What Has First Aid Got to Do With Theology?
People are vulnerable. When
we're cut, we bleed. When we're discouraged, we doubt. When we're
tempted, we rationalize. At times like that, a good home group or an experienced
Christian friend can often provide just the sort of counsel or
encouragement we need. But what if we need something to defend
against an attack on the Faith, or to help an unbelieving friend
understand what Christians actually think? That's where this blog
comes in useful, I hope. First Aid Theology is a collection of short pieces (about 2000 words) intended to clear up common sources of confusion about Christianity.
They're written for people who don't necessarily have a background in Scripture and theology, but who want to understand what Christianity really teaches, as opposed to popular misconceptions and media sensations. Emphasis is on things that people get stuck on: For instance, we won't be spending a lot of time on whether you should be nice to people (you should), or whether you should mind your own business (you should), but we will spend time on good versus bad kinds of judgement, and on when and how to talk to a brother or sister about something they've done.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...but does that mean that only Christians can go to Heaven? Is there hope for my unbelieving friends and relatives? Are all the old certainties obsolete? Is religion disproved by science? Why do bad things happen to good people? Can we really know anything about God?
I'm not a professional theologian, and I'm not a pastor—I'm a professional scientist and a church planter. However, as C. S. Lewis observed in the preface to Reflections on the Psalms, being closer to the problem can sometimes be an advantage in explaining things:
Phil Hobbs
11/20/07
They're written for people who don't necessarily have a background in Scripture and theology, but who want to understand what Christianity really teaches, as opposed to popular misconceptions and media sensations. Emphasis is on things that people get stuck on: For instance, we won't be spending a lot of time on whether you should be nice to people (you should), or whether you should mind your own business (you should), but we will spend time on good versus bad kinds of judgement, and on when and how to talk to a brother or sister about something they've done.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...but does that mean that only Christians can go to Heaven? Is there hope for my unbelieving friends and relatives? Are all the old certainties obsolete? Is religion disproved by science? Why do bad things happen to good people? Can we really know anything about God?
I'm not a professional theologian, and I'm not a pastor—I'm a professional scientist and a church planter. However, as C. S. Lewis observed in the preface to Reflections on the Psalms, being closer to the problem can sometimes be an advantage in explaining things:
The fellow-pupil can help more than the master because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago that he has forgotten. He sees that whole subject, by now, in such a different light that he cannot conceive what is really troubling the pupil; he sees a dozen other difficulties which ought to be troubling him but aren't.That's the sort of thing I'm hoping we can do together here—first aid, not brain surgery. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Phil Hobbs
11/20/07
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