How does one's theology change if not by study and prayer? I would think that most of what I've read is solid. I have read the Canons yes. Albeit roughly 5 or 6 years ago when I first came to faith. It is difficult to have only been in churches that essentially teach that all of these issues are not worth debating about. "The focus of the church should be the gospel and evangelism." That's all that gets discussed in the few churches I've been a member of. So baptism and all of these doctrines I have been left to study on my own, with others only purporting that such is only a cause for divisiveness. Forgive me if I have come across as arrogant or if my studying of these topics is worrisome. These are topics I am unfamiliar with is all. And maybe my theology as a whole needs to be seriously considered.
Thank you for your replies and resources. They have been nothing but helpful.
What I mean is that, in my experience, more harm results (rather than more blessing) when someone gets "pulled up" by his baptism. Uprooted, unmoored (as from an anchor). Many Christians don't realize their baptism has "roots." Baptist folk (I say this as a friend) will often regard their own baptism as just one (the first!) of many external faith-displays. Like a plant growing on the surface of the ground. And maybe they "rethink" the practice, and decide to
switch their conviction (i.e. the
practice) based on a few arguments and verse/passage interpretations that felt authentic. And they rip that plant off the surface of their religious and theological ground--in so doing, tear it away from the roots that, unseen, were slipping down into the soil.
Plop it down in another place. "These folk believe as I now believe." But here they have roots too. The soil here is a bit different. Can you start again to put down roots? These folk may have started a bit different, too. They were like tiny seeds planted deep; the water came, and their roots went down even as their shoot went up trying to find the sunlight, until it broke through the surface, a seedling with roots. Sure, you can put down roots, and become indistinguishable from the rest of these folk. But I've also seen some get blown and tossed. They pulled up their anchor, and began to drift. They drifted right on through the harbor of Reformed Theology and right out to sea. When they drop their anchor, they are in a strange harbor, and their old friends from the Reformed country wouldn't recognize them.
I'd rather people were transplanted, and made more of an organic change to practices that conform to their deep theological commitments.
I'm glad you're a student, and someone who seems motivated to get down into the substance of things. Some people start someplace they don't ultimately belong, and so they should find the best fit. Study and prayer is the correct method, but the choice of path is also important. So is the equipment. I hope you do already have a good beginning to finding your long-term home. Reading well is one good way of preparation, exercise, and growth in the journey of faith. Pray for a good church and good guides. Just stepping into the marketplace, latching onto the first guy who speaks English, could get you half-way up the mountain before it's clear he's a bad idea; or get you killed in an alley before you got ten steps.
Your instincts (apparently agreeable to our sentiments) have helped you along this far, and landed you among us. I'd call it grace, and not luck, and not your innate gift. Someone you might expect has your best interests in mind recommends you read and absorb a couple more good books. He's trying to tell you to build up some more of a foundation in a particular area,
and then you will be better prepared to deal with a certain challenge. It's the voice of experience--the old soldier--that's speaking to you, and warning you. Might be a good idea to try out what he's suggesting.
Blessings,
