Back to Theological Land

Well, I’m back at Regent now. I apologize for how long it’s been since my last post. Life got busy, and I just never got around to writing any new blog entries for this one.

I have been updating my other blog recently, however. You can check out my other blog here.

My classes this term are Biblical Exegesis, Intermediate Hebrew, and Intermediate Greek. All these classes focus on the biblical languages (the Biblical Exegesis class requires some prior knowledge of at least one of them—as I found out from the syllabus, notes are provided for the language not taken, but because I’ve taken both, the available notes will be good for review). Hebrew is my favorite of the biblical languages, so I can’t wait to continue on with that one. I took Hebrew in undergrad and loved it, so I’m looking forward to continuing with Hebrew at Regent.

But the title I gave this post leads me to ask a question I’ve been pondering—why am I labeling Regent “Theological Land”? I’d like to think it’s because I’m just trying to be cute and funny (and failing at both), but I can’t help but think, Does such phrasing suggest that my life back home should be designated “Non-Theological Land”?

I don’t think so. I realize, of course, that at a place like Regent we tend to discuss theology a whole lot more than the average person does. Naturally, then, a label like “Theological Land” sounds appropriate.

But it’s not as though we are to “do” theology only (or even mainly) at a seminary, church building, or Bible study home group. Theology entails a lifestyle, not (merely) thinking great thoughts about God and sharing them with others. My own creative abstractions might impress me, but unless they play out in the real world, I might receive plenty of courtesy smiles that are unconvincingly trying to hold back the yawns.
Jesus actually did theology. Those long discourses in John weren’t abstractions or long pontifications about nothing. They actually had (and have) implications for the real world. Jesus did something profoundly theological. He didn’t just talk about being the bread of life (John 6), He actually was the bread of life. Not only did He die for our sins (and take our sin onto Himself), but He rose from the dead, which provides the hope for our resurrection as well!

This is by far the biggest reason I’m at Regent. All my involvement in “church” activities and my studies at Regent are meaningless without this profound truth: God came down to earth as a man who offers eternal life to a dying world. But we often compartmentalize our day-to-day lives as if this important truth doesn’t actually have real-world implications.

We reserve church for Sunday and theology for seminary (or some low-key Sunday-school class or weekly Bible study). We all do this.

May God help us to continue to reflect on Him and allow Him to live His life through us on a daily basis, letting Him into every aspect of our lives.

Blessings to you all as you go about your week.