While attending college one of my theology professors asked us a question. “What is the most mysterious and yet most important element in all of theology?” Of course being that he asked this to a room of young budding theology students we all had the correct answer.
So we began guessing what it could be.
“Perhaps Arianism vs. Trinitarianism,” suggested the first volunteer.
To which my professor answered, “No.”
Another student replied “Calvinism vs. Arminianism.”
“No”, came back our professor.
“Perhaps it is dispensationalism. Where do we draw the line?” asked another student.
Again the answer was, “No.”
We tried for over ten minutes using big words and arguments to try and answer our prof's question. To our utter dismay the answer always came back with a “No.” Each time becoming firmer and firmer. Till it was more resounding and then overpowering. We began to get desperate.
“Perhaps it's Creationism [Not what you thing] vs. Traducism.” (Study of how the soul gets to the body.)
You guessed it, “No.”
It was becoming clear that this ingenuous group of theology students were not as bright as we had thought. We guessed everything you could imagine. The origin of the world, the study of souls, free will, predestination, and even simple matters of unity. Still we hadn't guessed the most mysterious and most important element of theology. Someone even tried the inevitable Saruman vs Sauron (Lord of the Rings for those of you lost on this). Finally our professor banged his fists on the podium and said “No, I should fail you all right here and now!” If he did not have our attention before, he most certainly did now. And with that he read the verses before him:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:8-9 NASB
He lifted his head and said these words that I will never forget, “You see a whole room of theology students could not answer what any Sunday School child would have. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible told me so. Class dismissed.”
Check back for part 2.
