One of the most common questions I have heard in the context of Bible classes and small group discussions is "How does this apply to us?" Or it comes in a comment like "I think this applies to my life by..." Generally speaking, if a sermon or lesson is not obviously "applicable" then it isn't considered good. If the topic does not have something to say specifically about my life, struggles, situation, or context then it is of no use.
Applicability is a double edged sword, in my opinion. We obviously want the lessons and sermons we hear in church or the devotional books we read at home to speak to our lives. Every time I teach or preach I want the people I am speaking to come away with something that helps them in their walk with Christ. I want to be "applicable."
The double edge is that I think we too narrowly and selfishly use the term "applicable," hence my use of quotes. When someone complains that a lesson or sermon isn't "applicable," I often find that it is because it doesn't directly address their personal situation. What was given could be of immense value to someone else or be about a general topic that needs to be spoken about, but it wasn't aimed at ME specifically.
Applicability is not a bad thing, in fact it is good, but our near idolatrous quest for it has truly hindered our spiritual growth. The quest to be "applicable" has led to many churches and teachers avoiding essential theology in favor of topics that pander to specific groups, topics that need to be rooted in biblical teaching in order for them to make sense. If I cannot take a tidbit from the sermon or lesson and incorporate it into my ongoing life then it is a failure.
So, we don't talk about the Trinity, or Incarnation, or Final Judgment, or even the Cross very much because it isn't "applicable" or "practical." Churches avoid deep discussion about theology and the Bible because it "doesn't help people where they are." Instead we put on marriage classes, parenting seminars, and even ways to resist the culture discussions.
Are these things bad? By no means! The problem is not a marriage class, for example, but the fact that we skip the deeper foundations that the biblical picture of marriage is based on. We try to build a structure without laying the foundation first. In Ephesians 5 Paul paints a striking image of marriage, basing the union of man and wife on the union of Christ and the Church. This is a deeply theological text that is loaded in imagery and symbolism about marriage that depends on a deep understanding of the mystery of Christ and his Church.
To properly and deeply understand what Paul is saying about marriage you must first really understand who Jesus is and what the Church is. We must understand the nature of salvation, the way Christ wields authority, and what it means to love and submit as shown by Christ. Once we establish these foundations we can then talk about how marriage reflects this deeper reality. The problem is that skip the first part and start talking about marriage, or some other "relevant" topic, without challenging our biases and presuppositions with who God is and what God has done.
All of the "applicable" topics, which are important to discuss, depend on having a firm foundation and focus on Christ. Our desire to have all our lessons and sermons be about us is problematic precisely because the Christian faith is not about us. It isn't about how we can fit God or church or the Bible into our story, but rather how we fit into God's.
This is the real crux of the matter. Is my faith primarily about me or God? Is faith something I have because it is beneficial to me or because I desire God? When we make applicability, selfishly defined, the standard I think what we are saying is that this is really about me and my situation. If this church or topic cannot help me the way I want to be helped then it isn't worth it.
However, if my faith is truly about longing for God and trusting in Christ what could be more applicable than learning of the mysteries of the Divine? What could enrich my life more than delving into the character and nature of our God? The more I learn of God and what God has done the more I see how I am called to live. As our outlook, mind, and entire being is shaped into conformity with Christ it is going to spill over into our marriages, parenting, finances, relationship with our culture, and everything else we deal with. Nothing will be able to stop it.
The idol at the center of our obsession with applicability is, as per usual, ourselves. If learning more about who God is doesn't seem "practical" to you, then I dare to say that the problem is in your heart. Does this mean that every sermon and class should be about complex theology? No. There are issues that we deal with that the churches need to address.
The struggle is finding the balance. If all you do is expound on complex theology and never address the lives of people you're missing the point. Theology, deep Bible study, and all the rest is meant to enrich the life of the church as they live in the real world. If all you do is talk about contemporary issue after issue without rooting everything in the presence and work of Christ then you're missing the point. Nothing is more applicable than knowing God.
So I say that applicability is a double edged sword. When used incorrectly it produces a people that are self centered and not rooted in God. When used correctly it produces a people who are rooted in Christ, empowered by the Spirit, growing towards the Father, and able to face the challenges of life robustly and confidently. So I pray that all of us and our churches are applicable.
Comments
Post a Comment