Where I Learned it

Last updated on: September 30, 2014 at 3:03 am by Michael Hardin

Where I Learned it 2014-09-30T03:03:23-04:00 Michael Hardin

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I have traveled in many church traditions and read in many more. Looking back I can say that no matter where I have traveled I have learned something. For me, life is a constant learning experience. Every group I speak with, every person I meet teaches me something new. I have sought to integrate what I have learned from each day into each week, each week into each month and each month into each year. Together the years constitute my life long learning experience.

What I learned from the

Roman Catholic Church: Love of the saints and church history. As a young boy I was completely enthralled with going to Mass. I just loved the smells and bells, the statues and the stories of the saints.

Fundamentalism: When I was born again, I was given my first Bible. I read voraciously in it. Fundamentalism gave me my love for Scripture.

Jesus Movement: That Christian community is not an ideal but a real possibility. I remember sharing life and meals with beloved friends every single day.

Calvinism: The beauty of theological structure and how a well thought out theological paradigm could be both awe inspiring and beneficial.

Lutherans: That reflection on God begins at the cross (Luther’s theologia crucis).

Methodists: The Wesleyan Quadrilateral (which I would finally christologize last year).

Anglicans: Love of liturgy and things liturgical. This could also be said of my RC upbringing but was made conscious to me in reading Anglican writers in seminary.

Charismatics: The beauty of spontaneity in worship and Christian experience.

Feminist theology: That male thinking is too often grounded in fear and that co-operation trumps competition every time.

Pietism: That connections between the head and the heart are vital and that authentic theology is relational.

Eastern Orthodoxy: That genuine Christian theology is mystical.

Baptists: That mission was important and sharing the good news of the Gospel was a gift.

Mennonites: That simple living is a blessing and one does not need to acquire things but can give oneself completely away.

Progressive/Emergent Christianity: That spirituality is seeking justice for the marginalized and is lived out in the real world.

Womanist Theology: That the experience of the truly marginalized must inform my reading of Scripture and life

Monasticism: The importance of ‘sacred time’, practicing the presence of God throughout the day.

Native American: That the creation is beautiful and we are all connected

In each of these traditions as I have experienced them there is an emphasis. I have sought out that emphasis or focal point and then integrated it into my life and theology. Each path I have taken has been useful. Tis true there are a few detours I have taken as well into some strange traditions. I won’t mention them here. Sometimes one learns what one doesn’t care for or what simply doesn’t work. I have enjoyed this life journey I am on and expect to continue to learn more each day. Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, ‘Life is lived forward but only understood backwards.” May we always stop and reflect where we have been and let go of the chaff whilst gathering the wheat.

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