Until about two or so years ago, about as much theology could be summed up in John 3:16. I knew the story of the Gospel. The Son became flesh, lived a perfect life in my place, died a horrible death in my place, and rose again. I had that down. And while this is sufficient to live and share with others the story of Christ, it was just one thin layer off the top of the knowledge of God. As I began, and continue to do so every day, to study who God is, who we are as mankind, and what the world is like according to the Word, the more the Gospel I learned.
Knowing God is like a diamond that has innumerable facets on it. I look (often) at my engagement band. It has one main stone, and several smaller ones along the sides. I could see it just fine looking at its main face, but the more I turn it and examine it, I learn more about it, and it becomes even more beautiful with all of its intricacies. I learn more about who I am in Christ and who Christ is the more I examine Him. The story becomes more beautiful to me the deeper I go. Instead of my sin becoming smaller the more "Christ-like" I am, I unveil more disgusting layers of the filth in my heart. And in return, I see Christ's sacrifice as even bigger, more weighty. It makes me want to fall to my knees in worship. And it makes me want to obey. His sacrifice is so large, anything I could think to give to Him would pale in comparison. It will humble you more than anything.
So why do some women, including myself at times, think theology is off limits to us? We all read our Bibles, which is more than sufficient to be our guide. But why do we think learning from "old dead guys" is so beyond us? Don't you think we as women could learn from great Christians of the past that have gone through life and learned things about God? Or picking up the huge book with all the big words and reading a couple pages at a time? I promise it isn't boring!
Hebrews states this, "...by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God..."
Do we not think this applies to us as women? Is it really ok for us to remain children in our faith, being spoon fed basic information over and over again by pastors once or twice a week? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of doing this. I want more. I want more of God.
When I "grow up", my dream would be to to instill a desire in women to learn of God on their own, and to teach them how. To be like the few women that I have been able to sit under and watch them live as biblical women. To be a part of transforming the coming generation of Christian women.
Desiring to learn theology doesn't always mean going to seminary. It doesn't mean becoming a missionary or pastor's wife either. Any woman, young or old needs it. It can help teenagers struggling through growing up. It can help a mother disciple her children. It can teach a wife how to be submissive to her husband in a Godly manner. It can give a woman compassion for the lost around her, for her family, for her friends. It will transform you. Inside and out.
Please join me in abandoning our tendencies of settling for less and being spoon-fed. Christ is our High Priest too!
In Christ.
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