to rely on the educated few to impart theological information to the mass. You have a question or want to know why we say or do something, you are just 1 Google search away from having multiple sources available to you to find an answer. If you read more than 1 of the Google search results you may even find that people disagree about a lot of theology and that maybe what you were taught, generally by well meaning folks, was exactly the best education you could have gotten. I see this as a call to the Church, universal, to be more honest and open with it's theology. As a clergy person who struggled (I took historical theology twice and still didn't get it all that well) in seminary to learn and keep straight various different thoughts of theology, it is more important more than ever that we be prepared to say "I'm not sure" or "I don't know, but lets go look it up in this trusted source." Some folks learn by asking questions. Dismissing their questions as an unwillingness to learn or appreciate a historical view of theology can be seen as a dismal of the person. I see that if the Church can find ways to have open discussion with those who want to seek and question instead of jumping straight into something than maybe congregations will grow. Maybe questioning shouldn't be vilified in the Church but instead looked upon as an opportunity to develop relationships with each other and to walk with folks on their faith journey where they are.
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