I believe we’ll always be building our Theological Framework on this earth so there’s never a time we’ll stop learning about God. And I also think we grow in learning how to use our theological framework the more we do life with Jesus and others.
Young, fresh out of seminary men and women often feel the need to wield their theological knowledge like a weapon. Debating until blue in the face, refusing to participate with other denominations and separating from separatists all in the name of theology. Pride and arrogance that accompany a strong theological framework is misguided and has the potential to end up causing just as much damage as one who has no theological framework.
In our early days, my husband and I were guilty of using our young and relatively new theological framework to take stands that were really just based on preference. Instead of a spirit of humility, we thought we were pretty amazing walking out of a Christian school prom because of the headbanging Steve Green music. (Insert belly laughter). We didn’t cause a stink but it was pretty lame of us to leave over that issue.
We are all going to draw lines in different places but doing so in humility is key. Satan loves to take something beautiful like a growing biblically based theology and turn it sour with pride. So guard yourself in laying down your framework. Ask God to accompany your theological understanding with humility.
Let your theological framework be a grid in life. For big stuff like suffering. And for when God doesn’t bring the healing you prayed for. Remember who your God is based on the word of God. He is faithful and good. He’s still sovereign and merciful. Even when it doesn’t feel like he is. All those times you read about his faithfulness you now get to experience in a new way.
But also let your theological framework be your filter or grid for small things like what you’re reading or watching online. I’ve got one book on my desk right now that pretty much says, “Girl, pull yourself up by your bootstraps”. It’s a “You can & should do whatever you want to do”. Think girl-power and go get what you’ve always wanted. But the author throws some Jesus in there and it drives me nuts honestly. I’m not against self-help books and bettering oneself or reading secular authors. But don’t throw Jesus in the mix of a message that is completely centered on making yourself better so you can do the things you want to do. My theological framework tells me that I exist to bring glory to God and serve others. And so reading a self-help, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar book through my theological grid helps me see that I need to read the book with caution….learn some stuff from it but don’t set life goals based on this type of message.
Chances are you’re already using your theological grid. Be encouraged that God wants us to know Him more and to walk out our love for him daily. He will help us build this framework in which we filter all of life.
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