Sunday August 30th, 2026 Worship

If you were to ask me who my favorite theologians are, because of my pastoral position, many people would probably expect me to say someone like Martin Luther, Paul Tillich, or Dietrich Bonhoeffer. And, while I do appreciate their theological teachings, and they have certainly shaped my theological development, I must admit that many of my favorite theologians aren’t actually trained theological scholars. While I often talk about the theology that is embedded in our hymns, I want to also acknowledge that theology, this experience of exploring who God is and who God is for us, extends way beyond our hymnody and the church walls. So, maybe to the dismay of my Seminary professors, you will not find my favorite theologians on my bookshelf, but rather on my record shelf.
One of those theologians, the great Dolly Parton, joined the company of the saints in light this past week. Along with Brandi Carlile, these two women have served as beautiful witnesses of what it means to live faithfully and think about how God calls us into authentic living and community relationships. As the memorials came in for Dolly this week, it wasn’t about lifting her up as an idol, but it was about recognizing the ways in which she used her wealth and social capital for the good of all people, whether that was helping victims of natural disasters, donating to fund scientific research, or most notably, creating her Imagination Library program to distribute books to millions of kids across the country each year for free. Her life was an example of the “[contributing] to the needs of the saints” and “[extending] hospitality to strangers” (Romans 12: 13) that Paul was instructing the Romans about. She walked the talk of her faith.
When I talk about them being theologians though, it isn’t just in the context of their living, but also in their songwriting. As I have been listening to Dolly’s songs again this week, I think about what Coat of Many Colors teaches us about being rich in love, both in the love we receive and the love that we give to the world, rooted in the love of God we experience and whose stories been shared with us throughout Scripture. Or, how I Will Always Love You teaches us about the way we are able to still love someone even when the relationship needs to sever or change. Whether it is her tender singing or Whitney Houston’s soulful rendition, we hear “I hope life treats you kind. And I hope that you have all that you ever dreamed of. And I wish you joy. And happiness. But above all of this, I wish you love.” It’s an example of this genuine love that Paul writes to the Romans about, even as she needed to move in her own direction. She taught us that love doesn’t only require us to neglect our own selfhood and needs in order to be genuine. She helped give so many people permission to love themselves too, as a part of this genuine love; a theological point that many of us, especially women, have needed to hear over the years when we have often been told that love is only genuine if it is self-sacrificial.
One of the other things that Martin Luther talks about a lot is the notion of being a theologian of the cross instead of a theologian of glory. He talked about it in the context of being able to name things for what they truly are, of speaking truth to power and the challenges of the world, while also recognizing the way that God enters into our midst and shows solidarity with us through the cross. Despite the fact that neither Dolly nor Brandi are Lutheran, they both live into this truth which Luther is describing. Their songs are not just light-hearted but speak truthfully about the reality of human existence. Light of a Clear Blue Morning teaches us about hope and the trust in the promises that are to come, even when it seems like darkness and pain are the only things that surround us. And, the classic anthem “9 to 5” speaks to the reality of sexism and how it impacts not just women, but all people. It isn’t just a song to motivate me while I am cleaning, but it names how we divide ourselves as humans in ways that do not live into the truth of our creation. Not many other theologians can name such a reality and have their teachings danced to around the world!
And, one of the other valuable lessons that both these women have taught me through their songs and actions is the beautiful and inspiring witness of God’s goodness that we get to exhibit when we live authentically as God created us to be. They both exemplify what it means to not lose ourselves for the sake of the world. They may use different words, but it is exactly what Jesus is talking about today when he says, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?’ (Matthew 16: 24-26). There are so many things in this world that will call us away from following Jesus, whether that be seeking after wealth, power, fame, or any number of other idols. There are certainly challenges that come from following Jesus, but when we get to live our most authentic, faithful lives, when we witness to the goodness of God that exists in and all around us, we gain so much more than we do when we seek after fleeting means of validation. Our life becomes so much more meaningful when it is grounded in love and care.
If you haven’t ever heard Brandi Carlile’s song, “Stay Gentle,” I encourage you to listen to it at some point this week. I love her entire discography, but this is one of my favorites. And, just like Dolly’s words, sets Paul’s letter to the Romans in today’s context. She writes lines such as, “Don’t let the world make you callous,” and “Don’t let ‘em lower your shoulders…love ‘em more while they try.” But, of all the lines in that song, my favorite theological verse says, “know to find joy in the darkness is wise. Although they will think you don’t understand…” In these two sentences, she names the both/and of our existence in which we find both darkness and joy all around us, recognizing that it is not foolish to see the light in the darkness, even though everyone will think that we are naïve. Even in the pain of the world, there still exists hope, joy, and love; we are invited to not forget that reality too.
Around us, especially this week, there has been a lot of weeping, but there has also been rejoicing and celebration of the love and joy that surrounds us, even in the darkest moments. Paul invites us to enter into all those spaces with the people around us, as a way of showing love for each other (Romans 12: 15). I think this is part of what I love about music, the way that it is able to convey emotions so deeply, connecting people across time and space, recognizing the human experience for all its beauty and pain. Whether we are listening to it on our own or dancing to it with friends and family, may we spend a few extra minutes this week thinking about music as not just a distraction or something to have in the background while we work or clean, but as another way in which we can learn about who God is and what God is inviting us to participate in.
We are all called to live as theologians in our daily lives. It’s part of what it means to follow Jesus, as we discern what exactly that means in our lives. No matter what we do or how we do it, we are invited to proclaim the Good News of God through word and deed. These women helped me see more clearly how the work of theology isn’t just for the scholars, but for all of us when we wrestle with the questions of our faith and live into the grace we have received. So, may we be empowered to go out into the world to spread more love and joy, as a way of honoring the goodness with which we were all so lovingly created. And, may we create a bit more time this week for some singing and dancing!