A Biblical Way to Understand Theology

"If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:17). Obedience is the key to understanding Biblical Truth. It's not a cognitive thing in God's economy. God starts with an obedient heart.

It makes sense, doesn't it? God is not going to waste time sharing His Truth with someone who doesn't intend to obey. He communicates with those who listen.

Obedience helps you move your knowledge of the Truth beyond the theoretical. Many believers live in the realm of theory. They haven't put their theology to work in real life. "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13). An example from everyday life is that a child doesn't really know what "hot" is until he/she touches something hot. So the experiential enhances knowledge.

Many intellectual unbelievers can run circles around Christians when it comes to discussing our theories. In fact, unbelievers aren't interested in faith as theory. They need to see how it works. I believe we would win more people to Christ, and save more people from error if we knew how to really apply what we believe to real life. People can dismantle theories, but they can't argue with a living example of faith applied.

Of course, our theology has to be Biblical, or it won't work out in real life, but that's the subject of another blog.

Theology Applied

I am amazed at the number of Christians who operate in the realm of theory. Even the pros (pastors and seminary professors). In fact I have a friend who says that when he was in college, he had a sociology professor who always lectured about "what the studies show." My friend says he frequently had knowledge that proved "what the studies show" hadn't worked out in practice. He used to have discussions with that professor about it, but they finally had to agree to disagree.

I'm finding that this is a serious problem among Christians. Many are totally unaware of how their theology works out in practice. Many of these same people are trying to evangelize others or turn them from theological error.

I can assure you that the unsaved, and people caught up in theological errors, are not interested in theories. They want and need to see how Truth works. Theoretical types among the unsaved and otherwise errant can argue circles around our Christian theories. My Japanese "atheist" friend Yuki is a case in point. But they can't argue when they see how Truth actually works out in real life.

It's almost comical to hear people argue (or read their arguments) that Christians will always be in bondage to sin, as in Romans 7. (That's the concurrent theory, for you theoretical types). But you can read in Romans 5, 6, and 8 that if you are in Christ, you are freed from sin. Can people be in bondage to sin and freed from at the same time? No, they cannot.

Or imputation vs. impartation (of God's righteousness) when we become Christians. In modern translations "imputed" is often translated "credited." If someone credited money to my bank account, have they not by that very fact imparted the money to me? If not, the concept of credit is meaningless, and even ridiculous.

It's the same with God's righteousness. It's still God's righteousness, which I fully acknowledge is given through no merit of my own. Nevertheless, when God credits it to my account, it becomes "mine" to draw on throughout my life, though it is given as a gift. Surely a person can know in actual practice whether he or she has been given a gift or not.

When someone gives you a gift, it is yours just as much as if you earned it. If you are a Christian, you have received something from God! You don't have to assume.

Romans 5:18-19 says that just as through one man's disobedience, many were MADE sinners, so through one Man's obedience (through His death on the cross)many will be MADE righteous. No Christian can seriously challenge the fact that many were MADE sinners. The Bible says so, and we can see abundant evidence all around us. But the Bible also says that many will be MADE righteous through Jesus' obedience. The way this is written, if you believe that through one man's disobedience many are MADE sinners, then you have to believe that through Jesus' obedience, many will be MADE righteous (with a righteousness not their own, of course). But many will argue with this.

Is the evidence not obvious that many lives have been changed by the righteousness of Jesus? Undoubtedly many lives have been transformed. But we become uncomfortable with this, because often the changes are not in line with society's norms, or they are not in line with our theories. And they don't have to be! The Gospel has always been counter cultural.

But it is dangerous to assume our theories are correct when things happen in unexpected ways, and to try to squeeze God and people into our mold. The Pharisees did this. God's ways are not our ways. It would be well to take this to heart, and step out of the theologically theoretical, and learn how God's ways actually work out in real life.

Dangerous Attitude

Recently I slipped into the attitude that God owes me something when I serve Him. That's dangerous. It's almost as if I thought that I can earn merit with God. I cannot. Salvation is totally by grace through faith, and so is Christian living. Bargaining is not allowed. God is fully sovereign. Obedience is a sign that I love Him (21 "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” {John 14:21}), and it shows whether my faith is living or dead ("As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" {James 2:26}). Are there rewards for the believer? Absolutely! Doesn't He make conditional promises? Yes, but life with Christ is still totally by grace through faith. Do I want Jesus for Himself, or do I want Him only for what He can give me? That's the big question.

