An
Inkling
How
large is the universe? And how small are
the tiniest sub-atomic particles? For every
answer scientific researchers find, more questions arise. The more they learn, the more they realize
they have yet to discover. And until
they learned what they do know, they
didn’t begin to know what they don’t know.
I’m
a theology researcher. Not in a
professional sense. Some folks
theologize for a living. As a pastor theology
is only one of the balls I juggle. But it’s
a hugely important one, which I pursue both through Bible study and reading
theology books. So I’m a fairly serious
theologian, and have been for over three decades now.
Yet
it’s not as if those three decades have brought answers to all the
questions. Far from it. The farther I’ve gone with these theological
quests, the more I’ve realized that the same dynamic is at play in theology as
in scientific research – until you grow some in what you do know, you don’t
know what you don’t know.
It’s
the mystery of God. The more you get to
know of who he is and what he’s about, the more you realize that there is much
more to know, and much more beyond knowing.
And
it’s not just in reference to esoteric questions like how providence works or
the nature of evil. It’s also true for
such “basic” matters as God’s love. What
a happy discovery – to learn that exploring God’s love leads to more love to
explore! So too for such “basics” as
God’s grace, forgiveness, joy, and peace.
And get this: through the Spirit Jesus
himself enables the search – mystery upon mystery, and all good!
Happy
exploring!
Keith
