We remember that there are two contexts for our lives – the physical (nature) and the spiritual (beyond nature). Even though they visit each other they are also contextual on their own. One is revealed in experience and the other in divine revelation. There is overlap to provide communication, influence, education, understanding, wisdom, application related to both contexts. In the origination of nature from the creative acts of God, and the value system that causes creation to function at high effectiveness when engaged – the spiritual context holds primacy. This primacy is further supported in the perpetuity (immortality) of that appearing in the spiritual context, and limitation (mortality) in the natural.
In the natural state, thinking mankind works through concepts of meaning summarized in the term philosophy. Related to the concepts of explanation, understanding and conclusion (wisdom) in the spiritual context we find theology. Both may be included in the genus of philosophy for mankind when they are treated as separate or combined in the natural context. There are numerous overlaps in the two contexts and significant differences that can only be managed through faith or avoided through skepticism.
The skeptical position appears to satisfy many humanists about theology, but many theists are skeptical of much that appears in natural philosophy. Many representations in sacred and human philosophies are correct and some are false. There is enough intellectual clashing to intimidate all engaged persons. Scripture instructs us to acknowledge the clash, and accept the final denouement to be ordered of God – Revelation 22:11. This acceptance of real and forensic reality does not mean we avoid the affirmations of our lives, the positive witness of our views. That witness includes primarily our spiritual affirmations of the mission of Jesus Christ who lived out both the natural (birth to death) and supernatural context, (as demonstrated in word to miracle and physical resurrection to heavenly habitation in ascension). So the mystery of God offers the context for the natural to be transitioned through a redemptive process to spiritual acceptance by God, and transition to heavenly citizenship. Earth procedures, rightly applied in ideals, become somewhat allegorical for the understanding of spiritual procedures. This explains part of overlap.
We lift four phrases from Scripture that refer to Christian theology – not to natural philosophy but wholly to the heavenly context for defining Christian human beings in heavenly relationship. This is theology without the natural context – except as natural context serves as a means for understanding. Some of that understanding is covered in effective faith (ignorance or superstition in the wholly humanistic perception). Ye are a chosen generation – in Scripture this relates to chosen or elect including involvement in those who are chosen of God. Involvement is cast as foreknowledge. Ye are a royal priesthood – in Scripture this refers to the kingly nature of Christians – their own private priests going directly to God. Ye are a holy nation – in Scripture this means Christians will have unity and identity of their own holding – blameless and innocent status in kingdom relationship to God. Ye are a peculiar people – in Scripture this means purchased in the implication that no other redeemed persons have ever been added to God’s kingdom.
In the Old Testament the allegory was set up with Israel made the analogy of a spiritual kingdom under construction. The allegory was violated by sin so the teaching must be extracted in a revealed theology that answers questions posed by persons who feel the legitimate need to have more than the simple truths of the heavenly family as found in children, (true and accepting) believers in the person and message of Jesus Christ and the desire of mature adults (true, accepting and seeking) to have a larger theology than less mature believers. There is spiritual innocence to be respected so to provide qualification for any people in any era to gain favor with God related to his acceptance. His love precludes his holiness so to accept the life principle of human mortality weakened in its violations, and redeeming it to immortality. It is similar to that human acceptance of the child and adult of earth – both of whom have the same human life. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020