Functional Theology

Have you ever considered the way you act and re-act to the pressures, struggles and trials of life reveals what you believe – it exposes the hidden parts of who you are? How you deal with those very difficult seasons makes your values public – everyone gets to know your functional theology – why you do what you do!

Are you confident you respond Biblically to the dilemmas you find yourself in, or does your mask need to be removed? You cannot hide your reality. Perhaps, that is the blessing of deep trials – the ones that burn to the core of who you are – are given you. Dross needs to burn.

The Refiner’s fire is always just and kind. Just when the fire is ignited in discipline and judgement of domesticated and denied sin, and kind when inflicted through tragedy and another’s sin against us – we live in a fallen world. Irrespective of the cause of the heat – humility should be our response. Always! When this is true we can respond correctly.

Consider the John Rippon hymn below:

How Firm A Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health; In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth; At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Do you rebel when the heat intensifies, when flames lick at your flesh nature – leaving you agonizing and writhing in either mental, emotional or physical pain?

It is never a comfortable nor a pleasant experience.

But, oh the fruit, and the growth that can come out of this. Have you ever seen a charred field with shoots of rich dark growth – the greenness reveals the vitality of the root. It is planted deep and the nourishment it has received forces it to rich growth. Can this be said of you?

• He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day (Psalm 91:3-5)

• You, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12).

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