Recently I was thinking of the actual reason why I am a BTS student. What do I actually hope to achieve with this degree? Is formal ministry actually something I plan on doing? Is formal Biblical training something that is actually important to my walk as a Christian? These are all thoughts that have gone through my mind multiple times while pondering my choice in my degree.
Throughout this last year, I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying the Bible, but the whole time, I couldn't help but ask the question of how to balance the pursuit of knowledge with living out the lifestyle Christ calls us to. Lucky for me, during my time at Red Rock Bible Camp this summer, Dr. Chuck Nichols, as always, was our speaker during staff camp. Chuck would speak during our "spiritual fixes", always speaking on the theme for the summer (this year's theme was 100% Truth). Each year that I have been at staff camp, Chuck has ended the week with a Q and A period where the staff can ask Chuck any question that is pressing on their minds. Chuck, although he very openly admits he does not have all the answers, will then do his best to answer the question.
Although in previous years I had avoided asking Chuck any questions, this year I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask how to balance the pursuit of knowledge with living out the Christian life. Chuck, being a biblical scholar, brought the discussion back to the Bible (he's so good at doing that), and drew our attention to Colossians 1:9-14. In this passage, Paul is drawing on the importance of knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, in order to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit and being strengthened with power, to name a few. In short, all knowledge should in return have some effect on how we live our lives as Christians.
Theology is important. Yes, I do not at all want to undermine the importance of the work of the Holy Spirit, but I truly believe that God has given people (like myself) the desire to pursue wisdom and knowledge to learn more about not just how to act out commands, but to seek God's character. When we know God's character better, we know God better, and then can live in closer relationship with the one who made us. It is then when we can pass on these truths about God to others, just as Paul instructed Timothy to do in his second letter (2 Timothy 2:2).
In my pursuit of biblical knowledge and wisdom, I know that I am not going to be learning some ground-breaking new theology that will change the course of history. Rather, I am simply trying to dig into the vast amount of knowledge that God has set forth for us to obtain. Education as I see it is not teachers and professors teaching us something new, but rather the uncovering of things that God has already set in place. This applies to all areas of study, not just in the Bible. The more we are educated in the truth, the better we understand God and his character, and it is for that reason that I am pursuing Biblical and Theological Studies at Providence University College, forever with Colossians 1:9-14 in mind.
Although in previous years I had avoided asking Chuck any questions, this year I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask how to balance the pursuit of knowledge with living out the Christian life. Chuck, being a biblical scholar, brought the discussion back to the Bible (he's so good at doing that), and drew our attention to Colossians 1:9-14. In this passage, Paul is drawing on the importance of knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, in order to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit and being strengthened with power, to name a few. In short, all knowledge should in return have some effect on how we live our lives as Christians.
Theology is important. Yes, I do not at all want to undermine the importance of the work of the Holy Spirit, but I truly believe that God has given people (like myself) the desire to pursue wisdom and knowledge to learn more about not just how to act out commands, but to seek God's character. When we know God's character better, we know God better, and then can live in closer relationship with the one who made us. It is then when we can pass on these truths about God to others, just as Paul instructed Timothy to do in his second letter (2 Timothy 2:2).
In my pursuit of biblical knowledge and wisdom, I know that I am not going to be learning some ground-breaking new theology that will change the course of history. Rather, I am simply trying to dig into the vast amount of knowledge that God has set forth for us to obtain. Education as I see it is not teachers and professors teaching us something new, but rather the uncovering of things that God has already set in place. This applies to all areas of study, not just in the Bible. The more we are educated in the truth, the better we understand God and his character, and it is for that reason that I am pursuing Biblical and Theological Studies at Providence University College, forever with Colossians 1:9-14 in mind.
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