God in Your Theology

I remember an anecdote share by pastor Steve Mays in a sermon.  He shared how he was driving with pastor Chuck Smith and a memorable discussion they had.  At one point he lamented, "It's lonely at the top."  Steve said he felt like an idiot when Chuck responded with a gentle rebuke:  "I don't understand your theology."  Chuck's response helped alert Steve to the fact his feelings had become an echo chamber that ignored much of what Steve believed was true:  the call of every Christian and pastor is to serve, to take the lowest place as we follow the example of Jesus; and God is with us and will never leave or forsake us.  If we are feeling lonely, like there is no one to talk to or can understand what we are going through, it very well may be we have forgotten about God who is with us!

The exchange between Steve and Chuck as they drove along illustrates how the theology of Christians can become theoretical.  We say the Bible is God's word and every word of God is pure, yet we can forget to apply what we know be true to our current situation.  Our feelings can impact us so profoundly we can be blind to our own folly, and our thoughts, attitudes and decisions can resemble those of a lost soul--not one who is born again, indwelt, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.  Situations feel impossible for us to navigate, so we operate on the assumption it must be hard for God as well.  Should our struggles continue for a long time, we imagine they will continue forever.  Like king Saul who observed the Philistine camp growing and his own troops deserting, we panic and think the best course of action is to take matters into our own hands.

The Pharisees were experts at devising hoops for people to jump through be assured of God's favour by their tradition, and would you believe we can do the same thing with God?  We imagine there is an involved process required for God to intervene and help us in the midst of a trial, a complicated series of conditions which we must meet or precise wording we must utilise for God to be God.  This is what the lame man by the pool of Bethesda did.  He was among a throng of people who were blind, maimed and lame who waited for the stirring of the water by an angel, for they believed the first one who entered the water would be healed of any affliction.  John 5:6-7 says, "When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" ⁷ The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  See how this man had arbitrarily and unnecessarily made hoops for God to heal him!  He could not even answer the direct question of Jesus due to his own inability, lack and previous failures.

See what happened next in John 5:8-9:  "Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath."  Jesus did not need to wait until the water was stirred, and He did not need to hurriedly place the man in the pool at all.  Jesus simply said the word, and the man was completely healed and enabled to walk.  It seems the man had no place for Jesus Christ in His theology:  though Jesus the Son of God came right up to Him, he could only think about his inability to navigate the complicated process he devised himself.  How about you, Christian?  What place does Jesus Christ have in your theology?  Have you come up with a complicated obstacle course that lies between you and deliverance or salvation?  Or do you keep Jesus in His rightful place as your Redeemer, Saviour and Good Shepherd who will never leave or forsake you, the almighty God who does everything?