WHAT’S YOUR THEOLOGY?

BY PR ISAAC CHANG

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, I noticed some believers would get themselves “filled” by the “presence” of God in a particular worship ambience. I have seen others wanting to be ministered by some kind of motivational Sunday message. But now, such sessions have been flattened onto our devices’ screens. While reflecting on this, I asked, “Does it make sense to be “filled” by these preferred worship and motivating sessions? Are they becoming fuel for our spiritual survival?” If we do, then we are in a crisis as such spiritual “refill” is no longer available physically. It is not spiritually sustainable to rely on these sessions through our devices. Perhaps, it is time to understand how we remain sustainable spiritually in these trying times through a proper understanding of God, a.k.a., theology.

Everyone has their theology when reading and interpreting the Bible at the same time. Everyone will tend to have his or her values, worldviews, and experiences read into the Scriptures unknowingly. As a result, I regard these as our preferences for us to remain spiritually sustained. So, what is our theology that we have cultivated before the pandemic and now? Does it reflect our Lord Jesus Christ? I hope our theology does not reflect our wants and desires for some kind of “man-made” worship and teaching. If it does, then the supposed theology will be undoubtedly preceded by our desires. In other words, our theology has a “man-made” Christ.

What Is Your Theology?

One of the litmus tests for our theology is our faith to the lordship of Jesus Christ that we once professed. If we continue to grow in this commitment, then our theology is Christ-centred. If not, our theology is self-centred to satiate our craving for particular worship and motivating sessions. This theology can be a kind of "Christ" that we fantasize about. Hence, my reflection concluded that right theology has nothing to do with our preferences, but it has to do with Christ.

Paul’s exhortation (Phil 2:2-11) to be likeminded, humble, and selfless like our Lord Jesus Christ, who emptied His divinity and died on the cross for our sins, reminds me of the right theology. When we read and interpret the Word of God, our theology will always be about God, His redemptive plan through Christ, and with everything coming under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Our theology is not to use God as a platform or tool to satisfy our souls. There can never be an artificial effort in the name of religion to meet our spiritual needs. For this pandemic and beyond, we can only be sustained with a surrendering heart to our Triune God, through the right theology (understanding of God), and not to our preferences.