Dr. Carl Jung once said something that ought to cause every believer to reflect very carefully. What he said was this: "One of the main functions of formalized religion is to protect people against a direct experience of God." That hurts but it can happen. Theological and doctrinal pride can be buffers against a real experience of Christ's grace.

F. Kefa Sempangi, a Ugandan pastor who barely escaped death under Idi Amin's persecution in the early 1970s, beautifully captures this important truth in his wonderful book A Distant Grief. He writes about a hurtful change that came over him shortly after coming to the United States and enrolling in an evangelical seminary:

"In Uganda, [my wife] and I read the Bible for hope and life," he says. "We read to hear God's promises, to hear His commands and obey them. There had been no time for argument and no time for religious discrepancies or doubts.

"Now, in the security of a new life and with the reality of death fading from mind, I found myself reading Scripture to analyze texts and speculate about meaning. I came to enjoy abstract theological discussions with my fellow students, and, while these discussions were intellectually refreshing, it wasn't long before our fellowship revolved around ideas rather than the work of God in our lives. It was not the blood of Jesus Christ that gave us unity but our agreement on doctrinal issues. We came together not for confession and forgiveness but for debate."

This change in attitude towards God had its greatest impact in Kefa's prayer life: "God Himself had become a distant figure," he writes. "He had become a subject of debate, an abstract category. I no longer prayed to Him as a living Father but as an impersonal being who did not mind my inattention and unbelief."

When he realized how far he had drifted from God due to theological speculations, Kefa repented of his attitudes. Immediately his prayer life was renewed. Thereafter, he began consciously to submit himself moment by moment to the living God.  People are people. Pride is pride. But fortunately, God is still God.