Everyone has a Personal Theology

There is an awful lot of bad theology in the church and it is hardly surprising. Each of us, when we come to Christ, comes with some preconceived ideas about God. Some are more wrong than others, but they are all wrong. How much could you really know about someone you are just meeting for the first time? I imagine that there may be so many denominations because we are attracted to others that share our misconceptions.

As we go on in our Christian lives, one of two things can happen. We can become more convinced of our misconceptions. We may even become harden and defensive, debative, trying to show everyone that we are right. Sometimes it seems to me that we are like flies fighting to protect an elephant. It can be done but it is a lot of wasted effort. It is not that good doctrine is not important - it is extremely so - but it is important to know the difference between when you are defending the faith and when you are defending your take on the the faith.

God is not so small that he is easily understood merely by reading. Paul said toward the end of his ministry that the one thing he wanted was that he might know Him and the power of His resurrection...

This is staggering. After having written and spoken some of the most profound things about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the church, as well, he sees his great lack is in knowing God in Jesus Christ. So, why is it that so many who have given so much less feel as though they know so much more?

This entire Christian life that we find ourselves in is one of finding out who He is and ministering grace in ever increasing measure as we do. If we decide that we have it all down pat, we will not "follow on to know the Lord," as Hosea put it. And the tragedy of that is that we will miss the blessing that is promised in Hosea - "He will come to us as the spring rain watering the earth." The time of refreshing does not come. We become hard, parched ground; hardly what others are looking for. Or, what we want for ourselves.