The examples given to us in Holy Scripture for living the Christian existence, particularly in the New Testament, are people like the Godman, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, like, Peter, John, Paul et al. Their lives, respectively, embodied the message, the Kerygma, the Gospel itself; indeed, as Christ in Himself is the Gospel by the Holy Spirit. So, when I look out at the Christian existences in the 21st century I scratch my head. The Christian existence is in fact a deeply theological existence. Theological existence is simply living participatio Christi (participant with Christ), it is thus, inhabitatio Dei (inhabiting God’s triune life). Hence, to live in this world as a Christian has no compartments. There is, or shouldn’t be, a discipline known as “academic theology,” “biblical studies,” “practical theology,” “pastoral theology,” so on and so forth. The Christian existence ought to be one that is drenched in the Holy Lifeblood of Jesus Christ. Our veins ought to be running through and through with Immanuel’s blood, as we are partakers of the triunely divine nature, in and through union with Christ. For sure, “the life is in the blood.” And if the blood that drives the Christian’s life is in fact the Godman’s blood, then our lives will reflect a theological existence full of witness and worship wherever we go as emissaries for the Kingdom come and coming.
On a more pointed note: I will never let other Christians, Christians who believe that attending church once a week, or reading a Bible verse every now and then, push the Christian existence into the ghetto of the academic’s ivory tower, or even into the pastor’s study. The Christian existence is a theological existence all the way down. Reading so-called “academic theology” books is a false category of segregation in the Christian existence. That is to say, the work of doing that type of activity is not reserved for so-called “eggheads” and “nerds,” who get off on being considered smart, and a cut above the rest of the plebes in the pews. It is a trick of the Enemy that leads Christians to believe that the work of the faith is left only for the clergy and clerics; and this is the case, even more so, for those of us who are Protestant Christians with “our” Priesthood of All Believers. This type of work is incumbent upon so-called everyday and lay Christian. All Christians have been given the resources to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. All Christians have been given the charge to be ready to give an answer for the faith, which then entails rigorous and devoted study, reflection, within a prayerful and doxological frame; indeed, as faithful stewards of the gift of Life we have been given and are now participant within in Jesus Christ.
If someone attempts to push me into this corner just because I seemingly have a passion for reading “deep” theology books, reading the Bible over and over again, so on and so forth, I will repudiate such pushing with vehemence. Christians have settled for much too little in the Christian existence. They have allowed their respective “leaders” to lull them into remaining “dumb,” in the name of just being “regular.” The Christian existence doesn’t even have such categories available to it. To whom much is given much is required.