Theology Played Out

I regularly end up in discussions about the importance of theology. They happen via blogs, at Genesis, and in a variety of other contexts. Typically it involves people telling me that theological differences are minor and should be overlooked.

I, on the other hand, believe our theology has a major impact on our everyday life. Why? Well, research has shown that every feeling is connected to a thought so, if we want to feel right, first we need to think right. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that similarly, right thinking leads to right acting.

To back up this link I'd point to Paul who tells God's people to transform their minds in Romans 12 and to be sober in their thinking on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. Interestingly enough, in both situations, Paul is directing his comments to Christians and saying that their thinking ... their theology ... their loving God with their mind ... has an impact on their acting and therefore their witness to the world.

So, what would be a good example of poor thinking leading to poor acting?

I see a greatest example flowing out of how we understand the Great Commandment which tells us to love God and love our neighbors. The key question in this is, "How do we love God?" and "How do we love our neighbors?" After all, we all love different people in different ways. I love Robbie in ways that are different from how I love Anita. I have even other ways of loving my mom and dad or the folks from Genesis. There's love for all, but the way love is expressed varies.

Faulty (and yet very common) theological thinking would tell us that we love God by serving Him. It tells us that by doing lots of stuff at church, or by being a pastor or professional church worker of some sort, or being a Christian musician or artist or professor that we are serving and therefore loving God.

The problem is, God doesn't need our service. Think about it, He's God, we're not. Everything we have to "give" is already His. Rather, as sinners, we desperately need to be served by God. Therefore, the appropriate way to love God is to receive His service to us ... to have faith that He alone is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier ... to see Him as the source of all blessing and our refuge in time of need.

Now, our neighbors on the other hand, are very much in need of our service and, when we do serve them, we're loving them.

So where's the problem in the faulty theology? While Christians have been off trying to serve God, somebody else has had to fill the void of service to neighbor. In the case of higher education, it's been the atheists who have incredible representation in academia. The same can be seen in popular music, art, and film.

In other words, while Christians have run into their bubble world to serve God, they've not only allowed but, by not participating in the very things that shape our culture, encouraged the world around them to become ungodly.

Of course, it's not just in these major areas, but also in the details of life. Where do you see Christians missing opportunities to serve their neighbor who needs it because their too busy trying to serve a God who doesn't?