In school we learned that the atom had a nucleus of protons and neutrons with electrons whizzing around the nucleus. I got that. Someone gave me the book The Quantum World which required a readjustment of my picture of the atom. It seems that both protons and neutrons are made up of even smaller particles-quarks–held together with each other by gluons. The book has 294 pages of information like that. Now it’s my brain whizzing around.

I had a similar experience when I studied theology. I thought I understood God pretty well, but in seminary we read books which made me wonder if I understood anything. I could spend 20 minutes reading one page and be no wiser.

Christians have debated whether we should engage in complicated theology or just keep it simple like we learned in Sunday School. But is that good enough for the rest of your life? When I taught college students, I could sometimes see that what they learning about religion was running afoul of what they had learned as a child. What they needed was their beliefs to develop just as the rest of their intellect was doing.

My advice as a pastor, not as a university lecturer, is that if your beliefs aren’t causing you any trouble, fine. But if you are having trouble fitting what you believe to this crazy modern world, maybe your beliefs have to develop. Read a book. Take a class. Talk to other people. Consult your pastor. You’d be surprised what learning can do for you.

Read James 1:5  and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne