Everybody Has a Theology, More Ramblings

It is inescapable that everyone becomes a theologian at some point in their lives. I do not remember the earliest experiences I must have had at my mother's feet, being taught about Jesus. I do remember one night many years ago as a small child, looking up at the heavens on a clear summer night from our back yard and being struck by the fact that all of the stars I was looking at could not have just "happened". I realized that somebody must have made it all. It was just a small child's realization, but it has remained with me as one of the most special moments of my life. I know that this type of revelation is not exclusive to me. It is absolutely common. We can rest assured that pretty much everyone else has made similar observations and come to one conclusion or another.

When one comes to the point in one's life that one asks certain questions, the involvement or not of God or a god of one's own making comes into play. They may be questions like, "Why are we here?", "What are we here for?" or "How does all of this exist, instead of just--nothing?" The thoughts expressed and the answers involved lead to the formation of one's personal theology. This of course is not at the academic level, but that is my point. One does not have to be a scholar or an intellectual to be a theologian in the most general sense. Having an education can certainly help to form one's theology, but it does not always help to form the "correct" theology. I have known some well-educated people who could not have come to more wrong conclusions about Jesus.

When I was a very young Christian, I met a little old widowed lady. Through a set of circumstances, the Lord used her in my life in a very meaningful way. That may be for another post. In any event, she was the grandmother of a friend of mine, and my friend and I spent a couple of days at her tiny, warm old house, smack in the middle of an immense sea of a wheat field. She cooked for us, and she took us to church the next morning. We even attended a baptism with her at the local swimming hole. We had much opportunity to talk, and I had real opportunity to listen.

She was an amazing lady, and she knew her Bible. I had not very long before become a part of God's family, but there were a number of things I did not rightly understand. Not a shocker. One of these many things, was that I had come to believe that there was not a real enemy. I did not believe in the existence of Satan, or of a demonic entity of any sort. I was on my way out of a very spiritually misguided church with a pastor who had no business being behind the pulpit, and whether my understanding in that area had been shaped by that experience or whether I had arrived at it all by myself, I really can't say. I do know this though, my friend's grandmother set me straight.

She was a smart old lady. I don't remember ever saying to her that I didn't believe there was "a devil", or saying anything that might have hinted at that. But for some reason, while she was rolling some dough for something really delicious that I anticipated eating, she looked me in the eyes and said, "Anyone who doesn't know there is a devil is in trouble." I was taken aback by her words, though I attempted to betray nothing of that with my face. She had nailed it. I knew that she was right. I knew it in my soul.

Another theologian who had a wonderful influence on my life was my aunt Mary. Again as a young man, I was said to her something like, "Maybe the Bible is wrong about that." She looked at me, and exclaimed, "Oh no David! The Bible is the Lord's word!" In my heart, again, I knew that this woman too, was right. I knew it in my soul.

I realize that I am saying that there is an emotional component in my theology. I do not discount that any more than the intellectual component. Fear is classified as an emotion. There may be some debate about that, but "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

So the question becomes, "What kind of theologian am I going to be?" In a post-modern mindset, any theology is a correct theology. The truth is, not all theologies are equal. Just about everything is shaped by your theology--- your world view, and therefore your behavior. For many, even the foods they eat and the clothes they wear. Take for example the person who has considered the existence of God, and rejected His existence. That person has a theology of atheism. Morally speaking, there is no personal being to answer to. So how are wrong and right determined in a situation? Without God, men don't need the atoning death of Jesus, or His resurrection. If one's belief is polytheistic, which god if any, is one ultimately answerable to?

Take any major religion outside of Christianity and examine it. We may be tempted to say that it is ludicrous. It may very well be. But chances are that if you think so, you have not understood it. That it may be ludicrous does not change the fact that millions may have been deceived by it. Is that not worth more than a cursory examination? Is that not worth knowing someone else's theology? It is a blessing to have good theology. It is though, only outwardly effective if one's good theology recognizes the plight of those around them and one acts out of that theology in the love of Christ.

Ramble ramble.