Eternal, External

Helmut Theilcke, a 20th century German theologian, wrote a short book (really a lecture transcribed) exhorting to stay strong in faith and in service to the church through their time of theological study.

Faith makes sense only as unconditioned faith, because it has to do with our eternal destiny. It is impossible that it could be dependent upon and conditioned by the changing results of historical investigation or of scientific fashion.

It's a profound (and reformed) perspective: Our faith—as that which bring us eternal salvation through Jesus—is not dependent on conclusions we draw or discoveries we make. Thus, every wave of challenging theology or attack from culture on the faith of the Christian need not cause doubt or despair.

What comfort to be released from thinking of my faith as something I must preserve intellectually to recognizing that faith is a gift from God that is not on the basis of works I have done—moral or intellectual.