What is theology?

What is theology?

Is it the study of God?

Which is better? Having a real experience with God which seems so real or to read about him in the Bible which seems less real.

Example,

Imagine yourself walking along a beach and looking out into the South China Sea along the east coast of West Malaysia. It is indeed the South China Sea because you can see it, hear it, feel it and even taste it but when you look into the map featuring the South China Sea, it seems less real.

However, the map is needed to navigate if say, you want to sail to Hong Kong. Remember that that map includes the real experiences of hundreds of people who have sailed that sea. These are not elementary drawings but advanced cartography.

Our experiences though real are elementary and quite often confusing because it does not quite often leads us to action.

So theology is a map that leads us to God

This is my reflection based on the readings of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity (Book Four - Theology)

Salt needs to be received and given

Salt needs to be received and given

Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

13 ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Like the Dead Sea where its tributaries empty into it with minerals at all, we receive graces, gifts or charisms from God. 

However, we cannot stagnate with the salt that we were given. If not, we will be like the Dead Sea where life cannot exist. We need to share that life-saving message we possess and which was so freely given to us through Christ. 

By sharing that message, the salt within us will retain its taste and we will be save from the fires of hell. 

In sharing, we need to bear this verse  from  Colossians 4:6 in mind6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.