I attribute this Topic to how i see an ever increasing common problem amongst the Human Race, Religions and Individual Beliefs. I myself speak from a personal level on this topic, In fact still to this day i am still reminded in my own life of this area of Theology Vs Faith.
Every Human Being has the right to live a life based on what they choose to believe! Being Human, it is only Natural to allow yourself to be Governed or motivated by Natural Sences, like Sight, Smell, Touch and Taste. We choose to live in a Realm or existence that we permitt our beliefs to be confirmed or deferred by those Natural Senses.
Then a Man named Jesus changed the whole face of our belifs, by challenging our Natural sences with a Faith message. Jesus revealed to his followers the importance and difference of a Spiritual connection with God and not just Theological.
So is Theology or Faith the foundation of Belief?
That’s a Good Question!
It’s definitely not a new Question. It was a Question that even Jesus was asked by a Jewish Ruler and answerd accordingly with his reply. Jesus's teachings were to be Spiritualy dicerned which required only Faith! Jesus himself performed all his miracles by Faith in God! And he also new that God's people would require signs (Visual) in order for them too believe his teachings, due to there lack of Faith! Visual then being one of the 4 Natural senses mentioned earlier on.
So Let's read about a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a ruler of the Jews. To my understanding, He would have had alot of scriptual knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament and all it's Laws and Covenants.
One night he secretly came to Jesus, Why do i say secretly? Because in the context of the time in which Jesus ministerd, many of the Jews and in particular the Scribes and Pharissee's did not agree with Jesus's teachings and despised him for it. In fact they were already begining to plot how to kill him....you can read for yourself in any of the Gospel Books.
So if you were Nicodemus, would you want to be seen talking to Jesus being a Pharisee? It's most likely Nicodemus approached Jesus under the cover of Darkness(Night), which in it's self funny, because Jesus was the light amongst the darkness as scripture later states.
What's even more amazing is that Nicodemus could not deny the Miracles that Jesus performed! He said so himself. So Nicodemus was faced with the question of...what do i do?
Let's read some passages taken from The writting's of John in the Book of John....
Ch 3 vs 1-2
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
Vs 3-6
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Vs 7-10
Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it came, and where it goes: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a Teacher of Israel, and know not these things?
Vs 11-12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak what we do know, and testify what we have seen; and you receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?.......
John 6:63-66 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who don't believe."....
As it is written and what we have just read, Jesus spoke clearly about 2 different Realms of Belief! One of the Natural (Theological) and the other being a Spirtual (Faith) type of belief. Which one do you think Jesus used? I do believe that Theology and Study is very important in any persons Beliefs and Growth. For I am a Bible College Student, studying the Theological truths of the scriptures myself. However, i found my Faith (Spiritual) growth to be that which gives my theology a foundation to build upon. Everytime i read the scriptures and apply my faith to the Biblical principles of Living! I find great reward and spirtual Blessing manifest in my own life. My relationship with God moves out of the Realm of my Head, and comes more from my Inner Being. I will leave you with 1 last scripture to ponder?
John 4:23-24 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
