Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Theology and mind masturbation
Theology-Sometimes it’s really only mind masturbation
I love theology, I like to learn & figure out what God has said in His word to us about Him and who He really is. But sometimes I just get burned out on it. I end up deceiving myself thinking I know more of God when in reality I just know more ABOUT Him.
I love to fill my mind with knowledge about the bible and spiritual things. This is not all wrong, but when it turns into puffing myself up, it ends up being mind masturbation. I believe that I have a gift of understanding of the knowledge of God’s word. But this gift is a gift that Jesus gave me when He called me to Himself, it is nothing in me in case some were to think it was (LOL), no… I have a pretty strong feeling I was the only one thinking this. Of course some think I don’t have this gift at all.
When I fall into the trap and deceive myself thinking it is me then I end up forcing what I think is the truth on people and arguing needlessly over theology. This leaves me dry & empty because I have set my mind on the flesh and deceived myself instead of setting my mind on the Spirit. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:2 if I have the gift of teaching and knowledge but do not have love then I am nothing. Wow that hurts. If my mind is not set on Spirit, if I am not walking by the Spirit then it is not love. If I am masturbating my fleshly mind with knowledge then I am so caught up on myself that I can’t see, I can’t see that I am only loving myself instead of others. This gift is for others, not only me, and the Lord can’t use me to help others because I am not listening to Him I am too busy turning the gift given to me into an idol in place of Him. I have turned to knowing ABOUT God instead of simply just knowing Him.
Just knowing more ABOUT God leaves me empty, aggravated and burned out in my soul and spirit. I am not posting here to say theology is wrong or not needed, it is needed very much, but the danger is simply knowing ABOUT the One who created me and thinking all is well in la la land and not really knowing Him as He relates to me personally in my life. John 17:3 and 1 John 5:20 clearly states that eternal life is knowing Jesus Christ. It is not just knowing ABOUT Him.
But even after being the stupid sheep that I am, my God and my Lord still loves me just as I am, He still wants me, He still desires that I really, really know Him. Is that just awesome or what? This makes me so grateful that His ways are not our ways, His ways are higher than our ways, His ways are dying for me instead of casting me away in my sin.
So by the grace of God I will just back off awhile and spend more time being a doer of the word instead of a just wind bag talker. I will post more on my site here and less on other sites. I know God loves me and I know I love God. I just want out of this body so I can love Him like I should. But that is up to God not me, right now I am what I am in this body so please pray for me when you can.
Anyway this is just a confession I needed make. I don't mean any dis-respect by the title of this post, I titled this way so maybe some would be enticed to go ahead and read it.
Grace & Peace
Kris
I love theology, I like to learn & figure out what God has said in His word to us about Him and who He really is. But sometimes I just get burned out on it. I end up deceiving myself thinking I know more of God when in reality I just know more ABOUT Him.
I love to fill my mind with knowledge about the bible and spiritual things. This is not all wrong, but when it turns into puffing myself up, it ends up being mind masturbation. I believe that I have a gift of understanding of the knowledge of God’s word. But this gift is a gift that Jesus gave me when He called me to Himself, it is nothing in me in case some were to think it was (LOL), no… I have a pretty strong feeling I was the only one thinking this. Of course some think I don’t have this gift at all.
When I fall into the trap and deceive myself thinking it is me then I end up forcing what I think is the truth on people and arguing needlessly over theology. This leaves me dry & empty because I have set my mind on the flesh and deceived myself instead of setting my mind on the Spirit. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:2 if I have the gift of teaching and knowledge but do not have love then I am nothing. Wow that hurts. If my mind is not set on Spirit, if I am not walking by the Spirit then it is not love. If I am masturbating my fleshly mind with knowledge then I am so caught up on myself that I can’t see, I can’t see that I am only loving myself instead of others. This gift is for others, not only me, and the Lord can’t use me to help others because I am not listening to Him I am too busy turning the gift given to me into an idol in place of Him. I have turned to knowing ABOUT God instead of simply just knowing Him.
Just knowing more ABOUT God leaves me empty, aggravated and burned out in my soul and spirit. I am not posting here to say theology is wrong or not needed, it is needed very much, but the danger is simply knowing ABOUT the One who created me and thinking all is well in la la land and not really knowing Him as He relates to me personally in my life. John 17:3 and 1 John 5:20 clearly states that eternal life is knowing Jesus Christ. It is not just knowing ABOUT Him.
