Introduction:
A Little Book for New Theologians by Kelly M. Kapic introduces the study of theology. He discusses why it is essential to consider studying theology as a foundation of adventure when it comes to our faith. The author provides the invitation to know God and establishes disciplines to engage with God. The importance of theology is the uttermost goal for the believer and their view of God. Without our view about the characteristics of our Maker, how can we, as believers, reflect His image? We must submerge ourselves with theology as not just head knowledge but transformational application to impact those around us. The author then provides expressions that theologians can implement to increase their pursuit of theology as a living impact instead of an informational asset. He uses the importance of spiritual disciplines and qualities to guide the reader into applying these principles.
Life Experiences:
I have seen first-hand how theology is expressed throughout my life and ministry. Without the proper knowledge and understanding, how can we as believers live this Christian life without first having an excellent theological framework? I was curious about theology and always wanted to go deeper inmy biblical reading and to know more profound concepts. I was a junior in high school and found course material explaining deep soteriology concepts, which helped me regarding my faith in Christ. Knowing what Jesus has done through His sacrifice allowed me to express the freedom of sin based on my joy and hope through my witness and testimony. The author states, “Yet in the complex relationship between life and theology, we should admit that for good or ill, our experience and practice grow out of our theology but also inform it.” Our experience and practice paint a picture of our theology through the canvas of our lives. We are called to be the world’s light, people who are called to bear fruit and to fan the flame of our practice. When we do not have a proper understanding of theology and its implications, it’s easy for people to keep committing sins and not renewing their minds. Christians are more concerned with the world and placing judgment when they forget that we are responsible for Christians than outsiders. When we allow sins to become habits, it paints a picture of others regarding our theology and that it needs to be challenged and changed. Theology informs our actions, and we must allow the Holy Spirit to change our thinking.
Prayer As Foundational:
I appreciate the author’s perspective when it came to prayer and the importance it has for the theologian. Prayer, by its implications, is talking to God. This discipline should be the foundational standard for anything we say and do. Does this mean I disagree with other ways to encounter God through other means of spiritual disciplines? I believe prayer is established for communion with God, while other disciplines play a part in renewal, but prayer brings vulnerability. The author states, “How sad for us to speak of God often, yet neglect our communion with Him.” There is a dilemma where we can speak of God often yet neglect the personal time to commit to Him through prayer. The author then talks about how there is no substitute for prayer, and we can go through our lives speaking and learning about God that neglect knowing God. You can learn about someone and speak about them through informational means. There is a difference when you see the individual based on communion compared to just learning and hearing about the individual.
When it comes to studying, as that is the theologian’s task, the author clarifies that there is a battle between study and prayer. Studying is important because we need to understand the Bible and the overall story of the interactions between God and Man. But my objection is, what is the difference between an unbeliever reading and learning the Bible? They may have a different point of view through their investigation of biblical accounts, but the differences come with their focus. Prayer highlights and separates us because we know the author based on personal means. In contrast, the unbelievers just investigate the biblical accounts based on knowledge and learning. Therefore, I agree that Studying and Prayer must both be pursued, and there should not be a battle between their importance. We should see both as complementary in our goal of Knowing God as theologians.
The Humbling Perspective:
While going through my bachelor’s degree, I have seen different varieties of perspectives and principles when it comes to understanding biblical text. We can get caught up with other points of view that we tend to lose ourselves and the convictions of our understanding and upbringing regarding our background. The author discusses the importance of tradition and community, which builds on understanding theology. I believe that we can learn from other theological circles, even throughdisagreements. Depending on the theologian, this comes to understanding the primary and secondary issues debated on and established to cut ties. If salvation is grace through faith, that is how simple it is. When we add conditions to how to get saved, we are guilty of legalism. If we have this perspective of having the “living tradition,” then I believe that is adding legalism based on the belief of tradition. The author states, “This tradition shapes me in untold ways, and I am thankful for it. But this is a living tradition, not a dead one.” The context of this quote stems from how all traditions are not valid and how he is a living tradition. I think tradition is human-based, which has been promoted and passed along just like Judaism through oral tradition. There have been books that are against his tradition, and rightly so; other traditions have their dark side based on their representation and theological concepts. We are not saved based on our traditional perspective or rightful thinking theology; it is our faith in Christ that is sustained through what He has done on the cross, regardless of secondary theological beliefs that are expressed. Just because there are different theological perspectives like baptism, which can be summed up through immersion, sprinkling, or even plunging babies underwater like some Christian denominations, doesn’t mean they are not saved because baptism isn’t required for salvation.
Example Leads Knowledge:
One principle I plan on applying to my life is the example of Augustine when it came to his theological pursuit. Humanity’s effects come with our ineffective understanding of everything demonstrated through theology since we are not omnipotent. This should help us be humble through our pursuit of theology, even if others disagree with our conclusions. I love that Augustine also corrected his own theological conclusions, which provides an example that we must fix our theology based on our investigation and practice. The author states, “While Augustine is commonly considered the father of Western orthodox Christianity, he never saw his conclusions as indisputable.” Since I am human and will mess up because of sinfulness. I want to set a humble example that my conclusions are disputable. I am willing to accept, correct, and understand this journey of theology.
My Faith Journey 