Our contemporary churches have a
lot to do with devotion, worship and spiritual revivals. Teens and youths
engage themselves with these. Most believers, regardless of age, associate
themselves with spiritual revivals, worship, spiritual manifestations and works
of Holy Spirit in their life. They experience God’s presence, love, affection
and intimacy through these engagements.
Now the question can arise, what
theology and apologetics has to do even anything with their life while they are
intimately enjoying God’s fellowship? To begin thinking on this, we can simply
start up the game with simple questions like, whom are we worshipping? Why are
we worshipping? How are we worshipping? When we are worshipping? Where are we
worshipping?
Whom are we worshipping? Well, it’s God: the Father, the Son
and the Spirit
Why are we worshipping? Well, He is worthy of it and he
created us for the same purpose.
How are we worshipping? Well, we open our heart and let
ourselves submit to his hands. We sing his glory and declare his mighty works.
We thank him for his mercy in our life and all the providence that sustains our
life.
When are we worshipping? Well, we can worship anytime to
him. Its our lifestyle to honour him with our fullness of life.
Where are we worshipping? Again, this doesn’t lead to the
church alone. We can choose any space either in private life or congregational
life.
Here, we can clearly see how the
worship associates itself with reasons. While diving deeply, we can see
theologies behind our devotion. Theology is not about gaining higher academical
degree and certificates, wearing standard dresses, carrying expensive
accessories, library of books and visiting place to place by jet planes or
helicopter. Theology is simple our knowledge of God and this knowledge includes
everything [2 Peter 3:18]. If I am close in relationship with father, I would
obviously have minimum necessary knowledge about him such as whether he is veg.
or non-veg, what works he does, how much time he gives to the family, etc. I
wouldn’t dare to bring him fish and muttons in the dinner if he is vegetarian!
If God is our Father, we should also know about him, his character, his nature,
his works and his rules. That is theology.
Everyone has a certain amount of
theological knowledge such as: He is the creator, sustainer, he loves us, he is
omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, etc. If he isn’t omnipotent, then
what’s the point of our prayer offered to him in times of troubles [Ps. 50:15]?
If he isn’t omniscient, then how can we even trust him for our future [Prov.
3:5-6]? If he isn’t the sustainer, then how can we even think to survive in
this world of uncertainty [Matt. 6:26]? Because we know God is caring and
loving, we do pray for our well-being [Eph. 6:18]. Because we know he is
omnipresent, we do not trouble thinking how to reach him or whether he
understands our situations. Because we know he is holy, we dare not to act
worse [1 Peter 1:16]. Our faith, trust and hope rely on these parameters. No
knowledge of God = No certainty of our personal response to him = No hope = No
faith and trust = No prayer. If this sounds extreme, just replace “No” with
“Lack of”. My simple aim is to show you how our knowledge of God (Theology general)
has drastic impact upon our life itself.
Furthermore, just for sake of
clarifying a point, let’s say theology is a kind of ideology or a theory. There
can be a good theology and a bad theology. The theology only works if it
supported with truthfulness which is a good theology. If Jesus never died on
the cross, the theology of atonement remains only an idea. Believing this
theology doesn’t produce any outcome except delusion [Surah 4:157]. However, if
he really died on the cross, then it turns the coin. It has a greater impact to
our eternal destination [John 3:16]! Such a field of seeking theological
relevancy or weightage can be understood as apologetics. If our theology
doesn’t have truth in it, it bears no fruit. If Jesus came to India and learned
Eastern meditation and yoga, then our belief in atonement for the salvation
holds no water. To believe in atonement, we must assure ourselves that Jesus
really died on the cross the way scripture describe. The field of apologetics
hence provides the basis for our theological knowledge which impacts our devotional
life.
We usually enjoy spiritual
manifestations and devotion a lot. But many ministries who are involved and
engaged in worship have bad theology, often devastating! This can lead to
devotion of a false god. A good example could be Sachai Kendra who are
introducing a wrong god amidst people. If the word ‘Jesus’ only matters to us,
then Islam also has another version of Jesus, the Bhavishya Purana also has
another version of Jesus, Jehovah’s Witness has Angelic version of Jesus, and
so on. What should matter to us is the true Jesus, God’s Son, redeemer,
crucified and raised again to life and who is returning again to reign. Our devotional life should be guided by this
theology. Then, we shall bear fruits by abiding in him.
Finally, worship, theology and
apologetics are inter-connected areas in which one fosters the other. Weakening
one area in life can have a greater impact to other areas in our life [Hosea
4:6]. If we truly love God, we would also truly be eager to know him more and
more. This impacts our devotional life.
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