Academics & Faith
This is a devotional Pastor Nate wrote waaaaay back during his college years.
As you may or may not know, I am a college student. I attend a very nice, ELCA affiliated school, St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota. Now here’s the tricky part, I’m a religion major. I absolutely love my religion classes. I’m studying a lot of theology, but also looking taking classes about other world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism.
Here’s the problem, St. Olaf is a very academic community. So, while my classes require me to study religion, and read great works of theology and even read my Bible, it is all from a very different mindset, an academic mindset.
As I read works by Richard Bultmann, Albert Schweitzer, Friedrich Schleiermacher, William Hegel, Immanuel Kant, and many others, my personal faith life is being attacked from all sides. What am I possibly supposed to believe? Here are people 10,000 times smarter than I’ll ever be, committing their lives to studying Christianity, reconstructing the historical Jesus, and redefining what it means to pray from a theological standpoint. And here I am, reading all of this stuff struggling with what to make of it. I can’t disregard all that they are saying; the academic side of me won’t let me do that. However, there comes a point where I just have to turn it all off.
“The Fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.” (Hebrews 11:1 taken from The Message)
In looking over all the great men in the Bible, I realized something: Moses, Joshua, Abraham, the Disciples, Paul, John the Baptist, none of these guys ever thought their way to God. God came to them, and they faithfully responded.
I don’t know much, but I do know that no matter how much I think and reason and research, I will never be able to grasp God. He is infinite and so far beyond my comprehension. Through my life experiences God has been revealed to me again and again, God has come to me, and now I must respond with faith.
It is my faith, not my brain (thanks be to God) that matters, it is my faith that gives my life meaning.
Dear Lord, thank you for the ways You are revealed to us, so that we might trust and believe.
AMEN
As you may or may not know, I am a college student. I attend a very nice, ELCA affiliated school, St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota. Now here’s the tricky part, I’m a religion major. I absolutely love my religion classes. I’m studying a lot of theology, but also looking taking classes about other world religions such as Judaism and Buddhism.
Here’s the problem, St. Olaf is a very academic community. So, while my classes require me to study religion, and read great works of theology and even read my Bible, it is all from a very different mindset, an academic mindset.
As I read works by Richard Bultmann, Albert Schweitzer, Friedrich Schleiermacher, William Hegel, Immanuel Kant, and many others, my personal faith life is being attacked from all sides. What am I possibly supposed to believe? Here are people 10,000 times smarter than I’ll ever be, committing their lives to studying Christianity, reconstructing the historical Jesus, and redefining what it means to pray from a theological standpoint. And here I am, reading all of this stuff struggling with what to make of it. I can’t disregard all that they are saying; the academic side of me won’t let me do that. However, there comes a point where I just have to turn it all off.
“The Fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.” (Hebrews 11:1 taken from The Message)
In looking over all the great men in the Bible, I realized something: Moses, Joshua, Abraham, the Disciples, Paul, John the Baptist, none of these guys ever thought their way to God. God came to them, and they faithfully responded.
I don’t know much, but I do know that no matter how much I think and reason and research, I will never be able to grasp God. He is infinite and so far beyond my comprehension. Through my life experiences God has been revealed to me again and again, God has come to me, and now I must respond with faith.
It is my faith, not my brain (thanks be to God) that matters, it is my faith that gives my life meaning.
Dear Lord, thank you for the ways You are revealed to us, so that we might trust and believe.
AMEN
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2026
January
365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - St. Ignatius ExamenHymn Reflection - God of Love, O King of PeaceThe Book of Deuteronomy - Establishing CommunityThe Epiphany of Our LordRated PG: Thoughts on Isaiah 58The Unexpected Ways of God: Mistakes Epiphany Rising Stars - Guidance365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - Lectio DivinaEpiphany Rising Stars - InspirationThe Book of Joshua - God Keeps the PromiseThe Baptism of Our LordRated PG: Thoughts on Jeremiah 29:7The Unexpected Ways of God: Prayer365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - Centering PrayerThe Book of Judges - Abundant MercyRated PG: Thoughts on Matthew 5New BeginningsEpiphany Rising Stars - SeasonsEpiphany Rising Stars - Knowledge of Love365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - Prayer JournalingEpiphany Rising Stars - ChangesEpiphany Rising Stars - AweThe Book of Ruth - Challenging our AssumptionsStewardship SermonUnconditional LoveThe Unexpected Ways of God: FeastEpiphany Rising Stars - God Hold's the Future365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - The Jesus PrayerEpiphany Rising Stars - Beautiful SaviorThe Book of Ecclesiastes – Finding Meaning in God
February
Fourth Sunday after EpiphanyEpiphanies For Epiphany - GraceThe Unexpected Ways of God: SuprisesEpiphanies For Epiphany - Sanctification365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - GratitudeEpiphanies For Epiphany - Law & GospelThe Book of Philippians - Hope in Times of TroubleThe Fifth Sunday after Epiphany Epiphanies For Epiphany - CreationThe Unexpected Ways of God: Sports MoviesEpiphanies For Epiphany - Trinity365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - Seasons, Rituals, and TraditionsEpiphanies For Epiphany - FaithThe Book of Song of Solomon – Love as a Reflection of God’s FaithfulnessThe Sixth Sunday after EpiphanyEpiphanies For Epiphany - SilenceThe Unexpected Ways of God: Niagara FallsThe Season of Lent365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - Daily Life CuesUnlearning for Lent - I am what I accomplishThe Book of Isaiah - Hope in the Midst of JudgementThe First Sunday in LentHymn Devo - Lord of All HopefulnessYou Are SpecialUnlearning for Lent - I am what I accomplish CopyRated PG: Thoughts on Luke 4Unlearning for Lent - Performative Faith
March
The Second Sunday in Lent Unlearning for Lent - Scarcity MindsetLet Go and Let God Unlearning for Lent - DespairHidden but Still ThereUnlearning for Lent - Silence as Absence The Book of Lamentations - Hope in the Midst of SufferingThe Third Sunday in LentUnlearning for Lent - The Need to Fix EveryoneHymn Devo - What a Fellowship, What a Joy DivineUnlearning for Lent - The Idol of Comfort365: Spiritual Practices You Can Do - Breath Prayer
2025
January
February
Zombie ChurchFundamentalsFeasts & BanquetsAcademics & FaithShattering Our ExpectationsJesus didn't really mean that, right? Sacred Discomfort: How God Speaks in Uncomfortable MomentsThe Spirit IntercedesHappy Birthday JesusChristmas in JulyJoy in ListeningHope in the Midst of DoubtThe Gift of PresenceI'm too...Daily Bread and MindfulnessA Thousand Years is like a DaySacred Interruptions: How God Speaks Through Life's Detours
March
The Life was The Light of All PeopleWaiting PatientlyUnseenCreator God, I pray for the earth...God, I want to be better at...Holy Spirit, Help me UnderstandGod, Grant Me Patience WithThe Gospel of John - Guidance for LifeJesus Christ, Forgive Me ForThe Book of 1st Samuel - Trust During the BattlesGod of the Oppressed, protect those who are vulnerableEnduring Lord, I hope forPrince of Peace, Calm my Mind When...
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