Too Consumed With Theology - quiz

"To many men it might well seem that the Word of God had become petrified, for they receive it as a hard, lifeless creed, a stone upon which to sharpen the daggers of controversy, a stumbling-block for young beginners, a millstone with which to break opponents' heads, after the manner experienced by Abimelech at Thebez. A man must have a stout digestion to feed upon some men's theology — no sap, no sweetness, no life, but all stern accuracy and fleshless definition. Proclaimed without tenderness and argued without affection, the gospel from such men rather resembles a missile from a catapult than bread from a Father's table. Teeth are needlessly broken over the grit of systematic theology, while souls are famishing. To turn stones into bread was a temptation of our Master; but how many of His servants yield readily to the far worse temptation to turn bread into stone! Go thy way, metaphysical divine, to the stone-yard, and break granite for McAdam, but stand not in the way of loving spirits who would feed the family of God with living bread. The inspired Word is to us spirit and life, and we cannot afford to have it hardened into a huge monolith or a spiritual Stonehenge — sublime but cold, majestic but lifeless; far rather would we have it as our own household book, our bosom companion, the poor man's counsellor and friend." —Charles Spurgeon.

 

Yup... I gave up Arminianism and biblical "proof-texting" as were taught me by an uneducated local pastor who was one of my first mentors. I have somewhat firmed up my theological convictions based on my 20+ years of study, and I've shared many of those convictions here on this board in the past year. I don't come at any of my theological convictions lightly and neither do I come at the Scripture with a theological construct leading the way as is often alluded on this board. More on this in a moment...

For the record, I have also moved past Calvinism (or at least the stereotypical version so often tossed around on this site) for a more rounded biblical position. I was never a "Calvinist" per se (see above), but rather I hold an infralapsarian soteriology, with an election-based eschatology.

I really have no time for veneers that seem to be theology, but are instead nothing more than the OP's statement -- things we use to mold Scripture instead of letting Scripture mold us.

Back to my earlier point... I have found over the years that many people in God's church, including "famous" theologians, have a "microscope" view of interpreting Scripture. In other words, they continue to drill down into the text, exegeting words, and parsing everything. The tendency is to continue to drill down deeper and deeper and deeper until one becomes a "specialist" of sorts in one particular word or concept. These same people then seem to get hung up on that word or concept until IT drives their theology.

There is another -- and complimentary -- way to interpret Scripture that we have often neglected or don't even know exists, and for lack of a better term, I'll use the word "telescope." Instead of drilling ever downward to parse individual letters of Greek or Hebrew words, we should, at times, take a step back to see what God is saying overall. What are the "big themes" that God REALLY wants us to get? Why are we arguing about the parsing of a particular verb form when we are missing the whole picture?

In the gospels, I find Jesus asking questions of those who came to Him, both from within and external to His group of disciples, concerning big issues with God. Those persons were honed in on particular points of the law and could often exegete their position well from the text of the OT, but ACCORDING TO JESUS, they totally missed the point. Even this point that I raise in illustration is something that you cannot find by the "microscope" method of Scripture interpretation. There is no particular "proof-text" verse that says exactly this, yet a plain reading of the text will point out this precise point -- Jesus said that those who were most religiously oriented and who searched the Scriptures to prove Him wrong were in fact wrong themselves and missed God who walked in their very presence!

 

I know that He hasn't, but how would you know if He has or not? (this is not inflammatory, it has to do with espistimology)

 

Yes. Guess where I learned of Him?

 

Exactly. They are a testimony to lead us to Jesus.

I'm not sure how it can be "true" while also being an "abuse," considering that I wasn't attempting to express the full meaning of "logos."

I'm not sure what you intend to mean by the term "spiritual knowledge," but if you mean that the spirit only speaks through scripture, I'd disagree.

I agree that the final authority on matters of the Christian faith are found in our scripture, but in regard to hearing the spirit as he provides guidance specific to our life's circumstance (i.e. what job to take, etc) I don't believe God's communication is limited to the scriptures. He still speaks to his children, and while He wouldn't contradict himself or his revelation, he certainly can and does provide more personal, specific and intimate guidance, support and instruction if we are listening.

Please know, I'm not saying that in theory, but from experience. I have NO doubt in my mind AT all that God speaks to me with a still small voice bringing very specific and sometimes even detailed instructions, admonitions and words of affection to my heart and mind.

You can talk until you are blue in the face trying to convince me those words weren't of God, but you won't succeed because of what I've seen God accomplish in and through those experiences is absolutely undeniably God. Now, maybe I'll get to heaven and find out I was reacting to eating bad fish or was just overly emotional/experiential (as I once accused others of being), and that is fine, but I can't deny what I've seen him do and the joy in my soul and how my faith has be strengthened and how my relationship has changed! I can't, I won't, go back to the dry, dead, religion of my former life as merely a "student of God" rather than also being His child...His friend.

