Speaking in the Unknown Tongue of Theobabble
In Corinth, misinformed and misguided brethren insisted on speaking in the assembly of the church in a tongue unknown to their hearers (I Cor 14:2,9). Paul insisted that he would rather speak five words understood by his audience than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue (I Cor. 14:19).
Among the fellowship of change agents at work among churches of Christ are highly educated theologians who prefer to speak in a strange tongue spoken and understood by only a select few who inhabit seminaries or who were educated there. It is the exotic language of theobabble [sic].
In their recent book, Kingdom Come, Dr. John Mark Hicks, Professor of Theology at David Lipscomb University, and Bobby Valentine, a Master of Divinity, illustrate the use of theobabble. Below are some classic examples of this exotic language:
"Their vision was antagonistic toward modernity in significant ways-especially the inbreaking kingdom of God" (p. 16).
"Living in the shadows of the second coming meant that God was profoundly active in this world to redeem and restore it. God takes the initiative to repair the 'vandalism of shalom' in creation" (p. 32) ...
"There are many methods and resources for contemplative Bible reading ... but one of the most classic and ancient is the Benedictine method of lectio divina (divine reading)(p. 89)." ...
"Unlike many modern westerners, the Old Testament sees humanity as a psychosomatic unity" (p. 133).
" ... the Jesus story begins with a 'pentad of prayers.'"(p. 134)
There is much more of this lectio divina to be interpreted in light of the eschaton, but this illustrates my point.
The authors' theological peers read such fluffy, opaque phrases and congratulate them on their scholarship. Their students read them, awed at the brilliance of a professor who uses such spectacular, incomprehensible terms. The man and woman in the pew who hears or reads them, scratches his/her head and wonders what in the world are the authors trying to say? They ask, 'What language is he speaking?' To accept the conclusions drawn from such theobabble is as dangerous as the signing of a binding legal contract without reading and comprehending the fine print thereof. JHW." (Christianity Then & Now {October 2007}, 2)
The only parts omitted here of this "review" are a few more illustrative quotes for theobabble. I have to be honest beloved blog readers, when I read this I thought to myself that if I was one of John's regular readers I would be insulted! Does he imagine that the people in the pew are so ignorant that they can not use vocabulary beyond elementary school?
I have no doubt that Kingdom Come is not a perfect book. But if these quotes are the weakest link in the book then I must confess that John Mark and I did a better job than I had previously imagined. Since Lee is a good sport he also sent page 3 of the October issue of Christianity Then & Now. On that page John Waddey recommends an old book by Harold Lindsell called The New Paganism. In light of his attack upon KC what he quotes from this volume is most interesting.
"[Lindsell] reminds us that 'the public education processes at all levels, function in full accord with the pagan Weltanschauung and [sic] Zeitgeist ..."
Ok, I am scratching my head on this one. Then John quotes Lindsell as saying "It is at the higher collegiate and seminary levels where the major problems exist." What a prejudicial statement.
Returning to Kingdom Come. In the previous two congregations I have served (Southside in Milwaukee and PV here in Tucson) the saints have had no problem reading and understanding the book. Wayne and Bruce, fine elders if there ever were any, I guess speak theobabble too. May be it is not because they were educated in a seminary but because they let their minds grow.
I looked up each illustrative quote cited by John and I believe the meaning of each one is clear in its setting. Shalom is a biblical word brother Waddey, not only is it biblical it is incredibly important, and everybody knows what "vandalism" is. Where a truly new term is introduced, like lectio divina, it is defined and explained. But you know what, I grew up in a congregation where neither the preacher nor anyone else had a clue what Greek was but eis, psallo and baptizo were thrown around a lot and no one ever rebuked the preacher for theobabble.
I took the time to look at a few of John's other reviews online and have noticed a similar pattern exhibited in this one. There is zero substance in this piece. One would hope for a substantive critique but alas we got a hatchet job ... I guess in that sense it is really a trick then, :-)
I wish Brother Waddey well but I would rather see a good critical review like that of Gardner Hall's. I have kept Gardner's, I put John's in the recycle bin.
Shalom ... I mean peace,
Bobby Valentine
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