Jenga Theology?

A friend of mine recently had a profound comment on a common Christian approach to personal theology... he called it "Jenga Theology."

Basically, he said that way too many people construct their faith based on a few "churchy truths." These truths aren't bad, or even necessarily wrong. However, the problem occurs when people rest their entire faith on top of this "Jenga" tower of "truths."

Then, one day, someone comes along and pulls one of those truths out of the stack. This "truth" is either refuted or questioned, and suddenly the "Jenga Christian" finds their entire faith crumbling and imploding. This Christian finds themselves turning away from God and questioning everything about their faith, rather than just questioning that single block.

It's important that Christians focus on their relationship with God--not on building up a math equation of "truths" that add up to faith. We can't reduce our faith in God to an equation. We need to make sure we keep God more important than everything else in our life. Our relationship and faith in God should supersede theological arguments, bible verses, catechism, and sermons. Everything else can and will be questioned and poked at. No one can refute an authentic, genuine relationship with God.

In this way, when someone argues with you over "young earth" vs "old earth", believers' baptism vs. infant baptism, Armageddon, etc... you can carefully analyze your beliefs on that truth alone without questioning your entire faith. Theology can be adjusted without disintegrating. Your faith in God should be steadfast and unwavering.

For example, just because you find out your mom's natural hair colour isn't blonde---that she's been dying it for decades---doesn't mean that you should question your relationship with her. Something you misinterpreted as "truth" (i.e. her natural hair colour) needs to be adjusted, however your relationship with your mother remains steadfast. In the same way, theology can shift without losing faith.

Don't let life changes, University studies, cynical friends, or difficult circumstances demolish your faith. Your relationship with God is the stone foundation underneath it all... it's not the fragile artifact sitting atop the Jenga tower.