 

Would you agree with me here then that God can and does sometimes chooses to lead/guide/direct/prompt us apart from His word?
That the Holy Spirit is still free to 'do as He chooses" its just that norm is from/by the Bible, and that whatever else he does ALWAYS lines up witht he Bible?

 

:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

 

I don't think I'd use the phrase "apart from his word" because it doesn't make any since to say that God's words are directing us apart from his words. If you mean, as I presume you are, that God can lead/guide/direct/prompt us "extra-biblically" (outside of the bible), then yes, absolutely. I don't believe he'd contradict himself though. So, if someone says, "God told me that Jesus wasn't the only way to heaven," I'd be confident that ain't of God....just as you affirmed when you said...

 

As someone who came to baptist circles out of Assemblies of God...

DO know that there is A LOT of false theology practiced in thos ekinds of circles, that Bible MUST be made first and foremost...

That being said

Wonder if we "throw out Baby with bathwater" as we try so hard to stay "Bible pure" that we fail to see that it can be both Holy Spirit as He so wills and The Bible that He produced? The two are not always exclusive of each other, but ALWAYS on same plane?

 

What a ridiculous thread. How can a Christian be "too" consumed with the study of God? I have met a lot of luke warm Christians who are not consumed enough with theology, but I have never met one that was "too" consumed with theology. Studying your Bible is theology. Telling others about Christ, necessitates theology. A RELATIONSHIP with Christ, is BASED on theology.

Perhaps, instead of "theology" you should have said "extra-biblical philosophy?"

Also; a person should relish correcting someone with a wrong view of God. A wrong view of God, hurts our relationship with Christ. Example: If a person believes its O.K. to kill babies (i.e., abortion), and you show him or her in the Bible that it is not, you have just helped move that person into a closer relationship with Christ.

I would say you spend too much time in vain, worldly philosophies, and NOT enough time in theology, if you are unwilling to correct error...the very thing we are commanded to do.

 

Think main part of the OP was that we need to have a balance in our life...

Theology and study of God word is great, BUT can become so full of Bible and refuse to be able to use it daily in a "practical" way...

We need to make sure the purpose and result of theology and study of the scriptures brings us conforming more into image of Chrsit as we apply those truths daily basis in our lives, not just fill our minds with truth, yet refuse to apply it!

 

I disagree. We need to be completely consumed with the study of God and His Word. "Balance" is for yoga and Buddhism, not Christianity.

Maybe for a lost person, who is not really saved. For the Christian, God's Word is what causes us to live the way we should, and do as we should. Complacency comes from an absence of God's Word, not an overabundance of it!

The more you study, the more "practicum" you will do. The less you study, the less "practicum" you will do.

 

Well
Satan KNOWS the Bible better then ANY of us do, I would reckon, how did all of that knowledge do for Him?

MUST be balanced in your Christian life...

Have study of the Bible, indeed, but prayer/witnessing/managing financial affair etc all must be getting priority to!

IF all that you have amassed is great theological insights and fail to apply them into your daily walk with Christ, what good is THAT knowledge and study?

 

Satan is not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, nor does he love and want to honor Jesus.

The rich young ruler lived a blameless life. What good did all that "doing" do for him?

You CAN'T, as a Christian indwelled by the Holy Spirit, "amass great theological insights" and continually fail to apply them. The Word of God is the force that cause growth. "Doing" done on your own strength, rather than by a prompting of your spirit by the Spirit, through God's Word, is sinful deeds of the flesh, and need to be repented of, not heralded.

Prayer, witnessing, managing financial affairs, etc., must all be subservient to the commands of God. Not balanced. Consumed.

 

Or I can just post about how ridiculous it is.

What are we to pray according to? What governs our praise. This is a very illogical way to approach this. Do a search on "correction," "Word of God," "Scriptures," ...

Again, why did Jesus keep saying the people were not "doing" the right thing? They were "ignorant of" ________? They "do err" not knowing______?

The error is the OP. You cannot have too much theology.

 

Charles Spurgeon, Feathers for Arrows:

"Well, friend, they were about as sensible as those doctrinalists who for ever talk over the technicalities of religion, but know nothing by experience of its spirit and power. Are we not all too apt to amuse ourselves after the same fashion? He who knows mere Linnaean names, but has never seen a flower, is as reliable in botany, as he is in theology who can descant upon supralapsarianism, but has never known the love of Christ in his heart.

'True religion's more than doctrine,
Something must be known and felt.'"