Gifts: Introduction

 Before we can begin our study, let's lay some ground rules.

First, this is more than just a scholarly treatise. While some scholarship will be involved, the ultimate goal is to impact life in such a way that it becomes more understandable, more productive, and just more fun.

Since I hope this will reach a variety of people with a variety of backgrounds, I want to discuss some buzzwords that some may bring to the table.

First, let's talk about Theology. This comes from two Greek words: θεός (theos) and λόγος (logos). Essentially, it means "God words" or "words about God." It forms the general term for the study of God and is broken down into various aspects of God, e.g., holiness, righteousness, justice, mercy, etc.

Another term we should look at is Doctrine. Generally speaking, this speaks to the core beliefs of any given sect, such things as salvation, original sin, justification, etc. The Greek word found in 2 Tim. 3:16 translated as doctrine is διδασκαλία (didaskalia). It, along with another Greek word, διδαχή (didache), are related to teaching. Zodhiates discriminates between them as the latter being "the substance of teaching" and the former "the act of teaching." Clearly, doctrine has to do with the teachings of any specific group regarding their understanding of the principles of the Bible. Throughout history, these have usually been promulgated through the personal revelation and inspiration of a single individual, e.g., Luther, Calvin, and others. Even in modern times, whole new sets of teachings have been promoted by an individual and enhanced through the use of technology (read "Tele-evangelists").

One term that originally had positive connotations and now not so much is Dogma. This word is used within groups to indicate concepts that are immutable and should be universal to all who profess to believe common truths. In my experience, however, it tends to describe a stubborn an intractable adherence to certain concepts, often even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. An example of such might be found in the tenets of Atheistic Humanism. Adherents to this belief system deny the existence of God, let alone the possibility that he could have created everything that is. Even the concept of intelligent design is anathema to a true believer of this faith. But I digress.

Not that any of these terms have any real impact on what I'm going to do here. It is my intention to draw from various scriptures (without proof-texting) that might seem to the casual Bible reader as random and unrelated. However, in my view, they are actually the core of Christian life, after initial salvation. By understanding them more fully, I hope the reader will have a "lightbulb" effect and begin to see life in a new light (pun intended!).

Here we go!!