A theological problem
Recently the whole area of theology has become intensely interesting for me. I’ve started reading theological blogs, buying books of systematic theology, doing correspondance courses, trekking across the country to go to conferences and reading more books. It’s fascinating. I love pounding out the issues and figuring out what is actually important, and what is actually true.
It’s come to a stage where I’m more concerned about the theology in itself rather than what it’s all about. The fact is, theology separated from a relationship with God is pointless – what’s the purpose of learning about him if you don’t know him yourself. It’s almost like studying a biography of your best friend without actually talking or listening to them.
I came to the stage recently when I realised that my Christian life wasn’t moving onwards. I’d been learning all these things (reading about the cessationist/continuationist debate, arguments over the end times, expository vs. topical preaching etc.) but actually, it was pointless. I made a big thing in discussions with friends about the importance of good and regular preaching, and then slept rather than go to church the week afterwards. I argued that the Bible doesn’t have the place it should in a lot of Christian meetings, yet have neglected to actually study it myself for months. I would lie and say I’d prayed about a decision, when in reality I’d paused just before making it and had gone ahead merely because my conscience wasn’t loud enough.
My heart was streets behind my head. It’s always a temptation for me – I’m a very head-based person in a lot of ways, so reading and learning theology was the easy route. The difficult route was actually changing my heart. It’s an effort, and I’m doing pretty terribly, but I’ve finally realised that if my heart isn’t keeping up with my head my body will undergo a rather painful form of self-destruction (metaphorically of course).
I’m still reading the theology books, but now I’m (finally) going to read the Bible alongside. It’s a no-brainer really. It’s as if I’d been reading the critical analysis of a Shakespearean play without having read the play itself.
Mark’s gospel this term. Looking forward to it.
Matthew @ 14:30, January 15, 2006 to Diary | Comments (4)
Comments:
Rory
Good to hear. No amount of theological waffle can compare to the word of God for uplifting one’s soul. After all, when preaching God’s message, it’s not knowledge that counts – it’s faith.
“If he be kindled with the fire of His love, if he forgoeth all created things, the words he uttereth shall set on fire them that hear him.”
Comment added at 20:47, January 15, 2006
Verity
Well, duh.
Comment added at 22:59, January 15, 2006
Matthew
Actually, I’d say when preaching they’re both important, and that people preaching with faith and not knowledge is responsible for countless people thinking they’re Christians when in reality they don’t know what it means. To teach God’s Word you need a thorough grounding in theology, which is why I’m so interested in it (or one of the reasons why anyway). You also need faith, and that’s what I realised a long time ago but didn’t realise that it was anything to do with me.
Comment added at 13:27, January 16, 2006
Rory
To quote Verity: “Well, duh.”
I wish everyone thought it was as obvious, though.
Comment added at 17:54, January 16, 2006
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