As I have matured and experienced ministry and mission, I have recounted this phrase many times and reflected on its accuracy. I found myself replicating this action and repeating the phrase to students I have taught over the years. Balance is indeed key to life and ministry. It is sometimes very difficult to get right, but I have observed that if I can have fresh enough eyes to see where balance is needed, the end result of ministry is typically less self-centered and more God-centered.
As I study the concepts of discipleship and missional formation, this balancing act must remain in focus as well. It is sometimes very easy to become so theoretical about a topic that I miss the practical outworking in front of my eyes. In reading a recent text entitled "Christian Formation," I came across this quote and this balancing act once again comes into focus:
"The social sciences are those sciences in which humans are the subject of study. Most relevant to the Christian educator are those that address human development—the growth and maturing of humans over their lifespan—and learning theories, which are frequently tied to the development of cognition or intellect in humans. The Christian educator is caught between two roads: the theological and the theoretical. The theology road is traveled frequently by theologians and by all those professing Christian faith, while the theory road is congested with those participating in the scientific community—in this instance, those who engage in the social sciences. But must we choose? Is there not a new path—a third way—to travel through the woods?"
(In "Christian Formation: Integrating Theology and Human Development" by Estep, James R.; Kim, Jonathan H, (2010).)This is a nice balance of theology and theory that I am now undertaking as I research and write in this degree program. In order to develop a theory of ministerial & missiological training, however, a sound theological knowledge is necessary and will lay a foundation for good practice. No theology, and the theory becomes my own: self-centered. Apply theology to the social sciences, however, allows for theoretical development which is God-centered. The "travel through the woods" begins to take shape as I find the specific path that God is directing the research. If he is not in it, its a waste of my time and His! But if he is in the research (and I believe Him to be), then I trust that there will be a practical outworking of the theory developed in the process.
Thanks for your prayers as I travel the path.
And about old books - here's the latest acquisition into my library: "The Defenders of the Faith; or, the Christian Apologists of the Second and Third Centuries" by The Rev. F. Watson. This particular edition was published in London in 1893. I just thought it was cool to have a 120 year old book in my library!I also found an original pamphlet written by T.B. Barratt, credited for introducing Pentecostalism in Europe. The pamphlet was written in 1909. No picture because I gave it back to the college to be kept in the Donald Gee Archives of Assemblies of God-Great Britain historical documents.
