A popular quote of C.S. Lewis is "It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.” The reason is that our time and culture has certain blind spots that people at other times in the past did not. If we read an older book, we may see certain truths that are harder to find in books of our modern time.
I don't hear many people talk about how this may also apply to interacting with other cultures. But I feel it's true. Interacting with other cultures is fun in that it helps us learn new things and see beauty in different styles and techniques that are unique to a different culture. But we may also see something in other cultures that is sort of a blind spot in our own.
For example, some cultures are much more quiet and respectful in letting people have space compared to American culture. American culture often is about trying to stand out in the crowd and be louder or more interesting than the next person. So we can learn from this type of culture that we can love others by showing the respect of being quiet at times or allowing that person more space. God wants us to love others well, and we should aim to do this.
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Learning About God
When we study God's Word and think through what living a Christian life means, it's important to think about who God is and how he relates to people. Often it's easy to take a passage of Scripture and only think about what that means for what we should do. That's fine to do at some point, but it's important to be sure we take time to think about what it means about God and how he relates to us.
If we never study or think about God's power and strength, and how he uses it to help us, it might be much harder to cast our anxieties and burdens on Christ (Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7, ESV). Knowing about God's power helps us to be able to respond to God's call.
If we never study God's mercy and gentleness to his people, including us, then we might find it hard to be merciful and gentle to others and ourselves out of love.
If we never study God's pure holiness and goodness, we might not realize how extremely blessed we are to even get a chance to talk to him.
Some people worry that a lot of theology isn't practical, but how we view God and how he relates to us definitely affects the way we live. We should also of course see what the Bible has to say about humans too.
While learning the attributes of God is of great importance, it's more important to see God as he interacts in history—how the Christian God is a personal God. Read more on this in Danny's article "God Known through Actions."
Danny also wrote about how theology speaks to all areas of life in "Theology as a Meta-Discipline."
If we never study or think about God's power and strength, and how he uses it to help us, it might be much harder to cast our anxieties and burdens on Christ (Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7, ESV). Knowing about God's power helps us to be able to respond to God's call.
If we never study God's mercy and gentleness to his people, including us, then we might find it hard to be merciful and gentle to others and ourselves out of love.
If we never study God's pure holiness and goodness, we might not realize how extremely blessed we are to even get a chance to talk to him.
Some people worry that a lot of theology isn't practical, but how we view God and how he relates to us definitely affects the way we live. We should also of course see what the Bible has to say about humans too.
While learning the attributes of God is of great importance, it's more important to see God as he interacts in history—how the Christian God is a personal God. Read more on this in Danny's article "God Known through Actions."
Danny also wrote about how theology speaks to all areas of life in "Theology as a Meta-Discipline."
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Why Long-Time Christians Still Need to Hear and Think on the Gospel
The good news of the gospel always applies and affects Christians, even ones who've been Christians for a very long time.
I heard someone say once that he's heard the gospel story, so he'd rather not hear it again. He knows it. So why mention it again?
A major reason for needing to hear it again and again is that we all have a human nature. All of us have a nature that leans toward distraction and chasing after trivial things at times. So we need to be reminded of God's part in our lives then and now because of Christ's work for us.
Often when we hear how we were not worthy of fellowship with God but we are through Jesus's work and faith, we feel compelled to praise and worship and do good works.
We are also learning over time. When we read about certain accounts of Jesus in the gospels, we might see some detail that really shows us more the mind or love of Christ. Or how it relates to certain situations in our daily lives.
Not only in preaching or worship songs can we be reminded of the gospel, but it's important to include this in our devotional times too. Some devotions may only speak of how we need to do better--but really we need to be sure at times that we think about Christ being the reason we don't have to constantly think we have to do better. We can rest in him. We can know that everything will end well in a sense. And that often helps give us the peace and courage to do what we're commanded by God. There are times when we do need to think about doing better, but that shouldn't fill up the entirety of our devotional time. There is a place for worship too.
