(Pt. 2)
6) Learn to write well.
I broach this topic with great humility knowing that I am early on in my own compositional journey. Suffice it to say, you need to learn how to communicate clearly and concisely through written word. If you’re good at this, you could take that last sentence of mine and say the same thing with 40% less words. Try writing your sentences 2-3 times with different words. Find the single, perfect adjective for a noun. Use strong verbs. Read this book everyday: http://www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Style-Fourth-Edition/dp/020530902X. After you finish reading it, read it again. The truth is that everyone is on a journey with their writing. Get the basic rules down and then keep experimenting with your style. You have a unique voice that deserves to be heard clearly. Don’t stifle yourself with bad prose! If you need any help editing your work, then head over to my friends at Ivy League Editor. They offer great feedback for a great price! You can find them here: http://ivyleagueeditor.com/
7) Talk to people.
Professors. Friends. Pastors. Your Spouse. People you like. People you don’t like. People further along in their degree. People early on in their degree. Conversations need to become your best friend. Why? Because good theology doesn’t happen individualistically. Good theology grows out of a community of people. The reality is, you’ll never really know if you’re ideas are any good unless you share them with other people. Intellectual virtues such as epistemic humility and openness play an important role here (For a great read on the relationship between intellectual virtues and epistemology see: The Inquiring Mind: On Intellectual Virtues and Virtue Epistemology by Jason Baehr. Available here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Inquiring-Mind-Intellectual-Epistemology/dp/019965929X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390330126&sr=8-2&keywords=intellectual+virtues). Also, don’t let fear of “not having anything intelligent to say” keep you from conversing. Sometimes conversation is the best way to work out your ideas!
8) Helpfully engage with your local church.
You know the old stereotype: a person goes off to Seminary and gets so caught up in studying theology that they forget how to participate graciously in their local church. Don’t forget – your study of theology is not for self-aggrandizement. It’s inherently an act of service to the body of Christ. Ideally, therefore, your time spent studying should result in tangible acts of love in your local church. This is your unique form of neighbor love. Maybe your church needs someone to help with small groups or a book club. Great! See if God is calling you to help with that. Maybe your church doesn’t need anything like that. Maybe your studies have indirect influences on your church body by their impact on your character. Perhaps you become a more loving or kind person because of what you learn in your theology classes and that empowers you to love and serve others at church.
This may be an idiosyncratic point, but I’ve found it to be so helpful. If you’re married, remember that your most important responsibility (after your faith) is not to your books, but to your best friend. Do your best to put your books up by 5 or 6pm so you can have evenings together. Remember to take your spouse out for dinner and on meaningful dates (do a quick Google search for “Date Ideas” if you’re having difficulty coming up with good ideas). Your spouse is your biggest cheerleader, so make sure you remind them that you are also theirs. Remember, publishing multiple books, speaking at prestigious conferences, making an “academic” name for yourself means nothing if you forgo devoted love to your spouse. The homefront is always your first arena for success!
Knowing yourself is the most important goal to strive for. Our hearts are ever so cunning. We can deceive ourselves regarding our motives. We can deceive ourselves regarding our goals. We can deceive ourselves regarding our present state. Not surprisingly, these misguided realities can directly affect what our theological conclusions are. Scripture reminds us that the “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). We cannot drift from that position of submission to God and his ways and still hope to produce good theology. I’ve found the Ignatian Daily Examen to be helpful as I’ve attempted to keep my heart focused in this way. It’s a strikingly simple way to “…keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). If you’re interested in learning more go here: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/
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