When Love and Theology Unite
July 1, 2013
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But Who is God?[/caption]
Discernment is a tough calling. It is one that I continuously wrestle with. Christians are to be spiritually discerning, but since discernment has to do with separation, it is not a popular discipline. It is a call to separate the truth from the lies. Since we love the Lord, we also love the truth. This is a very important element of theology.
God has been faithful to give his people a covenant treaty, his revealed Word in Scripture. If you haven’t noticed, it’s a pretty substantial book consisting of 66 other books. He expects his people to read it, to sit under the preaching of it, and to study his Word to us.
As I have wonderful relationships with people from the whole spectrum of Christian denominations, discernment in our conversations about God is very important to me. We need to ask ourselves what kind of theologians we are. Theology is the study of God. What do you know about God? One verse that I highlight in the beginning of Housewife Theologian is from Jesus’ prayer in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” We are all theologians. The question is, are we good ones or bad ones?
Unity in the body of Christ is also important to me. This is something that all Christians long for. We want to be united. I think that we all want to be united in our love for one another, and we would all like to say that we care about the truth. Unfortunately, sometimes these two virtues are pitted against one another. For the sake of love, and not wanting to be perceived as contentious, we will sacrifice truth in conversation for the cause of unity. But this is isn’t unity at all. Love leads one another to the truth. We can't say that just because we all love the Lord, we shouldn't be concerned with doctrine. Any kind of unity that is not based on truth is superficial.
Other times, we can be so passionate about correct theology that we become judgmental and unloving in our delivery. We can become prideful “truth-warriors” who consider ourselves in a higher class than our fellow brothers and sisters. And timing is important. Sometimes prudence calls for the theology police to hold back a bit so that they can show some grace and be heard on the most important matters.
I have to say that I have been guilty of both sides of erring extensively. I’m sure that my friends and family think that I err more on the latter, but fortunately for them, they don’t live inside my mind. I don’t know how many times I have walked away from a conversation feeling like I have completely compromised truth so that our talk doesn’t have any uncomfortable moments, and that person can walk away thinking that I am an understanding person.
But love and theology should never be pitted against one another. They meet in the Person who actually unites us, Jesus Christ. As we return to his prayer in John 17, we see Jesus praying for the unity of his disciples and all of those the Father has given him. He prays for the disciples, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Again, we see a word that has to do with separation. Sanctify means to set apart. What is it that sets us apart? God’s truth. From this prayer we also see Christ praying for “those who will believe Me through their word” (v. 20). The disciples taught God’s word, and accompanied by the work of the Holy Spirit, this is how we come to faith. In order to have unity, it must be union in something. We are united to Christ by his Holy Spirit indwelling us. That is how he can say, “I in them, and You in me.”
And it is his Holy Spirit that we rely on to lovingly encourage one another in the truth revealed in God’s Word. We need supernatural aid to both speak the truth in love, and to receive the truth in love. Our sinful nature makes the unity of love and theology difficult.
I look forward to that great day when love and theology are in perfect harmony. When our conversations will blossom with both in absolute purity. When God’s people will fellowship with our Lord together, perfectly overjoyed with the company he has brought together and to himself. Every word that flows from our mouths will be to his glory. I will no longer wrestle with right or wrong, truth and love, holding back or speaking boldly. We will all be satisfied with the work God has done. The garden will be protected. The temple will be pure. We will be able to learn about our God for eternity without error, in full praise to his glory.
But Who is God?[/caption]
Discernment is a tough calling. It is one that I continuously wrestle with. Christians are to be spiritually discerning, but since discernment has to do with separation, it is not a popular discipline. It is a call to separate the truth from the lies. Since we love the Lord, we also love the truth. This is a very important element of theology.
God has been faithful to give his people a covenant treaty, his revealed Word in Scripture. If you haven’t noticed, it’s a pretty substantial book consisting of 66 other books. He expects his people to read it, to sit under the preaching of it, and to study his Word to us.
As I have wonderful relationships with people from the whole spectrum of Christian denominations, discernment in our conversations about God is very important to me. We need to ask ourselves what kind of theologians we are. Theology is the study of God. What do you know about God? One verse that I highlight in the beginning of Housewife Theologian is from Jesus’ prayer in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” We are all theologians. The question is, are we good ones or bad ones?
Unity in the body of Christ is also important to me. This is something that all Christians long for. We want to be united. I think that we all want to be united in our love for one another, and we would all like to say that we care about the truth. Unfortunately, sometimes these two virtues are pitted against one another. For the sake of love, and not wanting to be perceived as contentious, we will sacrifice truth in conversation for the cause of unity. But this is isn’t unity at all. Love leads one another to the truth. We can't say that just because we all love the Lord, we shouldn't be concerned with doctrine. Any kind of unity that is not based on truth is superficial.
Other times, we can be so passionate about correct theology that we become judgmental and unloving in our delivery. We can become prideful “truth-warriors” who consider ourselves in a higher class than our fellow brothers and sisters. And timing is important. Sometimes prudence calls for the theology police to hold back a bit so that they can show some grace and be heard on the most important matters.
I have to say that I have been guilty of both sides of erring extensively. I’m sure that my friends and family think that I err more on the latter, but fortunately for them, they don’t live inside my mind. I don’t know how many times I have walked away from a conversation feeling like I have completely compromised truth so that our talk doesn’t have any uncomfortable moments, and that person can walk away thinking that I am an understanding person.
But love and theology should never be pitted against one another. They meet in the Person who actually unites us, Jesus Christ. As we return to his prayer in John 17, we see Jesus praying for the unity of his disciples and all of those the Father has given him. He prays for the disciples, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Again, we see a word that has to do with separation. Sanctify means to set apart. What is it that sets us apart? God’s truth. From this prayer we also see Christ praying for “those who will believe Me through their word” (v. 20). The disciples taught God’s word, and accompanied by the work of the Holy Spirit, this is how we come to faith. In order to have unity, it must be union in something. We are united to Christ by his Holy Spirit indwelling us. That is how he can say, “I in them, and You in me.”
And it is his Holy Spirit that we rely on to lovingly encourage one another in the truth revealed in God’s Word. We need supernatural aid to both speak the truth in love, and to receive the truth in love. Our sinful nature makes the unity of love and theology difficult.
I look forward to that great day when love and theology are in perfect harmony. When our conversations will blossom with both in absolute purity. When God’s people will fellowship with our Lord together, perfectly overjoyed with the company he has brought together and to himself. Every word that flows from our mouths will be to his glory. I will no longer wrestle with right or wrong, truth and love, holding back or speaking boldly. We will all be satisfied with the work God has done. The garden will be protected. The temple will be pure. We will be able to learn about our God for eternity without error, in full praise to his glory.
