Don’t Get Lost!
“105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path!”
Don’t Get Lost! (while experiencing God)
It’s hard to get lost now that we have google maps. It’s a game changer. Before that we had those somewhat clunky GPS units. before that we used maps – the papers ones; and every now and then the nearest gas station attendant rather than ‘Hey, Google…’ Back in the 80’s I remember my dad would go to the CAA (Canadian Auto Association) a few days before our summer vacations and consult with their advisors. After a few days he would go and pickup maps that they had put together for driving across Canada. We never left without maps. My brother was the navigator, I didn’t do anything useful.
Today I take it for granted that I have a map with me all the time---in fact a few maps– GPS/NAV built into the car – Google Maps on my phone – and the GPS in my watch. I have multiple ways to figure out how to get from where I am to where I want to go. Such a comforting thought for someone like me who is directionally challenged.
This is paralleled in our spiritual lives.
“12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
With all of the confidence, peace of mind, and convenience that come from our use of maps, it is a wonder to me why we struggle spiritually to familiarize ourselves and travel with a spiritual map of wisdom and understanding that a map offers. It allows us to navigate our connection to the immense glory, wonder and mystery that is God. The map is the knowledge and understanding of God that only comes from study of God through His word: Bible. The word that describes this is ‘Theology’. .
C.S Lewis, in his classic Mere Christianity, said:
“Now, Theology is like the map. Merely learning and thinking about the Christian doctrines, if you stop there, is less real and less exciting…Doctrines are not God: they are only a kind of map…if you want to get any further, you must use the map…Neither will you get anywhere by looking at maps without going to sea. Nor will you be very safe if you go to sea without a map. In other words, Theology is practical… (Taken from Chapter 23; Mere Christianity).
The reality is that more church leaders and laity seem to be less interested in theology. Why? Difficult to say conclusively; however, in my experience there is cynicism towards the study of doctrine because it is viewed by many as opposing experiential discovery of God, rather than informing it.
I don’t believe that is the case. I believe that knowing as much as we can about God through scholarly and deep study of His word, helps us go places on the sea of spiritual life and experience that God offers. It informs our experiences of God. Perhaps we all can do a little better balancing our knowledge of God with our experiences of Him, or endeavouring to inform our experiences of God through our knowledge of Him.
“16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”
Still, some make an argument that theology is no longer relevant in practice; and some make an argument about the dangers of over emphasis of doctrine and the possibility it could take away from our personal and communal experience of God. These are important points to consider. Perhaps good topics for upcoming posts.
For now; let’s recognize that theology, the study of God through His word, is of value to all believers, it lights up our path!