Cringey, Eager Love
What would it look like for you, for all of us, to start to take responsibility for the harms of abusive theology?
Hosea 11: 1-2
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the more they went from me;”
As a parent and educator of teenagers, these words made me cackle. Sometimes, I will tease about how my kids can feel the want when I am invested in something for them, and they’ll run right away from it. So, I have to fake nonchalance with them to get their connection.
But I adore them so much, I cannot pretend a cool nonchalance about them. How embarrassing for me. How cringe.
I love this portrayal of God as a cringe parent.
I find myself grieving that God was so misrepresented in my upbringing and how I am continuing to need to unlearn and rewrite my thoughts, ways of engaging in life, and worldview. I also mourn that people continue to use God to punish, control, ostracize, deport, and even kill.
Through these beliefs, real harm was done to me, I did real harm to other people, and real harm continues to be enacted.
It takes more than sentiments like, “Oh, I don’t really believe that anymore.” or “I’m not like those Christians.” of “We’re a cool church.” We have to do heavier work of grieving, repair, and healing.
What would it look like for you, for all of us, to start to take responsibility for the harms of abusive theology? How can you be a representation of the love of a cringey, eager parent God in your day today?
- Theo Isoz