Some said that doing theology can shake one’s faith, that theology can shift you from your understanding of God which is through your reading of the Bible and personal experience with God to a more complicated in understanding of God, and yes you’ll be amazed on this.
I remember as I first entered Bible School, finding the joy of doing theology is not easy for me, even worse, I even told myself I don’t like theology, saying that faith is what we need, and no one can comprehend God by doing theology. The questions of His existence, His work, redemption and revelation, all the question that my senior asked me, challenge me to go for critical thinking in trying to answering all, and I failed. My foundation of understanding God has been shaken and no longer solid.
But throughout the trimester, God has been faithful to me, He never give up on me, step by step I understand Him deeper, and through all the courses I study, my theology of God is no longer just by my feelings or what I see, but what the Scripture said and theologians that did their part for letting me understand the Scripture wider and safer than my imagination can think of God, what I learned from theology, is that, it discipline my mind of studying about God, God is a God that can never determine by one’s feelings and worldview just because of personal experience with Him.
And I tell myself, I want to know God for who He really is, and not what I think, and that give me the joy of doing theology, I come to a point of realize how important is theology for me and I see is a compulsory to every Christians, one’s thinking of God can really change one’s lifestyle. With a firm understanding of God, our Christian foundation can never be shaken by questions.
Theology may shake my faith, but it never destroys my faith, for God is with me, and yes He will guide me and you in doing theology. Finding the joy of doing theology is simple, and that is the joy of knowing Him, our Father, and through that joy it gives us the responsible and eagerness to study the word of God. We as minister play an important role for God, we are ought to handle His word correctly, as how Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
thank Galvin for sharing. I believe it is all our struggles too in learning and studying theology. Whatever is left after tested can only be proven genuine. Same with our faith.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's always that tension there between the head knowledge, heart knowledge and our emotional experience.
ReplyDeleteDon't just let theology shake ur faith. Let it also shape your faith, and understanding of your faith :) Besides the Holy Spirit as our Helper and guide to help us sift through things that we learn, we have our wonderful lecturers too! Yay!
Yes, theology will refine our understanding and appreciation of Whom and what we actually believe in. It will definitely strengthen our faith...
ReplyDeletePastor David: thank you Pastor for your comment, indeed theology have help me understand God more :)
ReplyDeleteAngeline: Thank you for your comment despite your busy schedule hehehe really appreciate it :) ya its true, we should take the courage to study Theology to shape our faith and not let it shake our faith instead :)hahaha ya thanks to our wonderful lecturer for guiding us in our studies :D
ReplyDeleteHey Galvin,
ReplyDeletethanks for your transparent sharing. Yes there's that tension that I feel too.
But faith is believing what we do not see. Let's continue to believe in what we do know that is unshakable and unchangeable no matter what theologians or people may say :)
Anne: welcome! appreciate that you spent your time read my blog hehehehe yup, let us also continue to be faithful in interpreting His word and grow in understanding and study His word too :)
ReplyDelete