I heard someone say once that he's heard the gospel story, so he'd rather not hear it again. He knows it. So why mention it again?
A major reason for needing to hear it again and again is that we all have a human nature. All of us have a nature that leans toward distraction and chasing after trivial things at times. So we need to be reminded of God's part in our lives then and now because of Christ's work for us.
Often when we hear how we were not worthy of fellowship with God but we are through Jesus's work and faith, we feel compelled to praise and worship and do good works.
We are also learning over time. When we read about certain accounts of Jesus in the gospels, we might see some detail that really shows us more the mind or love of Christ. Or how it relates to certain situations in our daily lives.
Not only in preaching or worship songs can we be reminded of the gospel, but it's important to include this in our devotional times too. Some devotions may only speak of how we need to do better--but really we need to be sure at times that we think about Christ being the reason we don't have to constantly think we have to do better. We can rest in him. We can know that everything will end well in a sense. And that often helps give us the peace and courage to do what we're commanded by God. There are times when we do need to think about doing better, but that shouldn't fill up the entirety of our devotional time. There is a place for worship too.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Endless Questions
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
One way questions are used in a way that is more harmful than helpful in theology is when they are endless.
After asking questions, at some point a person needs to come to a conclusion or take the information they have found and for that day decide what they themselves believe on the topic, even if it's that there isn't much knowledge on the topic.
It's impossible for a person to truly think about things if he or she is only ever asking for someone else's opinion or researching. That person needs to think about the facts and make a decision, even if it's one that isn't popular. It takes courage sometimes to stop asking questions and instead believe or make a choice.
And often people who keep asking the same questions over and over again in different forms are not comfortable with the fact that life is not perfect and we, as humans, won't be able to answer every question. (1 Corinthians 13:12 )
We need to have faith that even though we don't know everything, God does. And that's all that matters. Questions are great but when we can't find the answers after searching and thinking, we need to decide that it's okay.
Something we don't understand today might make sense later. We are going through the process of sanctification, which means that over time we are growing in the faith. There are so many things to learn and improve on in this life, and little by little we are growing and learning as God shows us and teaches us in various ways around us. In the meantime, we may need to be patient.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
One way questions are used in a way that is more harmful than helpful in theology is when they are endless.
After asking questions, at some point a person needs to come to a conclusion or take the information they have found and for that day decide what they themselves believe on the topic, even if it's that there isn't much knowledge on the topic.
It's impossible for a person to truly think about things if he or she is only ever asking for someone else's opinion or researching. That person needs to think about the facts and make a decision, even if it's one that isn't popular. It takes courage sometimes to stop asking questions and instead believe or make a choice.
And often people who keep asking the same questions over and over again in different forms are not comfortable with the fact that life is not perfect and we, as humans, won't be able to answer every question. (1 Corinthians 13:12 )
We need to have faith that even though we don't know everything, God does. And that's all that matters. Questions are great but when we can't find the answers after searching and thinking, we need to decide that it's okay.
Something we don't understand today might make sense later. We are going through the process of sanctification, which means that over time we are growing in the faith. There are so many things to learn and improve on in this life, and little by little we are growing and learning as God shows us and teaches us in various ways around us. In the meantime, we may need to be patient.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Learning and Humility
Learning should be connected with humility. Often learning and humility are not connected.
The reality is the universe is far larger and more complected than individuals can grasp. We all rely on others' expertise everyday. Even experts have more to learn.
Ultimately in any discipline we learn we should realize our limits. It is only our pride, not our learning, that would lead us to any conclusion other than our great limitations when we learn.
If we study science the universe is far larger than we could imagine. Economics has many truly complex problems. In theology we meet the most difficult to grasp thing overall: God.
God is bigger and more complex than we could imagine. Many theologians grasp onto the humility of Jesus. Turning the other cheek and the tenderness in the man. Others grasp onto the activist Jesus who fought against evil in the world.
