Today, I participated in a Day of Service with other students from Asbury Theological Seminary. When I got to our service project site this morning, I didn't really know
what to expect. I knew that we would be doing some cleaning, but it was
morning, and I felt very energetic and ready to work. When I walked into
the dormitory that we were going to clean, my heart dropped. I looked
around at the peeling paint, dust, and grime, and I wondered how we
would make that space seem livable. Today I learned how much God can do with insurmountable tasks.
As a spiritual discipline, I have been in a pursuit to better understand the prayers and the creeds that I have used over the years. I've been seeking to find where my heart connects with God through these words, and so, I have recently done some blog posts on what the Lord's Prayer really means to me. I have already covered The first three sections of the prayer in previous posts: The Lord's Prayer and The Lord's Prayer: Part 2. Now, I seek to address the part that, quite frankly, kept me stumped for a while.
"and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"
Merriam-Webster defines theology as "the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world."
Christian theology is not white-haired old men with numerous degrees speaking in strange words.
Christian theology is not someone's personal opinion supplanting the Word of God.
Christian theology is the study of God.
Why is it so important?
In the past month, it seems, there have been so many instances of very publicized, very tragic events. Right now, it feels like our entire world is in a state of shock and fear, particularly America. Often, we see people come together in amazing ways to support and lift up those who are hurting during such tragedies. However, there are also those who seem to add hurtful words, condemnation, and blame to situations that are already painful enough.
This problem is disturbingly rampant within the body of Christ. Often, the rest of us focus on their inappropriate responses and think they are merely hate-filled people. Though I certainly do not condone their unjustifiable actions and words, I do seek to understand people better, especially fellow believers. My question is this: are they really reacting from hate, or are they more likely reacting from fear that has resulted from an unhealthy worldview? To answer this question, I turn to some typical aspects of a western worldview and how they have affected Christians.
I
look at the nation's response to the Boston Marathon bombing,
particularly the response of the church in America, and it really makes
me think. Overall, the response has been that of love, support, and the
sharing of mutual pain. We share the pain of our fellow Americans
because we are bonded together as a nation. We may have our petty
quarrels from time to time. We may even be hopeless in our political and
religious bickering. But, when the rubber meets the road, we share one
another's burdens despite our differences. It is truly a beautiful
moment in which our nationhood shines brilliantly
I was preparing my lunch today, in the solitude of an empty house. As I worked in the kitchen, I was absentmindedly singing a praise song that had been in my mind when I woke up this morning--"Better is One Day." Slowly, an awareness of God's presence crept up on me and I had to smile when He reminded me of a memory that I held as a precious treasure in my heart...
