Kinship Theology
What is theology?
To understand Kinship Theology, we first need to define what theology is. The word "theology" comes from two Greek words: theos (God) and logos (word or study of). Theology, then, is the study of God. More specifically, it is a system of thought aimed at understanding, applying, and communicating beliefs about God in relation to humanity and the world.
Throughout history, various Christian theologies have emerged, each offering a unique perspective on God's relationship with creation. Reformed theology, for example, emphasizes God's sovereignty, while Wesleyan theology focuses on human free will. Neo-orthodox theology highlights the transcendence of God and the need for transformation in order to commune with him. Each of these perspectives serves as a lens through which Christianity is understood.
What makes kinship theology unique?
Kinship Theology is a distinctly Christian theology that prioritizes relationship as its primary lens. While other theological systems focus on divine sovereignty, human free will, or transformation, Kinship Theology views all of Christianity through the foundation of God’s infinite love.
Many theological traditions affirm God's love, but in Kinship Theology, this love is not merely an attribute of God—it is the fundamental basis for understanding everything about Christianity. Without seeing God's infinite love as the foundation, one risks misunderstanding the essence of Christianity itself.
The infinite love of god
Why should love be the foundation of our understanding of God? Jesus himself established love as the greatest commandment:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22:37–40)
Jesus does not present these commandments as hierarchical but as interdependent. Loving God is loving others, and vice versa. This means that all scripture, all God’s actions, and all our relationship with him must be viewed through this lens of love.
we are commanded to love because god loves
From the beginning, God created humans in his image (Genesis 1:26). If we are made in God’s image and commanded to love, then love must be central to who God is. Jesus reiterates this at the Last Supper:
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34–35)
This command wasn’t new in the sense of never being given before—it was new in its depth. The world had never seen love like Jesus demonstrated. His love was not just kindness or good deeds; it was a radical giving of self for the benefit of relationship. Jesus’s love was self-sacrificial, and because he is the exact representation of God’s nature (Hebrews 1:3), we know that this is how God loves.
the boundlessness of god’s love
God’s love is not only self-giving, but it is also infinite:
Infinite in space: “I pray that you… may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:17–19)
Infinite in time: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Ceaseless in application: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)
Unstoppable in opposition: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)
Infinite in supply: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
God acts always and only in love. Even in correction, God’s motivation is love (Hebrews 12:6). However, unlike some theological systems that interpret suffering as divine punishment, Kinship Theology rejects the notion that God actively inflicts harm to "teach a lesson." Instead, God’s correction is always about restoring relationship, never about retribution.
Love as the foundation of all actions
Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 13:
“If I speak in the tongues of men or angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal… If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–2)
Without love, even acts of faith, generosity, and sacrifice amount to nothing. Love is the motive and foundation of all that God does and all that we are called to do.
defining love: giving of self for the benefit of relationship
Love is difficult to define because it is more than an emotion—it is an action. Jesus clarifies this when he says:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Love, therefore, always involves giving. However, it is not merely about giving things away—it is about giving of oneself. The purpose of this self-giving is not just the betterment of another but the benefit of relationship.
Love is not mere kindness. Giving money to a stranger on the street is kind, but it is not necessarily love.
Love is not just obligation. The rich young ruler followed the commandments but still lacked true love (Matthew 19:16–22).
Love is relational. It is about deep connection and commitment to others, modeled by Jesus’s love for us.
the essence of god: truth, goodness, and beauty
If love is what God does, then who is God? Kinship theology suggests that at his core, God is Truth, Goodness, and Beauty—the three ultimate virtues that shape all existence.
These three cannot exist apart from each other:
Truth without love leads to judgmentalism.
Goodness without love enables harm.
Beauty without love distorts what is truly valuable.
Because God is Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, his love is always perfectly aligned with what is true, good, and beautiful. His love is not arbitrary or reckless—it is the purest expression of his very nature.
conclusion: the foundation of kinship theology
Kinship Theology is built on the fundamental belief that God acts always and only in love. This love is infinite, self-giving, and relational. Everything in Christianity—creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—must be understood through the lens of God’s infinite love.
As image bearers of God, we are called to reflect this love, giving of ourselves for the benefit of relationships—with God and with others. This is the heart of Christianity, and this is the foundation of Kinship Theology.