You see both are correct. In God we find elements which fit beautifully together, but on the surface seem antithetical.
You see as we study God we find that tenderness and severity are compatible. We find many things in God that surprise us.
It is our personhood which is lacking. We are not the complex people we think we are rather we are quite simple because our sin makes us simple.
The reality is the universe is far larger and more complected than individuals can grasp. We all rely on others' expertise everyday. Even experts have more to learn.
Ultimately in any discipline we learn we should realize our limits. It is only our pride, not our learning, that would lead us to any conclusion other than our great limitations when we learn.
If we study science the universe is far larger than we could imagine. Economics has many truly complex problems. In theology we meet the most difficult to grasp thing overall: God.
God is bigger and more complex than we could imagine. Many theologians grasp onto the humility of Jesus. Turning the other cheek and the tenderness in the man. Others grasp onto the activist Jesus who fought against evil in the world.
You see both are correct. In God we find elements which fit beautifully together, but on the surface seem antithetical.
You see as we study God we find that tenderness and severity are compatible. We find many things in God that surprise us.
It is our personhood which is lacking. We are not the complex people we think we are rather we are quite simple because our sin makes us simple.
Monday, May 26, 2014
What the Bible Means
The bible says many things which are simple to understand. Often the greatest difficulty understanding the bible is that we wish to fit scripture into our theological system rather than create a theological system around scripture.
The issue which makes theology difficult is that scripture is highly rational and also highly paradoxical. Throughout the bible there is a large amount of rational argumentation appealing to reason. There are also many paradoxes and tensions in scripture.
You see at many times especially in the teaching of Jesus ideas held in tension. There is no contradiction in scripture, but the nature of reality is that many truths are a balance between two extremes which are errors.
We often get scripture wrong because we expend massive effort to simplify it's teaching into a rational system with no tension or paradox. Scripture actually is far easier to understand on its own terms: a system of highly rational belief which also has many tensions and paradoxes within.
It is always the call to wisdom which appears in scripture. You see there is a great nuance to life. You cannot go out and live ethically based on a set of rules without thought and prayer and discernment.
We are often such poor readers of scripture because we come to scripture to learn. We have a certain way we learn. And we fit scripture into our patterns of learning.
Rather we need to first come to scripture to learn how to learn. We must base our efforts to learn around the way in which the bible wishes to instruct us. The bible often does not like easy answers to certain questions, so we must too not like easy answers to questions.
What the bible finds important we must find important. Where the bible offers liberty we must offer liberty. You see the bible is right even when we think it is wrong. We must seek understanding by faith.
The issue which makes theology difficult is that scripture is highly rational and also highly paradoxical. Throughout the bible there is a large amount of rational argumentation appealing to reason. There are also many paradoxes and tensions in scripture.
You see at many times especially in the teaching of Jesus ideas held in tension. There is no contradiction in scripture, but the nature of reality is that many truths are a balance between two extremes which are errors.
We often get scripture wrong because we expend massive effort to simplify it's teaching into a rational system with no tension or paradox. Scripture actually is far easier to understand on its own terms: a system of highly rational belief which also has many tensions and paradoxes within.
It is always the call to wisdom which appears in scripture. You see there is a great nuance to life. You cannot go out and live ethically based on a set of rules without thought and prayer and discernment.
We are often such poor readers of scripture because we come to scripture to learn. We have a certain way we learn. And we fit scripture into our patterns of learning.
Rather we need to first come to scripture to learn how to learn. We must base our efforts to learn around the way in which the bible wishes to instruct us. The bible often does not like easy answers to certain questions, so we must too not like easy answers to questions.
What the bible finds important we must find important. Where the bible offers liberty we must offer liberty. You see the bible is right even when we think it is wrong. We must seek understanding by faith.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Stages of Learning
In Christianity it seems there are many stages of learning. The first stage is always coming to faith in God.
