Writing about Session: 1 Introduction to the Theology Program, Francis Sloan shares her thoughts on one of the discussion questions.
Discussion question #4: In the “Who are you and why are you taking this course” section, which of the nine types of people do you identify with most? Explain.
To be honest, in encouraging my husband to take this course, David suggested wives take it along with their husbands. So, here I am. To answer the ‘why I am here’ question for myself took some reflection. I suppose I identify the most with “Traditionalist Teri”. This persona wants to learn, but her traditions and preconceived notions bind her. She is taking this class to have her traditions confirmed to be true (or false in my case). Part of my spiritual journey involves religious traditions that turned out to be completely wrong.
During a time in my life (30 years ago) I was seeking a church that had more “substance” than the rural Iowa church I was attending. I was looking for spiritual growth but was not challenged by the church or other Christians around me. During my search I came across a magazine called, ‘The Plain Truth’. It delved into areas of the Bible I had never considered. The first challenge presented in this magazine was that the Sabbath was the seventh day (Saturday). I didn’t believe this so I sent away for their Bible studies and literature to help me understand. Their literature convinced me that we were also commanded to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread, Passover, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.
I was convinced that these teachings were true so I contacted one of their pastors, who baptized me. I was a devoted member for 10 years, observing the holy days noted. The church did acknowledge that Jesus was the son of God, but Jesus was not the emphasis. They felt the modern Christian holiday observances, such as Christmas and Easter were based on pagan tradition, so they were not observed even though Christ’s birth and resurrection were acknowledged. Observing this church’s beliefs, one was truly set apart from other Christians and the church taught that they were chosen or set apart by God.
But … something happened. The head pastor over all the churches made an announcement one day during the Feast of Tabernacles. From the founding of this church, he said, they had asked the wrong questions and based their beliefs on the wrong premise or foundation. They overlooked grace, they overlooked that Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Our observance of the Old Testament holy days would not save us. Christ did that. Grace did that. The Church had been built upon the wrong foundation.
Chaos ensued. Too many people could not accept that they had lived their lives based on a lie, and had blindly followed this belief (including myself). Too many had taken a stand to defend this belief and many had made sacrifices for this belief including broken marriages, lost jobs, etc. I. personally, can partially attribute the end of my first marriage to this belief. The church was shattered and splintered into many small factions.
My reaction to this announcement was skepticism. I never stopped believing in God, but was skeptical of any organized religion thereafter. I just quit going to church, but continued to pray God would lead me. I believed if he wanted me in a church again he would guide me. How could I ever know if any church’s beliefs and teachings were true? How could I ever know what the truth was or is?
Why study theology? From my perspective, so I and others will not be so easily deceived and blindly follow false teachings. I desire confidence in the truth because I will have a solid base of understanding. I want to be able to discern false teachings and follow Jesus Christ. He is the only way. I want to be able to totally put all false beliefs on a shelf so they will not influence the rest of my life in Christ. My journey is just getting started (and I am 62).
Frances Sloan