Monday Morning Musing: Bad Theology is....bad

Yesterday's assigned Gospel reading in the Revised Common Lectionary is the story of the Ten Bridesmaids, or, as I recall from my childhood the "foolish virgins". I can remember wondering whether they were foolish for being virgins or what, exactly, since the purity culture of the conservative south suggested that there was no nobler pursuit for an unmarried woman.

We don't always get this assigned reading in the 3-year cycle; sometimes the way that Easter and Advent fall will excise it from the schedule. Which may be just as well. It's a puzzle, for sure, filled with places for bad theological reflection. Not the least of which is that Jesus/God or the whole Trinitarian she-bang closes the door on half of the bridesmaids because they forgot to plan ahead.

I have questions about this parable. Where is the bride? Why is the bridegroom so late? Where are the groomsmen? Is this about not being prepared or not sharing or a runaway bride or what?

Just as I was beginning my study on the text, the niggling scratch in the back of my throat turned into chills and fever and my first case of COVID. (You might say I was a COVID virgin up until then.) But this meant our Associate pastor preached today and I stayed home. Still, my initial work with the text turned up a lot of really bad theology. The idea that we are out of the party for being unprepared is NOT AT ALL what Jesus ever taught. So, some deeper digging will be necessary when this text rolls around again. Until then, know that bad theology is.....bad.

In the meantime, Steve Garnaas-Holmes gets the theology and the poetry just right:

It's not a test, not a sentencing.

It's a party.

It's not campaigners nervously watching returns.

It's a wedding.

A celebration of love,

a joy that gives us joy,

a faithfulness that involves

the whole village of us.

Those who expect gloom, or an end,

will miss out.

But no matter how much oil you have

the lovers will join—

God and us—

and the party will go on.

The musicians are warming up.

Even as darkness gathers,

turn your face toward joy.