That stage in itself is very complex and looks very different for many different people. For some people it is coming to grasp that the bible is true history.
For myself it was coming to grasp that I was who the bible said I was - a sinner who needed the grace of a merciful God.
Later stages of Christian growth are complex as well. There is one aspect I'd like to focus on today.
That aspect is being confronted with truth we do not like. I think it's a common experience although people rarely speak of it when scripture begins to say things we do not like.
We come to faith in God and then scripture starts telling us things about ourselves and our lives and we do not like these things. The reality is that this is about what we should expect because the bible tells us we were lost in sin.
How do we approach teachings we do not like?
Well the reality is the only honest way to approach teachings we do not like is to accept them. If we have accepted that Jesus is who he says he is and he confronts us with aspects of reality we do not care for we need to listen.
I have found then sometimes when I have accepted teaching which I do not like (first on only an intellectial level) then slowly on a more heart/emotional level I also begin to see the wisdom of God's teaching.
The bible says a lot of things which can be difficult to accept, but over time you begin to see the wisdom of them. I think the importance for those of faith is to trust that God knows what he is talking about.
God's ways are higher than our ways and his wisdom is better than our wisdom. The bible is always right even when it at first seems to be wrong.
That stage in itself is very complex and looks very different for many different people. For some people it is coming to grasp that the bible is true history.
For myself it was coming to grasp that I was who the bible said I was - a sinner who needed the grace of a merciful God.
Later stages of Christian growth are complex as well. There is one aspect I'd like to focus on today.
That aspect is being confronted with truth we do not like. I think it's a common experience although people rarely speak of it when scripture begins to say things we do not like.
We come to faith in God and then scripture starts telling us things about ourselves and our lives and we do not like these things. The reality is that this is about what we should expect because the bible tells us we were lost in sin.
How do we approach teachings we do not like?
Well the reality is the only honest way to approach teachings we do not like is to accept them. If we have accepted that Jesus is who he says he is and he confronts us with aspects of reality we do not care for we need to listen.
I have found then sometimes when I have accepted teaching which I do not like (first on only an intellectial level) then slowly on a more heart/emotional level I also begin to see the wisdom of God's teaching.
The bible says a lot of things which can be difficult to accept, but over time you begin to see the wisdom of them. I think the importance for those of faith is to trust that God knows what he is talking about.
God's ways are higher than our ways and his wisdom is better than our wisdom. The bible is always right even when it at first seems to be wrong.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
A Suggestion for a Hobby for You
I have a suggestion for a hobby for you. You will probably laugh at it, but the ordinances of God are more precious than gold and more sweet than honey. And those are just the Lords ordinance, the Lord is too infinitely sweet to ever be captured by the human heart.
Of course you will say that you don’t find God so. You will say, I don’t taste him as such, I do not have that taste for him, studying God isn’t my type of hobby. But, that is rather like saying eating isn’t my type of thing. If we fail to eat of spiritual bread continually we will truly shrivel in many distorted ways, and be oblivious to the spirit wrenching hunger we are experiencing. Consider Psalm 19:9-10: "The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."
Or Psalm 42:1: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."
Of course you will say that you don’t find God so. You will say, I don’t taste him as such, I do not have that taste for him, studying God isn’t my type of hobby. But, that is rather like saying eating isn’t my type of thing. If we fail to eat of spiritual bread continually we will truly shrivel in many distorted ways, and be oblivious to the spirit wrenching hunger we are experiencing. Consider Psalm 19:9-10: "The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."
Or Psalm 42:1: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Thomas Watson Quote About Books
"Get books into your houses,
when you have not
the spring near you, then get water into your
cisterns; so when you have not that wholesome preaching that you desire, good books are
cisterns that hold the water of life in them to
refresh you.... So when you find a chillness upon
your souls, and that your former heat begins to
abate, ply yourselves with warm clothes, get
those good books that may acquaint you with such
truths as may warm and affect your hearts."
(Thomas Watson - 1662)
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