The Art of Approaching Ideas

Not in the too distant past, I was listening to lecture by a fellow Christian about the “way things were” in her explorations of dance and faith. While all those listening seemed to come away with poignant moments of affirmation and tools to keep going in their dance education, some of her theological claims didn’t sit well with me and I couldn’t shake it. In the aftermath of further processing those claims, I jotted down some thoughts on what I thought was important to remember when ideas are presented, and questions arise. It’s just a quick reference that I hope to keep developing. 
 

1. Develop Discernment - Your relationship with God is not curated through others but it is shaped by the Word of God. Christianity claims that God is a personal God, so approach His Word and approach HIM. Developing discernment through Scripture and knowledge of the character of God is key. 
2. Don’t ignore your questions/confusion - look it up, research, study, read broadly, and converse with other Christians. That might mean confronting assumptions you hold, or it might mean you need to know the truth and that what you heard was incorrect. 
3. Look It Up – was a scripture sited? Look it up and read more around that “proof-text” for its context and more clues to what the author had in mind. The author’s intentions are important; the Divine Author and the human author, in historical and cultural context, that relayed those inspired words from God. 
4. “Scientists are finding…” – remember that science is subject to interpretation/ fact vs. interpretation.  Also, keep in mind that when someone claims that “scientists agree”, it’s not likely. Reading arguments or interpretations from all sides of an issue are important as well as asking which scientists’ findings are being sited and are they relevant and viable. 
5. Experiential Truth - Don’t get hooked into a wonderful experience - something you emotionally needed does not automatically mean all that Christian said is true and right.  Popular culture today will tell you that your experiences and emotions are king when it comes to how you “know” anything. If that were true, that would mean when a child expresses feeling stupid, she really is, instead of a clearer interpretation of embarrassment or anxiety. In a spiritual context, there are reported trance-like experiences in other spiritual practices, not just Christian services.  If your “experience” doesn’t line up with the picture of spiritual life in scripture, you may want to investigate further. Your feelings of “rightness” are not necessarily an indication of God’s approval or touch in your circumstance. 
6. Accountability - Find people who will challenge your ideas and sharpen you. Not people who disagree with you for the sake of disagreement, unnecessarily. Life in constant conflict is not helpful or life-giving. But those people that are listening carefully enough to challenge you in the areas where your understanding is thin, when you need more research on facts/details or that will be courageous enough to challenge your assumptions are a vital part of life as a body of believers. It is arrogance to go it alone and unbiblical to only find people who will tell you what “your itching ears want to hear”. If you are resistant to accountability with other strong disciples, there may be a deeper sin issue that needs attention.

 
God is not afraid of questions and doubts, but we need more theology, not less, when it comes to fleshing those questions out.  These issues have eternal implications. We can’t afford to be lazy about counting the cost of true discipleship in Christ and we ought not be prideful about our need to live an examined life lest we find ourselves in serious danger of a life wasted. 

---

PC: Living Water Dance Company, AD: Amy McIntosh, promo photo shoot, photo by Rachel Bruce Johnson