Systematic Theology & Spirituality
As a person of faith, a practice I stumble with, I acknowledge that the mystery of God is very likely beyond human understanding. “God is love” might be the best summation of it in our terms. But by studying the development of religion, we can gain a greater sense of what God is trying to achieve, and through that, understand what is expected from us more clearly.
Judaism was a great experiment in doing the will of God to serve as an example to other nations. Parallel religions of the era went through similar patterns of development, often featuring a king-and-priest model where religion dominated. Yet, they all seem to culminate with the same imperative: God is love, so be like God.
The challenge for us, if love is the ultimate goal, is to understand through experience the length and breadth of that imperative.
I do not step into this territory lightly. This work is the culmination of my lived experience as a former pastor, combined with years of researching and writing books and articles—accumulating over 21 gigabytes of data on the subjects listed below.
The following is a framework for a systematic theology that expresses the ideals of true Christian worship and of those who follow “The Way,” guiding us toward a path of reconciliation with God and active inclusion in the Kingdom.
Glossary of Special Terms
Click to view definitions of key terms used in this theology.
- Chata'ah: The ancient Hebrew word most commonly translated as "sin," which literally means "to miss the mark," like an archer missing a target. It implies a human limitation or error in the experiential learning process, rather than inherent, unredeemable depravity.
- Diasophic: Characteristic of an open, incisive, and perceptive system of thought. It cuts across available ideas to find sound judgment and relevant solutions, refusing to be trapped in rigid ideologies.
- Incratic: Characteristic of a closed system of thought that is turned inward. It relies on stale ideas, strict dogma, and the self-imposed exclusion of outside wisdom.
- Praxis: Truth in action. The living out of theology and spiritual concepts through intentional, compassionate, and practical behavior in the real world.
- Felt Meaning: A concept (derived from psychologist Eugene Gendlin) indicating that true understanding is experiential and felt physiologically in the body, rather than just memorized as data.
- Proximal Spiritual: The near-at-hand realm of human endeavor where spiritual ideas are expressed, including relationships, justice, sociology, ethics, and applied compassion.
- Transcendent Spiritual (Superconscious): The realm reaching beyond the physical self, associated with abstract thought, creative inspiration, deep connectedness to the universe, and the direct encounter with the divine.
- Ekklesia: The gathered community of Jesus followers; a living, hospitable body functioning as co-creators with God to heal and serve the world, rather than a bureaucratic institution.
The Eight Pillars of Systematic Theology
I. Ontology: Moving Past the "Volcano God"
Historically, humanity has tried to appease an angry, unpredictable God through strict rules, rituals, and sacrifices. When the volcano erupted, the ancients assumed God was angry. But God is not a volcano waiting to erupt.
The divine acts as a guide or a leader, working through the transformation of human hearts and minds to do good in the world, rather than through fear, absolute control, and brute force miracles. Spiritual maturity is an evolutionary continuum moving through three awakenings: The Law (which establishes basic justice), Mercy (which awakens compassion and forgiveness), and Love (Agape—a conscious, detached commitment to invest ourselves for the benefit of another person).
II. Eschatology & Prophecy: The Prophetic Pattern
Prophecy is not fortune-telling; it is a moral compass. The Biblical "Prophetic Pattern" is an if-then warning system regarding how we treat each other. When a prophet warns of destruction, the goal is never actual destruction—the goal is to inspire a change of heart so that mercy and reconciliation can take place (as seen in the story of Jonah).
We must distinguish between prophets (who deliver messages about social justice and moral behavior) and seers (who predict the future to satisfy curiosity or consolidate power). Apocalyptic literature was written to give hope to oppressed people during specific historical crises, not to set a fixed expiration date for the planet. The true "signs of the times" to watch for are when love leaves people's hearts and violence becomes pervasive.
III. The Doctrine of Sin & The New Covenant
Modern religion often uses "sin" as a weapon of condemnation, but the ancient Hebrew word most commonly translated as sin (chata'ah) simply means to "miss the mark." God created humans with an inquisitive nature, knowing we would learn through the trial-and-error of experience. When we stumble, God is not waiting to destroy us; God offers immediate forgiveness.
To understand certain New Testament strict codes of conduct, we must understand the historical context of the Apostle Paul reacting to the exploitative sexual practices of the Roman and Hellenistic empires. Jesus replaced the burden of legalism with a new covenant: Love. God writes the law in our hearts through empathy and conscience. All actions, interpretations, and beliefs must be judged through the lens of whether they help or harm others.
IV. People, Place, and Salvation
The story of Adam and Eve reflects our God-given, inquisitive nature. We were created to seek, experiment, and understand. Our missteps are the crucible through which we learn compassion.
Jesus dismantled the idea that God is confined to a specific building or tribal identity. True worship happens in Spirit (our guiding intent) and in Truth (dependable, proven actions demonstrating love). Salvation is not merely an "escape hatch" for the afterlife; the Kingdom of God is here, now, and forever. It is the immediate, transforming act of changing direction—moving away from the false idols of fame, money, and power, and instead becoming servants to one another.
V. Christology & The Way of Praxis
Jesus did not come to establish an exclusive bureaucratic religion; he came to represent the actual nature of God to humanity as a messenger of peace and reconciliation. He embodied theology as praxis—the living out of truth through intentional action.
When Jesus said "no one comes to the Father except through me," he was not creating an exclusionary VIP club. He was stating that his method—the path of unconditional love and mercy—is the universal truth and the only actual way to experience the divine. It is no coincidence that the earliest followers simply called themselves followers of "The Way."
VI. Bibliology & The Nature of Scripture
The New Testament only mentions scripture being "inspired" a single time. Inspiration is relational; the writers of the Bible were deeply moved by their experiences with God, and they wrote down their impressions of that relationship.
The Bible is not a modern history or science textbook. It is a tapestry of circulating ancient stories, visions, and letters of early followers actively wrestling with their faith—sometimes arguing and misunderstanding along the way. Because it is a record of people navigating their relationship with God, it serves as an illuminating example, not a binding, literalistic legal code.
VII. Spirituality, Consciousness, and the Unseen
Human existence operates on three levels: Physical (driven by survival), Proximal Spiritual (the near-at-hand realm of human relationships, justice, and creativity), and the Transcendent Spiritual (the superconscious realm of abstract thought and divine connection).
While Artificial Intelligence can process data, it lacks felt meaning—the physiological, experiential connection that humans have with words and events. True spiritual understanding transforms our attitudes. Just as science accepts unseen phenomena (like dark matter or quantum entanglement) by measuring their effects, spirituality is proven by its effects: profound behavioral transformation, the universality of Near-Death Experiences, and the moral evolution of society. Spirituality opens Potential Spaces, allowing us to speak new realities of love and justice into existence.
VIII. Ecclesiology & The Role of the Church
The true church—the ekklesia—is not a building or a political bloc. It is the living, breathing body of Christ in the world. Its role is fourfold:
- To Be an Authentic Community: Providing a stable mooring of acceptance and hospitality in an isolating world.
- To Relieve Guilt: Proclaiming the Good News of immediate forgiveness, helping people drop the paralyzing weight of missing the mark.
- To Facilitate the Divine Encounter: Creating "potential spaces" where people can step out of the physical noise and connect with the transcendent.
- To Equip for Praxis: Providing the psychological and spiritual tools for actual human transformation and social justice.