Theology: Out of the fast lane

Sometimes a book for review hits my doorstep at just the right time; Slow Theology is one of them! It arrived a day or so after I had returned from a relaxing fortnight’s holiday, and I was about to go up a gear or two in preparation for a busy period that was just around the corner. This book made me pause and re-evaluate why I felt I needed to be in such a rush.

The book begins with the classic quote from J.I. Packer: “Live slowly enough to be able to think deeply about God.”

There is something counter-intuitive about this project as is suggested by the subtitle: Eight Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World.

These practices are: Take your time; Embrace the theological journey; Think slow; Ponder the mysteries; Go to the problems; Let pain be the altar; Believe together; Don’t ever give up.

What seem obvious to us when we face the challenges of our demanding turbulent world is that we need to chase our tail to touch every base. What the authors of this book suggest is that such a response is a recipe for being unfocused, superficial and unfruitful. The person who says “I want it now and I want it quick” may find that the quick route might end up taking longer, the cheap fix might end up costing more and the easy option might end up being much harder.

It takes time to build resilient faith. The ancients called these things spiritual exercises or disciplines; Eugene Peterson spoke of being an “unbusy pastor”. Anyone can instantly look busy, but it takes time and wisdom to be deep and fruitful.

I am so grateful that this wise and provocative book dropped on my doormat at the end of January. It has made me take a fresh look at my plans and priorities. I hope that the way I will approach the rest of the year will be different as a result.

Perhaps this could be a book that allows you to take a pitstop this year and re-evaluate your own priorities and find “the still point in a turning universe”.

SLOW THEOLOGY: Eight Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World.
By A.J. Swoboda and Nijay K. Gupta
Brazos Press. 189 pages. £15.99
ISBN 976 1 587 496 437