Combo Update and Theological Pondering

It's been a hectic and busy couple weeks. I'm still trying to figure out my sleep/eat/read/class/lab/worship/study/writing schedule. But it's getting there.

I'm going to a Twins game today with a friend from church back home. I'm excited!

In my Old Testament Pentateuch class, looking at the first five books of the Old Testament, we were talking about the creation narrative found in Genesis 2-3. In speaking of the serpent, one of the articles we read said that the serpent was the first piece of creation to use theology. By that, it meant that the serpent was the first to talk about God, rather than talk to God. The serpent talks about God, bending and cunningly changing God's words to create new meaning out of them, in this case, meaning that Adam and Eve should eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. But that's theology, in a sense, isn't it?

Theology talks about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Divine, and the Sacred. Theology explores the words and phrases of the Bible and other documents and texts in order to find some new meaning or understanding. However, one of the dangers of doing theology is that we theologians get caught up in what the serpent was doing: talking about God and not talking to or with God. And now, for me, studying at Seminary, taking graduate level classes, trying to figure out what ministry is, looking at theology in both Testaments, exploring what worship is about and where it comes from, and trying to gain more experience in youth ministry, all of these things are inherently theological. On the surface they talk about God, what God would have human beings do for God's purposes, and how do we as humans interact with God. Here at my school they make a conscious effort to temper theology and the study of Christianity with worship and praise and prayer. I've never been in an academic setting where my professor of the Old Testament opens each class in prayer, "in the name of Jesus Christ." I can go into my professors offices and ask for them to pray for me in my discernment in finding out God's plans and will for my life, here and now in Minnesota, as well as the future ministry I am called to do. It is a new and strange shift for me as a student. As a Christian, it is encouraging that I can pray with so many leaders and teachers of the faith. It's an odd feeling, but a welcome one.

Peace and grace be with you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Oh, and have a good day!