Why I Care About Theology - Part One

I work as a consultant for the railroads on the design and implementation of safety control systems. I am returning to school to pursue a doctoral degree in workplace theology, ethics and leadership. When one of my colleagues heard I was going to pursue a doctoral degree in theology he asked me why does an engineer care about theology?

The short answer, is that theology provides a cosmic perspective on my work, a perspective on the boundaries and constraints on my life, and a perspective as to why work doesn’t always go the way I wish it would go.

Understanding theology inspires me as an engineer to pursue my work with passion, excellence and joy.

A Cosmic Perspective from the Story of Creation 

One of the first things I discover when I study theology, is that there is a God who exists outside time and space, who exists outside our cosmos, who personally created our universe.

The story of creation tells me that engineering is not just a job, but a privilege bestowed on me by the Creator. It is my privilege as an engineer to discover, explore and utilize the systems and principles of engineering which God created to make train operations safer for all of God’s creation.

Theology teaches me that God’s desire is to come along side me to help me to discover what I need to know about His creation so that I can do my job with excellence.

The story of creation tells me that I am created in God’s image. My desire to manipulate and create new things from the resources God created; my desire to bring order out of chaos using the principles of engineering that God defined; my desire to communicate engineering concepts clearly and simply are all reflections of the image of God.

The story of creation sets me free to enjoy what I am doing without worrying about what other people think or say, for the story of creation tells me I live my life to please my Creator.

How does the story of creation influence how you see your work?

Next week … How theology offers a perspective on the boundaries and constraints of life.

Walking in the Light

They were stunning works of art molded by God’s own hands to serve and glorify him. They walked along a path that was like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day (Prov 4:18). Yet dark shadows surrounded this path. On one side rocky cliffs soared upwards, and a steep ravine dropped off on the other side.

They walked without fear of the darkness that surrounded them, because God in his righteousness was going before them dispelling the darkness, and the glory of the Lord was their rear guard.

There were trails leading off into the darkness. When they paused by these trails they could hear voices seductively whispering “come and explore, come back”. Turning from these seductive voices they drank deeply from the springs of living water along the path – God’s fountain of grace and love. 

They walked along the path carrying flickering lanterns. When one of their lanterns seemed like it was about to flicker out… somebody would lean over and pour out tender-hearted words of encouragement. At that moment a sweet smelling-aroma would waft around them and the flickering lamp would burn brightly having been refilled with the oil of grace. 

At times someone would stumble and fall under the weight of a heavy burden. Immediately one of the stronger members would stoop down to carry the heavy burden. Another would patiently bind up the wounds of the one who fell and sacrificially care for him or her until together they were walking with a spring in their step and holding their lamps up high. 

People came stumbling out of the shadows toward their light – a beacon of hope for weary travelers seeking rest, and a searchlight calling lost people out of darkness. With great joy they would welcome them in their midst and invite them to journey with them to their destination – a place of righteousness, holiness and truth. 

Sometimes they came upon someone battered and bruised lying at the side of the pathway. Without fail, somebody in their group would gently nurse the wounded person to health. Sometime this person would join them carrying a blazing lantern, and at other times the person would slink back into the shadows. This didn’t matter. 

Along the way you would hear them singing together and expressing thanksgiving to God their Father for all their blessings.

Our New Nature

In Christ we have a new nature. In Christ we have clean fresh clothes of righteousness and holiness designed by God himself for us to wear.

When we were without Christ, it was like we lived blindfolded in a world of illusion cut off from the life of God through ignorance and insensitiveness (Eph 4:18 – Phillips). This old sinful nature is like comfortable old clothing, which Satan tempts us to put on again. Unfortunately this old clothing is rotted through and through with sin.

The choice is yours – will you fling off the dirty clothes of the old way of living? Will you put on the new clean fresh clothes made by God’s design?

Even though we are in Christ we face a continual choice. Do we let the Holy Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes or do we allow the prince of the power of the air (the devil) to influence our minds?

Satan's influence on our minds

When the devil is at work in our minds our thoughts wander toward corruption, lust and deception. The devil seduces us to pursue falsehood, sinful rage, dishonest gain, unwholesome speech, and hateful attitudes. Satan would like us to believe that there can’t be anything wrong with harboring bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice because successful people all around us are living this way. But he is wrong. Lying destroys the intimate relationship and unity that we have in Christ. Anger gives the devil a foothold in our lives. Dishonest gain keeps us from helping other people. I don’t need to remind you of the effects of foul and abusive language because you have experienced hurtful words yourself. These behaviors hurt other people who are created in God’s image, who are so precious that Christ died for them. Choosing to behave this way grieves the Holy Spirit who is God’s personal pledge of our eventual redemption.

The renewing power of Christ

The sacrificial love of Christ beckons us to sacrifice ourselves so that our neighbors grasp the truth of God’s love. The blood of Christ offers healing for our wounded pride and cleansing for when our temper threatens to get out of control. The generosity of Christ who blessed with our skills and abilities offers inspiration to make an honest living, not just for ourselves, but so that we can be outrageously generous with those in need. The words of Christ, filled with grace and hope provide the wisdom we need to control our speech so that we can impart grace to the hearer with words that are good, helpful and edifying. The transforming power of God enables us to choose loving attitudes and actions which are pleasing and acceptable in God’s sight. Loving as Christ loved, caring for others as Christ cared, forgiving as Christ forgave delights the Holy Spirit.

Choose fresh clothes!

Today, keep your mind fixed on Christ, not the sensual desires, addictions and greed whispering distractions in your ear. When you consciously choose to put on God’s fresh clothes of holiness and righteousness the knots in your stomach will be released and you will be free to be the person God created you to be.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6

Blessed by God

God has blessed you with grace and gifts that the rest of the body needs. God hasn’t just randomly handed you some gifts like a cafeteria hands out food on a plate. God has carefully apportioned for you exactly the right amount of grace and gifts for your temperament and your life situation. Nobody else has been blessed with exactly the same grace and gifts you have. The grace and gifts you have received from God are perfect for who you are and for where you live and work today. God’s gifts to you overflow from the rich diversity of Christ’s character. 

God didn’t give you grace and gifts so that you could build a monument for the world to see. God didn’t bless you so that you could make a name for yourself. God blessed you with grace and gifts so that you could be a blessing to other people and that God’s name would be glorified. 

Your community needs you to exercise your grace in your unique way alongside other believers so that we all can come to unity in our faith, and unity in our knowledge of the Son of God. In community when we each do our work using the grace and gifts which God has blessed us with we are helping each other to remain healthy and to grow spiritually and emotionally. 

When you don’t exercise your gifts, you are leaving somebody somewhere at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching. Without your life of grace somebody may be deceived by lies so clever that they sound like truth. Satan is working overtime to trick Christians with cunning craftiness and deceitful plotting. The gifts and grace God has blessed you with are exactly what somebody needs today so that they aren’t carried away by Satan’s deceitfulness or tossed to and fro by the storms of life. 

When you share the grace God has blessed you with, when you exercise your gifts, you are helping the body of Christ grow to its full maturity in love.