2 Peter 1:5-9

Tough times are not the time that you want to be developing a robust theology. 2 Peter 1:5-9 says "...[M]ake every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." I would encourage anybody I interact with who has a love for theology or desire to study, to grow while you can, as you don't know what lies ahead. I know that I am grateful for the truths on which I now stand and for those one whose shoulders I depend.

Faith, virtue, knowledge, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, love.

I know that weeks and months like the past few show my faith to be weak, yet show our Savior to be strong, and show the body (His church) to be His instrument of love - primarily through my wife, lastly I'm so grateful that if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself (1 Tim 2:13).

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

I read a definition of theology that I really liked. "Theology is faith seeking understanding." I like this for a few reasons. First, it is grounded in faith. There have been many "theologians" who have no true faith in God. Under this definition, they may be psychologists, but not theologians. Theology must begin in and flow from our faith. If our theology is merely based on facts, it becomes stale; theology based on faith is alive and must find practical expression. Second, the definition emphasizes the ongoing nature of theology. To arrive at an end point in theology is to arrive at a completed understanding of our faith, including it’s object – God. Of course this is impossible! Our theology must always be being refined by the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and lastly our experience of the Word and the Spirit (in subjection to the first two). Finally, the definition is simple. It’s easy one to remember.

As the verse in Hebrews emphasizes, faith is being sure of our hope. Blending this verse and the above definition, hope becomes an orientation for theology. What do you hope for? My hope is often misplaced. My hope must always be looking forward to that day when the consumation of all things occurs. Revelation gives us this:

Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

What would it mean for me to orient myself around this? Well for starters it puts a correct perspective on life. Theology must be practical, if it is not, it is of no benefit.