But even after being the stupid sheep that I am, my God and my Lord still loves me just as I am, He still wants me, He still desires that I really, really know Him. Is that just awesome or what? This makes me so grateful that His ways are not our ways, His ways are higher than our ways, His ways are dying for me instead of casting me away in my sin.
So by the grace of God I will just back off awhile and spend more time being a doer of the word instead of a just wind bag talker. I will post more on my site here and less on other sites. I know God loves me and I know I love God. I just want out of this body so I can love Him like I should. But that is up to God not me, right now I am what I am in this body so please pray for me when you can.
Anyway this is just a confession I needed make. I don't mean any dis-respect by the title of this post, I titled this way so maybe some would be enticed to go ahead and read it.
Grace & Peace
Kris
Comments:
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It was a little hard to get past the title but it does get one's attention. I identify with a lot of what you have said. I love theology, Church history and trying to get beyond the surface reading of the Written Word of God. I am slowly learning that I don't need to have all the answers. I don't need my theology to fit like a puzzle with all the pieces perfectly in place. Trying to accomplish that will in the end, destroy our faith, rather than building it up. I have been there and done that.
I am learning to pull from many spiritual traditions. This has stretched my faith way beyond my rather narrow thinking in the past. I agree with what you said, “I to don't want to just know more about God. I want to know God.” I doubt that I am really willing to pay the price this will take however. That is the reason I settle for knowledge rather than intimacy.
I believe the only way to know God in this fashion is to be still, be quiet and listen. Have you tried to really be quite for any length of time? I accomplished five minutes quite meditation this morning after a time reading the bible. After that I was drawn in other directions, like checking my favorite blogs.
Bry
I am learning to pull from many spiritual traditions. This has stretched my faith way beyond my rather narrow thinking in the past. I agree with what you said, “I to don't want to just know more about God. I want to know God.” I doubt that I am really willing to pay the price this will take however. That is the reason I settle for knowledge rather than intimacy.
I believe the only way to know God in this fashion is to be still, be quiet and listen. Have you tried to really be quite for any length of time? I accomplished five minutes quite meditation this morning after a time reading the bible. After that I was drawn in other directions, like checking my favorite blogs.
Bry
Call it whatever you want and whatever the reason I'm just glad to know YOU"LL BE POSTING MORE! (hehe)
With the exception of having the gift I sympathize. The more I know Him the less definitive my theology becomes. I agree with Bry on the quiet times. For years I would spend literally several hours in morning darkness loving Him with my mind. These days 15 miniutes seems a strain.
Great thoughts brother (in spite of the title hehe) ;-)
With the exception of having the gift I sympathize. The more I know Him the less definitive my theology becomes. I agree with Bry on the quiet times. For years I would spend literally several hours in morning darkness loving Him with my mind. These days 15 miniutes seems a strain.
Great thoughts brother (in spite of the title hehe) ;-)
This is a great post and very thought-provoking!
I think many fall in that trap, it's exactly where satan would want us to be, wallowing in pride and self-glorification. Instead, we should be grateful for the understanding God gives us. Even then we ought to keep in mind:
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
Thanks for sharing this. It's a great reminder to question and judge myself.
BTW, very eh...capturing title, haha.
God's Grace.
I think many fall in that trap, it's exactly where satan would want us to be, wallowing in pride and self-glorification. Instead, we should be grateful for the understanding God gives us. Even then we ought to keep in mind:
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
Thanks for sharing this. It's a great reminder to question and judge myself.
BTW, very eh...capturing title, haha.
God's Grace.
Awesome thoughts!!! When we emancepate theology from the task of serving the community of God we are really only doing damage.
Thanks ya'll for the comments.
bry, I still plan on meeting up with you, I am extremly busy right now.
kc, I plan on posting more here....when I get the time. I am heading back to birmingham tomorrow, chicago next week and on and on and on and on.:)
Adam, you PAGAN!
Thanks for stopping by Wes & Corry. I really appreciate what ya'll have to say.
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bry, I still plan on meeting up with you, I am extremly busy right now.
kc, I plan on posting more here....when I get the time. I am heading back to birmingham tomorrow, chicago next week and on and on and on and on.:)
Adam, you PAGAN!
Thanks for stopping by Wes & Corry. I really appreciate what ya'll have to say.
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