Sports Revisited

It occurred to me yesterday after talking with a friend about my thoughts on sports, that for many children and youth, the athletic team or coach has become a substitute for family, parenting, and church. Things ought not to be this way, but in reality, many parents, even many Christian parents, don't know how to be parents, and instill positive and godly values in their children. For the Christian coach, this is a wide-open ministry opportunity. Nevertheless, parents need to spend more time being parents rather than chauffeurs. Extra-curricular activities are not required, and wise parents would do well to spend quantity time with their children while they have a chance. Benefits are many, both for parents and children. You know the old saying, that no one reaches the end of his or her life and wishes he or she had spent more time in the office. I have a friend whose wife home schools. Next school year, their oldest child will attend a Christian high school, which is a major sacrifice for the parents. In fact they really can't afford it. One of the reasons for the transition is to protect their children from the harassment of non-Christian children. But why not teach the children that persecution is a normal part of being a Christian, and help them to counter by being a powerful witness? This is the Biblical way to confront that problem. This world needs the Gospel. God charges the parents with teaching Christian values to their children, and He charges especially the father with the protection of his family. The sacrifice the world needs to see is the sacrifice of suffering for the sake of the Gospel. This sacrifice has won many to the Lord. The financial sacrifice of sending your child to a Christian school comes nowhere close. I am not saying there is no place for a Christian education, but I think we need to recognize ministry opportunities, both with our families and with others, and we might be rewarded with stronger family ties, and even save money in the process.

Sports

I am not a sports enthusiast, but recently I have had an opportunity to do some driving for pay. The person I have been driving generally listens to 1070 The Fan while en route. Sometimes I'm annoyed, but sometimes I find food for thought, such as a discussion of role models and heroes. There was an amazing lack of these in my younger days. My college voice teacher, Patricia Thomas Scheuer, is/was the only teacher/role model I remember with any fondness. She helped me over some some of my fears. For me, fond memories "took off" when I was in Africa for seven and a half years, surrounded by people who loved me unconditionally. This atmosphere was the incubator for God's major transformation of me while I was there. Now, though, fondness languishes somewhat, though not entirely. Most of the time I think sports are overrated. But then there is the building of fond memories for many, the discipline, the camaraderie and learning to persevere through pain for a common goal. My parents protected me from pain. I learned to protect myself from it eventually. Now, physical pain has pretty much taken over, though the Lord has helped me overcome emotional pain. The lessons and memories mentioned above can be picked up from other things, such a godly families, church life, music and theater. They had to be, since God's people in the Bible didn't seem to be athletically inclined (though sports were mentioned by way of example). God did not enjoin sports in the Bible. Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, spoke of the "law of antagonism," i.e. the necessity of war, and how everything outside of us, i.e. negative things, or even natural things, will put us to death unless we fight them off (my comment - or harness them for use). The lesson for me in this is that I need to learn not to be afraid of those (negative or natural) things, i.e. view them as a victim would, but instead approach and view them as a victor would.

"What Hath God Wrought?"

I have been watching someone grow through trial. For a long time, I didn't believe this person was a Christian, but the Lord rebuked me. Her behavior didn't seem to fit a profession of faith in Christ. But the Lord showed me how to love her. Since then there have been some changes, and she has even warmed up to me. Her father is at death's door, if he hasn't died by now. This woman has been a witness to her family throughout it all, and not long ago, her father asked to be baptized. Since then, her mother and sister have also been baptized. Everyone thought he would die sooner, but the extra weeks or few months have enabled them to come together as a family. The woman is a Lutheran (Missouri Synod - conservative). Stories like this abound. The Lord is in the "business" of reconciliation, restoration, and regeneration, and He brings it about in His own way and time. He has all kinds of children, and the basics of salvation are really very simple. Can't we be all about what God is doing?

Day of Grace

My pastor canceled services for today, and I thought of going to a certain former church home. Then I started having anxiety due to some unresolved extremely bad experiences there. I haven't figured that the thing would ever be resolved for a variety of reasons. Memories often trigger these negative feelings. So I decided I'd listen to a sermon tape instead. The tape was from a conference that I'd attended. I'd listened to this tape before. The label didn't include a sermon title, and I thought the message was about Ezekiel 48. It was about betrayal. Certainly the staff of that former church home betrayed their trust, and me, in their dealings with me. I had forgiven the staff already. The point of the message that hit me this morning was that we should extend grace to those who have betrayed us. It's one thing to forgive, but to show them kindness is very different. Do those people need me to show them grace? Absolutely! I attended that church today, with no negative feelings. Praise the Lord! I don't know whether or not the Lord will ask me to do anything more in this regard, but I need to be obedient.

Perfection

This week, for reasons I'll not go into, I haven't been in a frame of mind to reflect on much of anything. I thank the Lord that He is patient, that "He knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust" (Psalm 103:14). It certainly relieves pressure to know that the perfection He requires is heart perfection. "Be perfect" was written in the context of loving ones enemies (Matthew 5). I appreciate how He works with my weaknesses, while at the same time expecting me to grow and overcome sin. I'm very thankful that He helped me overcome perfectionism of a destructive sort. His love for me is not based on my performance. Praise God! I'm thankful that what He requires of me He also gives me grace and strength to do. He bids me take His yoke upon me and learn from Him, because His yoke is easy and His burden light. This was written to those who are burdened, which includes most of us. God bless the burdened, for they (we)have a Savior Who never gives up on them (us).