Does it Really Matter?

Those of you who have read any portion of my blog know that I am not a theologian, and I don’t believe it is in my future either.  In fact, I find reading books written by theologians to be incredibly ...what’s the word?...Oh yeah….dull.  I know that there’s an important role to be played by Biblical scholars, but it’s not for me.  My preference is to let them do their ‘thing’ and I will do my best to fulfill God’s purpose in my life.  I’m just not built that way.  The problem I see with over-analyzing the Bible and biblical history is that too much attention gets paid to the details and the big picture is missed.

I’ve recently seen some interesting details of Jesus’ birth circulating on Facebook.  It seems that someone took the time and certainly some effort to explain that Jesus was not actually born in a stable.  It’s a compelling argument to understand the culture of the day and also to understand that some things are lost in translation.  What amazes me though is that some 2,000 years after the birth of Christ, someone figured out it wasn’t a stable he was born in.  Was this some big secret that was meant only for people in the 21^st century?  Why is it that God granted some special wisdom to somebody in recent times, but chose not to reveal that part of the story earlier?  I choose to believe that if God’s son had been born in a spare room in someone’s house, then we would have figured it out much sooner.  But here’s the bigger question – WHY DOES IT MATTER?

We Christians do ourselves a disservice to argue over some minor details.  Born in a stable…born in a back room…born in a field – it doesn’t matter.  Born of God and the virgin Mary, raised as the son of a carpenter…those are the things we know for sure and the rest of it just isn’t important.  Did Mary ride a donkey or a horse?  Does it change God either way?  I admit that I do not think deeply about spiritual matters.  I don’t feel the need to delve into a big theological study every time I am confronted with something I don’t quite understand.  Will I read and pray and seek advice?  Sure, but I am convinced that God’s intention was for us to know Him as easily as possible.  We do not need a Master of Theology degree or an M. Div. to have a relationship with God or to call ourselves Christians.

There are lots of varying viewpoints floating around on numerous subjects.  Did God create the world in seven literal days or does each day represent a period of time?  Will God call us up to heaven pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or post-tribulation?  I could go on and on, but the point I want to make is that these things really don’t matter.  Does it change my relationship with God if each day of creation was really symbolic of a longer period of time?  Do I live my life differently if I know I’m going pre-trib?  God doesn’t ask us to become scholars and have an understanding of everything He did, does and will do.  He asks us to believe with faith like a child.

                Heavenly Father, there are so many things that I do not understand, and many more that I never will.  I trust that you’ve known what you were doing since the beginning of time and that you will continue to be in control in ways beyond my comprehension until the end of time.  Thank you that my salvation does not depend on the depth of my scholarly knowledge, but rather depends wholly on the depth of your love for me.  Let me not lose focus of the big picture and your call upon my life.  AMEN.