This past week, I had the privilege of attending (virtually) the Center for Pastor Theologians’ annual conference themed Reconstructing Evangelicalism (2022).
As has been clear over the past few years (perhaps decades for some), the transdenominational movement within American Christianity known as ‘Evangelicalism’ has become so enmeshed with and corrupted by certain American sociopolitical and economic ideologies, that many scholars, pastors, and leaders, are questioning the viability (i.e., salvageability) of the movement (and the label) moving forward.
Over the course of this conference, several participants and speakers noted a phenomenon with which I resonate, given my personal experience with the Evangelical movement. That theme consists of the excluding or silencing of marginal, off-center theological voices and writers.
One participant courageously commented that when she attended an Evangelical seminary to pursue her Master of Divinity degree –usually a three year, 70+ credit-hour program– not once was she required to read a feminist, Womanist, or Black liberation theologian.
This is especially noteworthy, since in the mid to late 20th century, we have seen a proliferation of such ‘contextual’ theologies, including: Latin American and Black liberation theologies, Asian American and Queer/LGBTQIA theologies, theologies of disability and trauma, as well as ecotheologies, and many others.
Many of these voices, however, are silenced, prohibited, or (at least) seriously discouraged within Evangelical seminaries, not to mention within Evangelical churches.
In American Evangelical circles, when such an issue or topic is raised, be it LGBTQIA identity, Black Lives Matter, Critical Race Theory, Marxism, environmentalism, etc., there is such anxiety over certainty, such a desire to control the parameters of truth, and to ward off notions of mystery, complexity, and diversity, that these perspectives which would otherwise invigorate, refine, and revitalize, are either muffled, misrepresented, or (at worst) quelled.
This tragedy is something with which I can resonate, since during undergraduate study I was never required to read such marginal, contextual theologians. The theology, church history, and biblical scholarship I read, rather, came almost exclusively from a Western, male, protestant perspective. And whenever such ‘other views’ were discussed, it was always on the terms of, through the categories of, from the perspective of, the dominant White male Evangelical teacher.
Such marginal voices, then, were never actually heard. Rather, they were distorted, they were muffled, they were discouraged. And so, my understanding of theology, of church history, and of Scripture, was largely controlled and thus largely limited.
After this experience, however, I enrolled at a graduate school where such boundaries did not exist. The windows were opened and I entered into a spacious land of curiosity, inquiry, and exploration (which was not without its dangers!).
In this space, I engaged the writings of feminist theologian Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, the ecotheologies of Neo-Agrarians, and the Womanism of M. Shawn Copeland (and others). I have since engaged the work of Latin American and Black liberation theologians, theologians studying trauma and disability, and I look forward to exploring the rich perspectives of many others.
Mark Noll, in the Q&A session after a panel discussion of his book, the Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (25th anniversary edition), noted the above phenomenon and asked: “Why do we not take a “come and see” approach, as opposed to a “let me tell you what I think approach””?
In other words, when an issue is raised from the culture, be it Critical Race Theory, Darwinian evolution, Marxist economics, etc., rather than immediately interjecting with a prohibition of such ideas, or a reductionist muffling of such perspectives –i.e., with an authoritarian attempt to control the categories, terms, and purview of the discussion– what if we, like Jesus (John 1:46), adopted a “come and see” approach instead?
Critical Race Theory? “Come and see.” Latin American liberation theology? “Come and see.” Postcolonial, critical, and/or Queer theory? “Come and see.”
What if instead of preemptively silencing such voices, and thus continuing to domineer and control the conversation, what if we, rather, like Jesus, encouraged exploration, discovery, and curiosity What if we discussed these issues together, read these authors together, considered these viewpoints together, heeding Christ’s call to “come and see”?
It is my contention, based on personal experience and theological reflection, that while we may not agree with everything said by such voices, taking the time to attend to such views, such perspectives, such persons, will invigorate, flavor, and energize our lives as followers of Jesus today.
By welcoming such persons to the table, our voices will no longer control the discussion; theology will cease to be the domain of only one kind of theologian. Through such welcome, our blind spots could be exposed, our ability to connect repaired, and our witness to Christ rehabilitated.
I, for one, plan to continue on in this truly life-giving journey, and I would love some company on the way. So, right now, at this critical point in history, I invite you to “come and see” with me.
Jonah Bissell
Associate Pastor