Have you ever heard a comment like this one?
This isn’t a theological study, it’s more of a practical one?
I have heard such a sentiment said in different ways over the years, usually in the context of Women’s Ministry events or studies. Often when the Ladies Bible Study isn’t actually studying the Bible, it’s studying a book that, “Isn’t theological, but practical,” as if a book can be only one or the other. As if theology may be all good and well, but what we ladies really need is practical advice. As if theology sits in its own corner, separate from actual, real, everyday life.
Each time I have hear such a comment I have kept my mouth closed so as to not open the can of worms that would inevitably come. But after witnessing what I witnessed this weekend, it seems time to set my stake in the ground and declare
There is nothing more practical than accurate theology.
Without theology, the best you have is self-help – on par with Oprah or Deepak Chopra or Joel Osteen. Without the foundation of Christ and the truths of the Word, any words of hope one may offer are meaningless, futile and empty. There is no hope for challenging circumstances, apart from the Gospel. No real hope anyway. There is plenty of empty hope with empty promises of, “It’ll all work out,” and the like. But apart from the redemption purchased by the Lord, there is no meaning in our current circumstances. All we do is vanity, as the Preacher of Ecclesiastes bemoans.
One’s theology will inform how they handle:
trials
joys
success
failure
rebellious children
divorce
the death of a child
Everyone has a theology – a belief system about God. For some, that system says there is no God and we are a cosmic accident, a massive coincidence, all is meaningless, there is no higher purpose, might as well enjoy life to the hilt now because this is all we have. That is a theology. It is an inaccurate one, but it is a theology. And that belief system will influence how a person responds to life’s situations.
Joel Osteen has a theology. It is a heretical one that says if you believe enough, you will be blessed with prosperity, and that you are wonderful and swell and if you speak the right way, you can make every day the best day of your life. He has a theology. It is one that is damning, and is leading many to damnation, but it is a theology.
The logical conclusion of this theology for one who is going through hard times is that they didn’t believe enough, or say the right words to bring about the reality they desire. His theology takes the brokenness of this world, and the trials that come as a result, and puts the blame for such things on the recipient, because they could have prevented the circumstance. Each of the Word Faith “preachers,” each of the “Health and wealth” gospel proponents do the same thing.
I have sat in ladies “bible studies” where the Bible was never opened and the name of Jesus, nor His Gospel were barely mentioned…because we were dealing with more important things…those practical issues of life.
How do those empty words comfort young parents who just lost their premie twins in the hospital at 20 weeks? Where is the comfort in telling them, “If they just prayed harder?” Where is the hope in the worldly wisdom that has entered the church disguised as Christian material.
There is only one thing that gives that couple hope — TRUE hope. Not powerless hope. Not meaningless words like, “time will heal the wound.” No!! The only hope of comfort rests with ACCURATE THEOLOGY.
How do you begin to answer the questions: Why did this happen? without accurate theology?
The reason for why begins with the garden. We live in a fallen world due to sin. God never designed it to be this way. Death was not a part of His original plan. The death of your twins does not negate God’s goodness, it magnifies it. It magnifies His goodness because such was NOT meant to be, and because He is returning to rescue us from this broken world and bring us to His eternal kingdom where there is NO DEATH, NO PAIN.
Accurate Theology is the only thing that gives this couple hope as they now move forward, missing 2/3’s of their children. The hope that has one cling to the future promises of resurrection. The hope that those boys are with the Savior even now. The hope that one day babies and parents will be reunited in glory.
That is where the hope lies. The hope is in Christ, only known through theology. Who God is. What He has done. What He is doing. And what He will do in the future.
Without the truthful answers to those questions, there is no hope for any of us, nor for any situation we face.
Who can know the mind of God, and who can know all of His ways: but He does give us glimpses into His ways.
He tells that couple that they do not have to weep as others weep, as ones with no hope. He promises them that when the trumpet sounds, their babies will be raised to Christ, and we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) What deep comfort that can provide.
He tells that couple that there are others who have tread where they now tread and can offer them comfort. He tells that couple that one day they will be able to comfort others who are likewise afflicted. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
He promises that couple that despite the pain and anguish, He WILL use it for their good, for His glory, to make them more like Christ (Romans 8:28).
While they continue to weep and to grieve, they do so knowing whom they have believed. They do so knowing the character and the nature of their God – that He is GOOD, and He is FOR THEM, and that while they may not understand, they can TRUST HIM because He has proven Himself TRUSTWORTHY.
It takes theology to reach that point.
How will they continue on? How will they continue to walk in faithfulness and in trust? What will keep them from railing at the Lord, questioning His ways and ultimately forsaking their faith because God did this to them? Theology.
It is in moments like this that one’s faith is tested and tried. It is through deep grief that one will see whether their faith is chaff or gold. Is it burned up or refined? Those with accurate theology, not only at a head level, but concurrently at a heart level, will find themselves refined – looking more like their Lord and Savior as a result.
My heart still grieves and tears still well up in my eyes as I recall seeing that tiny box for the first time and mumbling to myself, “Caskets should not be made that small.” There is a wrongness in their death, because there is a wrongness in this world. There is an undeniable brokenness that we live with and among every day. What is going to get us from here to the end of our days, continuing to trust in a Lord we cannot see, amongst pain and despair to our sides?
It is accurate, right theology. The same theology that enabled grieving parents to sing songs of praise as they said their last earthly goodbye’s to two boys.