It has been my observation now for many years that in the majority of Christian circles (in the UK at least) the general opinion, whether expressed consciously or otherwise, is that we live according to a theology of lack;
“We’re lucky to have what we have”
“This is our lot, make the most of it”
“I guess this is what God wanted for me”
“We can’t expect to have more than this”
“It’s wrong to have more than we need”
“After all, we are poor [in spirit]”
“You can’t expect that from God”
“God gave me this suffering to teach me something”
“It’s wrong to be rich when there are so many needs in the world”
“I don’t like to be a God-botherer”
These are the kinds of things people regularly express and believe. The logical conclusion to what many believe is that God wants us to scrape through life having barely enough to get by and that God is unlikely to give us anything more than a spiritual rescue.
What they don’t realise is that not only is this built upon a theology that has grown from people’s experience, but it’s also not scriptural. It also reflects people’s general lack of knowledge and understanding of Scripture and God Himself.
Theology
Theology means ‘the study of God’ and Scripture should be our anchor point for that study. What I have come to understand is that much of our theology – the theology that generally affects people’s daily lives – has increasingly become shaped by experience rather than truth. This leads to misplaced belief and the rise of an impotent church that lives according to unscriptural lack.
One example of this is in healing. We’ll not get into this subject here but there is a general unbelief for healing because of the theology that has been built around it. A lot of the teaching around spends more time on why we shouldn’t expect healing, all the reasons why it won’t happen and we should never get our hopes up in praying for it. Many people will readily question God’s capacity or will to heal. Given that background it’s no wonder there is little to no faith when healing is prayed for; so then it doesn’t happen, the experience reinforces the teaching and so it is perpetuated.
Another example is the Holy Spirit. How many times have you heard it said by someone that they’re going to some service, event or conference for a ‘topping up’ of the Holy Spirit? And how many times have you heard people talk about their various levels of emptiness of the Holy Spirit in their lives? We have often referred to ourselves as vessels that become empty by various means, whether by leaking or giving away. These views are so readily expressed by many and often as a reason for their current state of lack. This is widespread, wrong and dangerous thinking, not least because it’s unscriptural. (This will be dealt with in a future article).
This theology of lack which has been built upon experience rather than truth is also found in teaching on spiritual gifts, spiritual warfare, finance and provision, success, the fruit of the Spirit, life in the Spirit, miracles and signs and wonders, Christlikeness, and more. It is time to change our thinking – renew our minds; stop simply reading books and start reading the Bible, stop living just by experience and start living by the truth!
Truth
Scripture says that it is the Truth that will make us free (John 8:32). See also John 3:21, John 8:31b-32, John 14:6, John 14: 16-17, John 15:26 & John 16:13-14.
We’ve allowed our life experiences to manipulate the truth of God’s Word, and so reducing our perception of truth to a limited earthly level, rather than the truth of God’s Word drawing us into a divine reality and transforming us into His likeness in ever-increasing glory.
When there is a difference between our life experience and the Word of God, it is our experience that is not aligned not God’s Word - His “word is truth” and “the word of our God will stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8b).
I would rather set my expectations according to Scripture, stretch my faith and perhaps at times be disappointed than have low expectations (or none), require no faith and achieve my goals in my own capacity. The first requires God, the second doesn't - I don't want to operate in a way that can be achieved by my own means, but in a way where it is impossible to do it myself and so need God's abilities to achieve it.
This is only really touching the whole subject, so much more could be said! But take some time to let this take you on a personal journey of exploring where you are with this. Perhaps take time with others to explore it together. Let me know how you get on!