The Value of Understanding

It is easy to lose our way when we start spouting doctrinal jargon.  Even the simple and most used words like "salvation," or "atonement," or "grace" can become for us like a verbal maze which only seems to get us deeper and deeper into not knowing.  Saying the right words does not always equate with understanding.  They can become like a cover hiding what we do not really know, but are embarrassed to admit to others that we do not know.    

One of the ways we can move toward understanding what we think we should know, but do not know, is to struggle with it until we are able to articulate something akin to a definition in our own words.  Sometimes it seems that I made it up the stairs of educational advancement by memorization.  I learned to memorize stuff without any real understanding of what I was learning.  It gave an impression of understanding, but it was really just repeating back what had heard.   

As we seek a faith that is uniquely ours, it is not enough to be able to say back what we have heard.  It is important that we study, ask questions, and struggle until what is before us becomes such a part of us that we no longer need the words and understanding of others.  The old time religion may have been good enough for our mother and father, and it may be good enough for any of us, but understanding what we say we believe and accept as the core values of our spiritual lives better serves us when it belongs to us.