Food for a thought

Got some snow last night--it is so pretty. I have to admit I'm already looking forward to summer though, but it'll get here soon enough.

Lately, I'm realizing how much I enjoy pondering theological questions. Does the crucifiction of Christ completely eliminate the need for the law in the Christian life (including the 10 commandments--not all of them are repeated in the NT)? How well has the Bible been preserved throughout our history? While God's word is in no doubt, perfect, how much margin for error should we allow for human transcription issues? Since the Bible is so easy to misinterpret or take out of context--is it possible for an average layperson with no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew to defer the true meanings of the text? Does the tribulation happen after or before the rapture--if that does exist at all? How does the Bible (in context) give us guidance on how we conduct ourselves in everyday life whether it be disciplining children, dating/courting, making friends with the unsaved, eating, etc? While on that point, does Bible reading give us a false confidence of a relationship with God? That is, because we can infer a list of "standards" from reading, we're automatically close with Him?

The thrilling part is, I don't have answers but I'm learning is more than okay to wonder and have questions. I used to be scared that these questions and others would make me less than a "good" Christian. I was afraid the answers wouldn't be there and that I'd end up agnostic or worse. If I could summerize all this up, it'd probably narrow down to two questions: what is truth and what is the extent of our Christian liberties?

The next blog posts will be reflections as I begin seeking after knowledge. As a poet Alfred Tennyson said:

I falter where I firmly trod,
And falling with my weight of cares
Upon the great world's altar-stairs
That slope thro' darkness up to God,

I stretch lame hands of faith, and grope,
And gather dust and chaff, and call
To what I feel is Lord of all,
And faintly trust the larger hope.