Reflective Theology

Reflective here means examining oneself, looking at oneself (along with all one’s flaws) in front of a mirror.
The opposite of this reflective mirror could be a window (used to peek at other people’s faults), a CCTV camera, or even a searchlight (used to hunt down fugitives escaping from prison).

In Germany, they call this binocular theology—the kind of binoculars often used by grannies here to keep an eye on their neighbors 🤦.

This non-reflective reading never helps someone grow, because such a person doesn’t allow God’s word to correct themselves, but instead uses it to beat others over the head.

There is a difference between theology that arises from the struggle of confronting oneself and living out the word, and theology that is always aimed at correcting and lecturing others.

James even reminds us that merely observing one’s face in front of a mirror doesn’t guarantee that someone will put the word into practice (James 1:22–23).
Just looking into a mirror (only hearing but not doing) doesn’t guarantee growth, let alone someone who doesn’t even bother to look.

Balthasar popularized the term kneeling theology, distinguishing it from sitting theology.
Kneeling theology flows from a heart that prays, that worships, that is reflective and contemplative.
Sitting theology engages in investigation and presents arguments.

Of course, theology cannot be separated from faith seeking understanding (fides quaerens intellectum), but losing the posture of kneeling in doing theology makes it reductive and impoverished.

Sitting theology can reduce theology into a dichotomy of teaching and being taught (and usually people prefer teaching over being taught), whereas kneeling theology doesn’t offer us the option not to kneel—humans can only kneel before God; God does not need to kneel before humans.

This unbalanced sitting theology (only wanting to teach but not be taught) eventually morphs into standing theology—already standing, and now pointing fingers at others like a rock star at a concert 😂.

Kneeling theology can free us from this rocky tendency, perhaps not just pointing at the audience like in a concert, but also throwing rocks at others.

Kneeling theology leads us to the humility of confessing our sins, to ask for God’s mercy and help, to always stand in awe of His beauty, to give thanks and glorify Him.

Let us pray 🤲
Have a blessed Maundy Thursday!