theology and sociology.

Lately I have been musing on the whole " Your theology dictates your sociology" idea. I think that it is one of the best quotes that I have ever heard, and it goes so incredibly deep if you let it.

For instance, it's so interesting how when we speak with people about who they are interested in dating we will ask " so, are they a christian?" Really, when I think about it, that is such a shallow question. So many people call themselves christians, but their theology is certainly not all the same. Many people will say they are a Christian, and yet have no real interest in following God. Even for those of us who really DO want to follow God with everything that we have... we sometimes see things differently.

Those differences, translated to a marriage situation, would make an absolutely HUGE difference! Still, somehow the only question that we see fit to ask is " is he a Christian?" That is so ridiculous.

Remembering back to my teenage years, I dated a few fellows. One young man that I dated was a "christian," however looking back I seriously question whether he had a real relationship with God at all. That man was SO damaging to me. He hurt me worse than anyone else in my dating life ever did, because he was able to make me believe that if he wasn't pleased with me, God wasn't either. Nothing in the world could have hurt me more than that. Nothing in the world is more important to me than pleasing God, and one day hearing " well done, my good and faithful servant." The ways that this young man manipulated me were so cruel, and so damaging because I could have answered " yes" to the " is he a Christian?" question.

There were other young men that I dated, among them were even people who weren't believers at all. While these people hurt me as well, it was NOTHING compared to the pain that the "Christian" young man who wasn't really following God caused. No one who doesn't claim to be a Christian can try to make their approval and God's approval one and the same. They could hurt me, but not at the same capacity as someone who claimed to be saying what God was saying about me.

Your theology dictates your sociology. WHAT you believe about God, and how well you know him, are really the important things. Those are the important questions to ask.

Travis and I agree on childraising. We have the same stance on drinking, smoking, swearing, and gambling. We agree on our perception of God. We agree on the contract of marriage, and what exactly that means. We might not always get along, but our theology is the same. Both of us want, more than anything in the world, to have the deepest, most real, relationship with God that we possibly can have... and we will do anything to attain that.

We may not always have the same interests... but after a while you realize how much that really doesn't matter. When you see Jesus in your spouse, falling in love with them again becomes easier and easier daily. When you hear your spouse praying a heartfelt prayer, forgiveness becomes second nature. Out of your theology flows your sociology...

Out of your theology flows life...

Oh my, it is truly terrible the way that time will fly, and get away on you. It certainly does that to me.

There are so many things that I want to hang on to, but time flies and they slip from my grasping fingers.

I want to hang on to my daughter, keep her young, safe; shelter her tender heart from the indisputable hurts that will soon maraud her heart, despite my best efforts.

I want to hang on to the good days, the days where flowers, sunshine, joy, and love fill my heart to overflowing... but the rainy days come, along with their sadness, pain, and confusion.

That is when I must turn my thoughts to Jesus.

He is always the same, and I don't even need to desperately hang on to him...

He hangs on to me.

Then I get to look forward to eternity... and it's so good. It's so something to look forward to.

That excites me. It is so interesting living my life right now! I love it! Emma grows every day, and I am learning to make the sacrifice that every mother has to make... teaching her to become more and more independant of me. She is learning to push toys around and walk behind them. I am so proud of her! But she falls, and hits her head, and I think I cry as much as she does. Already every new stage brings about more indepenence for her. Every stage reminds me that it will get harder as time goes on. Right now it's bonks on her beautiful little head. Later, it will be scrapes and bruises as she falls off of a horse for the first time; then, skinned knees and elbows as the training wheels come off of her bike. Eventually ( heaven forbid) it will be hurt emotions, broken hearts, and delicate dreams coming to actuality. Her first date. Her wedding day. The day she makes me a grandmum. Every stage she is growing closer to me, and yet farther away. The only way I know that she will be okay as she becomes less dependant on me, is knowing that at the same time she will become more dependant on God...

That is my purpose, I suppose. I need to teach my children to become more and more dependant on God as time goes on, and stages come and go.

And one thing I know for sure...

He will never let them down.