Theology Case

6 November 2011

Reflection

Theology is the study of nature and God and how people believe the things they do and how they understand them to be true. Theology has a tendency to take a person's belief and strip away everything and pinpoint the root of their belief. That is exactly what Theology 104 at Liberty University has done. It has narrowed down the exact reason for why I believe what I believe. It has challenged me and frustrated me to make me reevaluate some of my previous misconceptions about some of the things in the Bible, but it has also answered many questions that a young Christian has.

What can your local church do to better communicate God's love to your community? Someone once said that it takes a village to raise up a child. It takes a community to nurture, encourage, empower, strengthen, discipline, and train up a child in the way they should walk. Children grow up constantly needing things whether it be food, clothes, a roof, fun, or play, they are always dependent on another person. As children grow into adults, some of them may have become completely independent of anyone or any person. They soon become an island of themselves, letting no one in or out. The Bible calls us to 'love thy neighbor as yourself'. This commandment was so important to our Father that He put it as the second greatest commandment above all other commandments in the world. Loving each other is what God designed His people to do. He wants His people to be the exact opposite of an island and dwell with a body of believers.

If a person were to take a deep look around in their community, one can bet they would see immediate need and opportunity to better someone else's life. The local church is called to this very thing. Sometimes church members get so wrapped up in the actual church that they forget about what they are really doing and really are here for. They are here to break out of the walls and serve others. That is what God called His chosen ones to do, His children to do, is serve His people. This may seem daunting and extremely uncomfortable for some but this can be one of the easiest commandments there is. Starting a basketball program to keep kids off the streets, teaching poor kids how to read and write, being an ear to a hurting mother, feeding a homeless man and giving him a smile, these are all ways people can bless their community outside the church. They can give their time, energy, and effort to those less fortunate and help spread God's Word and His love all around. God calls us to be disciples and to do it cheerfully. It can be as simple as starting a neighborhood Bible study to empower those around you, or start a prayer-running group to get out and be active not only in your community but in others lives. Spreading God's love does not take beating someone over the head with a Bible, it all begins with a smile.

If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life? The answer to this question is absolutely. In 1 Corinthians 2 it says, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours". This verse is depicting everything a Christian should be, a saint. People are made in the image of Jesus; He was perfect in everything He did, never sinning. Corinthians 11:1 Paul tells the people to imitate the image of God, be Christ-like. As