Ep 178: Functional Theology with Renae Loring and Lisa Cuss
Aug 15, 2023
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Renae Loring, a Capable Life trainer, talks about her journey of anxiety management with Steve and Lisa Cuss. They discuss functional theology, locating functional beliefs, dislodging them, staying present in relationships, navigating difficult experiences, and the role of community in unlocking functional theology.
Functional theology shapes our daily experience of God and involves certainty, fear, and the need for safety and control.
Engaging in activities that foster connection with God and seeking support from community are essential for experiencing freedom and transformation in our functional theology.
Deep dives
Functional Theology: Exploring the Gap Between Belief and Experience
Functional theology refers to the beliefs and concepts about God that we actually live out in our daily lives, as opposed to the beliefs we intellectually assent to. Our functional theology is shaped by various factors such as human development, attachment patterns, trauma, and experiences of belonging. It often involves a high level of certainty and fear, as we try to maintain a sense of safety and control. However, when our functional theology aligns with our core belief system and allows for curiosity and uncertainty, it leads to a deeper experience of freedom and a more authentic relationship with God. It is a courageous and ongoing journey that requires community support, listening to the Holy Spirit, and being open to the wisdom of others.
Experiencing Freedom in the Garden and Community
Renee shares two significant experiences of God's freedom in her body. Firstly, she finds freedom and grounding in her spiritual practice of gardening. It allows her to connect with God's creation, practice mindfulness, and extend compassion to herself. Secondly, she describes the profound impact of a farewell lunch at her previous ministry, where she received blessings and felt affirmed in her God-given gifts. It was a transformative experience that challenged her functional theology and brought her closer to experiencing the freedom offered by the gospel. These moments highlight the importance of engaging in activities that foster connection with God and seeking support from community.
The Role of Fear and Uncertainty in Functional Theology
Fear plays a significant role in shaping our functional theology. It thrives on high certainty, which seeks to fit God into a box for a sense of safety and control. Yet, when encounters with God do not align with these rigid beliefs, fear arises, causing doubt and questioning. However, by embracing uncertainty and curiosity, we can invite the Holy Spirit to lead us into a deeper understanding of God. We can trust that God is present and trustworthy in the midst of our doubts and uncertainties. This journey requires a willingness to challenge our functional theology, seek support from a community, and engage with spiritual practices that foster connection with God.
The Power of Safe Space and Unlocking Faith Conference
Creating a safe space is crucial in exploring and unlocking our functional theology. It allows us to release and grieve past hurts while also embracing hope and transformation. Safe spaces provide the freedom to navigate our beliefs and experiences, connecting us with God and others in vulnerable and authentic ways. The Unlocking Faith Conference aims to provide such a safe space where attendees can explore their faith, confront doubt, and experience personal and spiritual growth. It offers a unique opportunity to wrestle with challenging topics in a supportive community, enabling participants to unlock and deepen their understanding of God's truth and love.
We all know what to believe and what our brain believes, but what does our anxiety believe and what does ori body believe? Sometimes the gap between our belief about God and our experience of God comes down to our functional theology.
On this episode, Steve is joined by Lisa Cuss and also Capable Life trainer, Renae Loring. They dig into Renae's journey of anxiety management, how to locate your functional beliefs and how to begin to dislodge them.
The Unlocking Faith conference is fast approaching - Oct 2-4. You can join us in Colorado or stream online. If your schedule doesn't line up, a streaming ticket also gives you access on demand to all sessions after we're done. If you'd like to get unstuck in your faith, this conference is designed to give you keys to unlock what is blocking your experience of God's love, presence and freedom.
