When Experience Goes Beyond Theology
Churches tell us to stand firm on our theology when life’s experiences are contrary. I want to go on record to say I believe the worth of our faith is proved true in the crucible of testing. After all, it really is not faith when all is figured out and settled.
Recently I was asked what the difference was between trust and faith. Faith is acting on what
we trust. I may have trust without faith, but I could not exercise faith without trust.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequences.” So without doubt, we must stand firm in what we believe, and when adversity tries us, grab onto the anchor of faith.
But I have been challenged a great deal lately from the Gospel of Mark. In fact a sermon series is brewing called the ‘Power Series’. On two occasions Jesus disciples were in a boat during a storm. From my limited sailing experiences, I can appreciate the anxiety of the disciples in such moments.
In both instances, Jesus calmed the storm by His spoken word. Amazing! So amazing in fact, the disciples became fearful, not of the storm, but of this One so powerful that he could control violent storms by a spoken word.
They were introduced to another dimension of Jesus. And here is my point. The disciples were serious, and seasoned followers of Jesus. Yet they did not fully understand this God they followed. Neither do we. Perhaps the reason we do not fully comprehend what God is doing, is
that we do not fully understand Him. He is bigger than our best attempts at theology.
Life is all about growing, learning, adjusting and refocusing. So while we do not discount our belief in God for understanding of the moment, we do add depth of understanding of God because of the life’s experiences. My finite mind does not comprehend an infinite God. But I follow beyond understanding. Faith then becomes real, and leads me to learn something more about Jesus than previously known.
The theology of many Christians is flawed not because it’s not true, but because it does not address issues of real life. We are content to know a God we understand; how about a God who is bigger than our understanding. I am not content or challenged by a theology I fully comprehend. I am however powerfully challenged by a theology of a God whom I am becoming acquainted with and who stretches me to new levels of understanding.
Recently I was asked what the difference was between trust and faith. Faith is acting on what
we trust. I may have trust without faith, but I could not exercise faith without trust.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequences.” So without doubt, we must stand firm in what we believe, and when adversity tries us, grab onto the anchor of faith.
But I have been challenged a great deal lately from the Gospel of Mark. In fact a sermon series is brewing called the ‘Power Series’. On two occasions Jesus disciples were in a boat during a storm. From my limited sailing experiences, I can appreciate the anxiety of the disciples in such moments.
In both instances, Jesus calmed the storm by His spoken word. Amazing! So amazing in fact, the disciples became fearful, not of the storm, but of this One so powerful that he could control violent storms by a spoken word.
They were introduced to another dimension of Jesus. And here is my point. The disciples were serious, and seasoned followers of Jesus. Yet they did not fully understand this God they followed. Neither do we. Perhaps the reason we do not fully comprehend what God is doing, is
that we do not fully understand Him. He is bigger than our best attempts at theology.
Life is all about growing, learning, adjusting and refocusing. So while we do not discount our belief in God for understanding of the moment, we do add depth of understanding of God because of the life’s experiences. My finite mind does not comprehend an infinite God. But I follow beyond understanding. Faith then becomes real, and leads me to learn something more about Jesus than previously known.
The theology of many Christians is flawed not because it’s not true, but because it does not address issues of real life. We are content to know a God we understand; how about a God who is bigger than our understanding. I am not content or challenged by a theology I fully comprehend. I am however powerfully challenged by a theology of a God whom I am becoming acquainted with and who stretches me to new levels of understanding.
