I’ve been reflecting on shame and guilt recently as I finish editing the book of papers from the Honor/Shame conference held last September at SBC. While shame and guilt are a normal part of the spiritual formation cycle, my wife, a spiritual director, and I, as we counsel people inside and outside of SBC are saddened that so many people, especially pastoral staff and their families, suffer from feelings of toxic guilt and shame that oftentimes come from church leaders and church teachings that are limited in perspective. There are those who suffer guilt from not being ‘good enough’ because their God is too ‘legalistic’. And there are others who feel shame from misfortune, illness, and trials as they are told that they are not holy enough for God to bless them.
As I reflect on our experiences, I am reminded of a classic book by J.B. Phillips, entitled Your God Is Too Small. Phillips rightly argues that our understanding of God is limited by our worldview. For many, this worldview is defined by what has been learnt in their own church. But Phillips points out that God can never be fully defined by any one single church, denomination, or systematic theology. It would be akin to having a diamond with just one facet. A diamond’s worth and brilliance increases with the number of facets it has. Hence, when a particular denomination states that theirs is the only correct interpretation, they are doing a great disservice to their members.
SBC is blessed to be non-denominational. Our task is not to reinforce a particular denominational theology, but we teach all the various systems of theology and ask students to deconstruct their own worldview and reconstruct a revised worldview in light of Scripture. With students and faculty across the spectrum of churches, from Bible-Presbyterians to Brethren to Pentecostal/Charismatic, and from Singapore and around the world, our worldview prisms are shaped with multiple facets that enable us to see God with increasing brilliance.
I have personally benefited from a spectrum of theologies. My grandfather was a Dutch Reformed pastor and my father a Presbyterian pastor. I studied at Regent College (Anglican and Reformed) for my Master of Divinity, and my favorite professor was Dr. Gordon Fee, who hailed from the Assemblies of God. My doctoral studies were at Asbury Theological Seminary, a Wesleyan institution. So when people ask about my theological position, I define myself as “a Reformed Wesleyan”. It might sound like an oxymoron, but it humbly expresses the breadth of my understanding of who God is. It is in this all-encompassing God that I am able to experience the fullness of God’s love, care, and purpose (see Ephesians 1).
Are you struggling in your faith? Perhaps your God is too small. Perhaps you need to expand your knowledge of God to understand the heights, depths, and breadths of who he is, his love, grace, and mercy, and his good and perfect will. Then you will realize that God not only accepts you for who you are, but that, as well, he is more than able to help you overcome any and every circumstance you face to fulfil his purposes for you.
For Reflection
- Reflect on your spiritual journey. Which theological views have defined your understanding of God?
- What other views can help you broaden your perspective of God’s infinite nature and character?
