Let me tell you a story.
This past Sunday was communion at my local church - Parker Hill Community Church. Parker Hill is not a normal church - you can wear jeans, church is offered on Saturday night, we use video screens for multi-campus preaching ministry, and the music is, well - let's just say loud and definitely contemporary. Now, I always wear a hat to Saturday night church - which is quite a shocker to most people, I know... but for Parker Hill - that is quite normal. My generation has no problem with that.
As I went up to take communion (we get out of our seats for communion), an elderly gentleman approached me and very firmly wispered, "Take your hat off." I immediately felt terrible that I had offended him and removed my hat. I was really, really surprised, though - I mean - people usually have to get past the rock music, the non-expository preaching style, and people lighting up cigarettes in the parking lot before hats are an issue. However - out of respect and and an understanding of Romans 14 that when an issue is addressed, we need to lovingly lay aside our liberties for the sake of unity within the body.
I want to do the same thing with Credo In Deum.
Over the past two weeks, I've been lovingly confronted on a couple issues that I thought I'd address. The first are crass/offensive terms that I use like heck, crap, and freaking. The second is the music I put at the bottom of the blog. In Romans 14 it says, "...decide never to put a stumbling block or hinderance in the way of a brother." So - I just thought I'd write and let my readers know that I will make the effort on Credo In Deum to never be a hinderance to anyone who reads my blog. Also - I wanna say thanks to people in my life who are willing to confront me. So, thank you! :)
2.17.2008
Big Words Like Pneumatology
I'm taking Theology III this semester, and we're starting off in the subject of pneumatology, which is a just a fancy Greekish word for the study of the Holy Spirit. It's a great class, and God is teaching me a lot - but here's there's a problem - a problem that's infecting our schools, our local churches, and the Kingdom of God at large...
Righteous Arrogance
In Theology III, I'm learning who the Holy Spirit is and what God's Word reveals to us about His characteristics, his will, and his work in our lives. I know that the Holy Spirit is God because of Acts 5:3-4. I know that he was involved in creation from Genesis 1:2. I know that he was involved in the inspiration of God's Word from II Peter 1:21. These things are great, and I'm glad that God's Word can feed me information and knowledge. So what about Righteous Arrogance?
Righteous Arrogance is an attitude displayed by Christians (especially Bible college students like me) that gives us a superiority complex based on our particular theology, denomination, or interpretation of all that information and knowledge. And the worst thing is that it's become ACCEPTABLE in our "Christian" circles.
Righteous Arrogance usually comes out in situations like these:
1) Disrespectful denomination bashing
2) Theology contests (debating to win)
3) Making the unsaved fit my righteous standards
4) Thanking God I'm not as bad as other people
5) Slamming other local churches that aren't like mine
My roommate and I stayed up pretty late last night talking about this stuff - how theology in and of itself is not bad, but dangerous. How can I say that? Because of Righteous Arrogance. Why am I so dogmatic about it?
Because I have it.
Theology needs to make its way from my head to my heart. If it just stays in in my head, it becomes Righteous Arrogance. If I've learned a big word like pneumatology, that's all I've learned. If I believe that the Holy Spirit is God, that's a starting point to learn more and more about my great God.
NONE OF IT MAKES ME BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
Christians, let's wake up and see reality.
It's gotta start in our mirrors.
Righteous Arrogance
In Theology III, I'm learning who the Holy Spirit is and what God's Word reveals to us about His characteristics, his will, and his work in our lives. I know that the Holy Spirit is God because of Acts 5:3-4. I know that he was involved in creation from Genesis 1:2. I know that he was involved in the inspiration of God's Word from II Peter 1:21. These things are great, and I'm glad that God's Word can feed me information and knowledge. So what about Righteous Arrogance?
Righteous Arrogance is an attitude displayed by Christians (especially Bible college students like me) that gives us a superiority complex based on our particular theology, denomination, or interpretation of all that information and knowledge. And the worst thing is that it's become ACCEPTABLE in our "Christian" circles.
Righteous Arrogance usually comes out in situations like these:
1) Disrespectful denomination bashing
2) Theology contests (debating to win)
3) Making the unsaved fit my righteous standards
4) Thanking God I'm not as bad as other people
5) Slamming other local churches that aren't like mine
My roommate and I stayed up pretty late last night talking about this stuff - how theology in and of itself is not bad, but dangerous. How can I say that? Because of Righteous Arrogance. Why am I so dogmatic about it?
Because I have it.
Theology needs to make its way from my head to my heart. If it just stays in in my head, it becomes Righteous Arrogance. If I've learned a big word like pneumatology, that's all I've learned. If I believe that the Holy Spirit is God, that's a starting point to learn more and more about my great God.
NONE OF IT MAKES ME BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
Christians, let's wake up and see reality.
It's gotta start in our mirrors.
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