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Has the trade of interpreting the Lord's matters gone out, discouraged by the time-worn fact that nobody succeeds at it? No, it still flourishes; there was never a century nor a country that was short of experts who knew the Deity's mind and were willing to reveal it. - Mark Twain

The word 'theology' (the study of God) sounds a little ambitious and possibly irreverent insofar as it implies a subject that can be mastered. There are things the angels do not know. How much more likely that we will not understand some things or even lack the ability to understand even if we were told.

A child does not understand the dangers from which his parents protect him. He does not understand where the food, clothing, and shelter come from. He is often selfish, demanding, and ungrateful. He can even strut around with an imperious attitude of complete understanding. We have a similar relationship with our heavenly father.

Seminaries (the main centers where theologians are manufactured) have an incentive to produce those who will be ardent in the advocacy of their doctrines. Truth seems less important than confident assurance of correctness. This often entails providing certainty where realistically uncertainty would be more accurate. For example, the declaration that those punished in hell will be punished forever relies on the assignment of 'eternal' to the Greek word aion. Considering that we do not know if eternity is the end of time or time unending, it seems a little bold to declare that which is beyond our understanding. We can know that those who are not saved will be judged by their works and there will be punishment. If this punishment lasts for an 'age' (the usual definition for aion) or true eternity is not clearly discernable.

There is a pragmatic advantage of declaring hell as 'eternal fire'. Fear can motivate people in the direction you wish to herd them. However, truth is not honored when we exceed that which can be known from God’s word. We begin to insert our own reasoning and conclusions instead of resting by faith in our heavenly father’s goodness and justice.

Acknowledging that which we do not know leaves room for humility. It also leaves room for faith. We can treasure that which God has chosen to reveal to us and trust in him for that which is not clear.

There is a danger is declaring things beyond which we can know.

There is no end to the number of people willing to tell us what to do. However, we have the responsibility to evaluate what is said in terms of truth. It can be easy to surrender to what someone tells us. However, we are still responsible.

There are all sorts of reasons we can come to incorporate false teachings in our belief system. We might buy into some strange doctrine because we are too lazy to seek the truth for ourselves. We may be bullied into going along with something. We can be born into an inherited tradition. We can find a particular practice appealing for reasons of vanity, security, fear, or comfort. However, we are going to have to stand in front of Jesus one day at it will be embarrassing to have to say that we were not satisfied to live by faith, but added to his word to satisfy our own desires.

Others may mislead us for good intentions or bad. However, it is incumbent us to discern that which is true and which is not.

Jesus speaks to a method of discernment based on doing the will of God. We can see where nearness to God, brings discernment.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27

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