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Problems with Theology
| Eph 4:13 Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ:
The description of what Christian fellowship should be often sounds
like a distant dream or an idyllic fantasy. That it could be true
sounds implausible. This may be because we have inherited a tradition
of Christian practice that seems to have reduced Christianity to an
agreement with a particular package of doctrinal bullet points. If one
were to measure any church by the percentage of members that are
Christ-like, it is difficult to think of any that could be called a
success. This deficiency should be the priority of all.
The word “theology” comes from the Greek and means the study of God.
There is a degree of irreverence in the word alone and a potential
attraction to the prideful with the implication that God is a subject
that can be mastered. People who study and produce theology are those
who seek to write doctrines (teachings) that are accurate. While there
can be value in accuracy as it approaches truth, there is greater value
in that which is useful.
Accuracy is lost when theology is used to support that which is in
error. Theology also represents a force of stasis as a declaration of
what is “right” tends to inhibit questioning. The dynamics of learning,
growth, and maturity are inhibited when one is directed to be
compliant. Most Christians would rather learn how not to be annoyed by
their spouse than to clearly phrase a support for theology of
trichotomy over dichotomy.
Trying to run Christianity as an organizational system causes enough
problems. Christianity was meant to be relational and personal (us with
God and each other). Systems tend to be mechanical and impersonal. The
emphasis on theology often makes the mechanical aspects of Christian
systems even worse as questioning and inquiry are superceded by
compliance and acquiescence. There can even be aspects of intellectual
bullying as one who questions can be told he would understand if he was
not intellectually inferior. The theologian who says “trust me, I am
smart” may not fully realize the trust (faith) he may be usurping from
Christ.
Many who are trained in seminary do not learn themselves by
questioning, but instead only learn to echo what theologians have
declared. In turn they become ill-suited to help teach those who will
pay their salary how to be more like Jesus (which should be the real
purpose of Christianity). Theology presents a very real danger of
self-righteousness. This also carries the potential for contempt for
others (Luke 18:9). This may be at the heart of the contentions Paul
describes of the Corinthians (1Cor 3:1-4).
Theology should not be confused with bible study. Theology is the
declaration of some guy’s opinion about the bible. Sometimes an opinion
can be helpful and sometimes harmful. We should all be immersed in
bible study and grow in our knowledge of the word and not the knowledge
of some guy’s opinion. Theological error should be expected as one
grows and learns, not something to be controlled through the arrested
development of compliance.
Paul did not say, “Get intelligent men to discover the hidden things
that I wrote”, Rather he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1Cor
11:1). Paul also said the he would know nothing but Christ and him
crucified (1Cor 2:2). This does not mean that theology is wrong, but it
can be dangerous and corruptive. It should never be used to replace
“knowing” Christ. |
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