In trying to re-learn what the Bible says, I’ve been so preoccupied with being theologically accurate and identifying false teachings that I’ve neglected actually putting what I’m learning into practice.
This isn’t the first time I’ve fallen into this trap.
It appears like every Christian I’ve met has different aspects of Christianity they tend to focus on. What people value can even lead to what denomination they choose. Maybe the denomination you choose reveals in what direction you are inching away from Christ?
I’ve been annoyed with the outcomes of overcomplicated and confusing theology because it seems to make God and the Bible less knowable– not more. Have seminaries, Christian colleges, and churches become, at times, obstacles to knowing Christ?
Even though I’ve designed this website to be a training ground for believers, I think there is such a thing as overtraining. A nurse or a football player studies, practices and eventually works in their respective fields. They do eventually need to put their training into practice, but the training is also ongoing throughout their career to ensure they stay at their best in terms of both knowledge and skill. The better they train, the better they are prepared for the real world application, but the real world application shows where they need to train even more.
If all they did was train, they wouldn’t even realize the mistakes in their training until they got out there and tried it. If all they did was work, then the quality of their work would stagnate and diminish.
I can see how my lack of balance in work/training has affected me personally. I currently work as an EMT for an ambulance company. When I was studying in school I wanted to make sure I was as prepared as possible to do my job well. I was very thorough in making elaborate notes for each chapter of my textbook. I think I typed up something like 140 pages, and even converted it to an ebook so I could reference my notes on my e-reader device.
I was able to pass all the tests, and eventually managed to be certified and employed as an emergency medical technician. The amount of training I did was helpful, but no amount of training will adequately prepare you for the real world. There are things I saw on day 1 that exposed the holes in my textbook study and hands-on training. I even saw basic concepts that I had either failed to grasp or forgotten about. I don’t even want to flip the scenario and imagine an EMT that didn’t even pay attention in class and managed to get hired.
With following Jesus it’s the same in many ways. There’s a few reasons people don’t study their Bibles and it can be due to anything from laziness to thinking that in-depth study would be too “intellectual” or “religious” like a pharisee. Some people do study too much, and allow their knowledge to stagnate without seeing the holes in their beliefs that get exposed when putting scripture into practice. Some beliefs would immediately be dismantled when trying to discuss the Bible with an atheist.
In our professions or life in general, the things we do have purpose and consequences. Following Jesus goes beyond that, because it’s also based on who we are. A “Follower of Christ” is not a mere profession or a path to good works; it’s the road to life everlasting and a relationship with our King and our God. Our life and the lives of others depend on Christ being known and made known.
Whether studying or doing, don’t forget both are important. Even moreso, don’t forget love. Without investing in our relationships, with the Lord our God and one another, we missed the entire point.
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:1-17 ESV