The Refusal of Finality

Of the informing principles of theologia crucis that Douglas John Hall listed in the essay cited in my previous post, A New Name, the refusal of finality, is one that is often ignored these days. We are tempted, often sorely tempted, to treat our understanding of the faith as final. When we yield to that temptation we become idolatrous, elevating our understanding of God to the place which rightly belongs to God alone. We also marginalize within the faith community those who don't accept our understanding of the faith. As hard as it may be for people with strong convictions to refuse finality, we must do so, recognizing that as strong as our convictions are, we may be wrong.