THE TRUTH WE SEE

British theologian P. T. Forsyth suggested around the turn of the 20th century that "the truth we see depends upon the men we are." Forsyth was writing in a time before it had become customary to use language that made it clear that women can see truth too (a shift in language I take to not only be "politically correct" but more importantly just plain correct for those of us who claim to be shaped by the Christian gospel), but despite all that it seems to me that he has captured something true and important. Our moral and spiritual formation affects our ability to apprehend truth. Our ongoing struggle with sin makes us ever "prone to wander" not only morally but intellectually as well. Forsyth's statement points out the essential connection between theology, spirituality, and ethics, capturing the truth underscored repeatedly in the epistle of First John: there is no knowledge of God (theology) without love of God (spirituality) and obedience to God (ethics). That's the central conviction that drives my work as a novice theologian. That's the main line of thinking I intend to pursue with this blog. Along the way I'm sure I'll throw in plenty of stuff about my wife and my kids, the books I'm buying and (less frequently) reading, the music I'm listening to, and the like. I've found that these things are a pretty essential part of my theological, spiritual, and ethical formation - the man I am and the truth I see - anyway. I hope this blog will be a way to help me think a little deeper about these issues, and, if anybody every reads this thing, I hope you'll help me think deeper about these issues too.