Embracing The Unexplainable
Jul/101
I used to think that I had everything figured out. I was not confident. I was arrogant. When I was in Bible College, I came to believe in a very linear, very precise, easy-to-outline theology. I could explain my God in such a logical way that it seemed irrefutable…at least to me.
Paradox was my enemy. I was convinced that everything about my faith could be easily articulated and explained…and, within my little theological box, that was indeed the case.
But the more I've learned and grown, the more I have seen the foolishness of this type of thinking. What once was my enemy is now something that I readily embrace. I enjoy the paradox. I'm comfortable with things that I can't explain. And I no longer believe that I have everything exactly right. In fact, I'm quite confident that there are some things in my theology that are misguided…even flat out wrong.
I am no longer arrogant enough to believe that I can fully comprehend the thoughts of a limitless God. I'm comfortable that my God is not fully explainable.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)
One danger of studying the Bible too much (yes, I said "too much") is that we can begin to believe that learning equates to spiritual maturity. Obviously we need to know the Bible, but the Word of God cannot become our God.
The Bible is simply our gateway to God. Some Christians have exalted the Bible to an idolatrous level. Their love for the Bible has eclipsed their love of God. The end result is that their picture of spiritual maturity is the ability to use the Bible to win arguments and stop all debate.
I do believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. I believe it is absolutely without error. However, the plain truth is that, regardless of how much Bible you know, some things will remain paradoxical. Some issues will always be unexplainable.
"For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:11)
The only one who can fully understand God is God Himself. Instead of fighting it, we need to embrace it.
God, may we never be so logical…may we never know the Bible so well…may we never be so arrogant that we erroneously believe that we can comprehend Your glory, understand Your power, and explain Your ways. Instead, may we live in constant wonder and awe of our incomprehensible God.
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8:47 pm on July 20th, 2010
So cool that you post this. Aron has an entire sermon series drawn up that he calls "Paradox". It address some of the seemingly paradoxical teachings/ideas in scripture.
For example, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace and yet he said, "I did not come to bring peace but a sword…".
And I am right with you on the theology issue. Don't get me wrong; I believe there are absolutes crucial to embrace in the understanding of God and salvation, but I think there are a lot more gray areas that are simply that: gray. One benefit of attending different churches of various denominational backgrounds for me has been the blessing of a 'big picture' mindset. I know & respect leaders who are Reformed thinkers of Calvinist background, I know & respect leaders who are Arminianists, I know & Respect leaders of the 'Restoration movement'. And knowing that men who love Jesus with all their hearts & are far more wise & Godly than I will ever be, can hold mutually exclusive views on these 'gray' issues leads me to believe I may not have it all figured out either. Which frees me up to focus on building the body, agreeing on the important matters, and resolving to love each other despite differing view points on certain theological issues.
Sorry for the book, but you touched on a very passionate issue for me. Unity. Unity. Unity. I am so ready to see the body of Christ come together & fight against our real enemy instead of each other on issues that really are petty at best. And the first step to that actually happening is exactly what you've done…admitting we don't & will not have it all figured out theologically. That is a humble, yet bold proclamation for a Lead Pastor. And I love it!
By the way, Aron read your post over my shoulder & kept saying, "That's a really good post."
Thanks for your transparency.