Theology

I still have an old peanuts comic strip that someone cut out for me. Lucy says to Snoopy, “You dogs don’t know anything about scripture verses. You don’t know anything about grace or baptism or Moses or anything.” Then, Lucy turns and walks away. “That’s right,” Snoopy replies in his own head, “Theologically, we’re off the hook!”

Dogs are off the hook theologically. However, good theology makes all the difference in the world for us. Anselm put it this way, “Theology is faith seeking understanding.” The truth is, what we believe about God really does influence our lives. For example, if I understand God to be distant and uncaring, or if I believe God to be very authoritarian, then I’m free to live that way too. On the other hand, if I believe God to be gracious, forgiving, merciful, and loving, then hopefully those are characteristics I am striving to develop in my own life.

I pray for you today that you would have a community of faith that preaches and teaches good theology. May you be a life-long student, ever seeking to better understand. And may your study shape your life.

Our prayer today was written by Saint Benedict of Nursia sometime in the early 6th century. Let us pray: O gracious and holy God, give us diligence to seek you, wisdom to perceive you, and patience to wait for you. Grant us, O God, a mind to meditate on you; eyes to behold you; ears to listen for your word; a heart to love you; and a life to proclaim you; through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.