Is Doctrine Prosaic?

I guess it comes with the territory of a theologian to be boring--ennui you might say. Everyone wants what's practical and not what is true to Scripture. The Bible says that in the last days many will "bailout theologically", maybe a bunch of "do-gooders" who aren't really interested in knowing the true God. This is spiritual suicide, because you can have sound doctrine without a sound life, but not a sound life without sound doctrine. We are all theologians, as it were, and the way we interpret Scripture has a lot to do with our ethics (orthodoxy and orthopraxy). Hos 4:6 says: "My people perish for lack of knowledge." Is 5:13 says: "For this reason, they go into captivity because they lack knowledge."

Some people think ignorance is bliss, but au contraire--knowledge is power (says Prov. 24:5); it is ignorance that binds us not knowledge. There is value to knowing the scoop, and getting the "big picture;" to whet one's appetite is progress. We have so-called "tunnel vision" (not seeing the forest for the trees) without knowing basic Bible doctrine and can "twist the Scriptures to [our own] destruction."

We need to recognize fallacious doctrine like the "perpetual virginity of Mary" and have no preconceived ideas. If we have no presuppositions we can have a better chance of arriving at the truth. That means we must have a teachable spirit. We take an open mind, a willing spirit and a needy or thirsty heart  (or teachable spirit, receptive mind, and obedient heart), to Scripture to have it speak to us. Doctrine gives substance to faith and biblical savvy is a fortification in the angelic conflict and war with the world, the flesh and the devil. Knowing doctrine is like having our antennae sensitized. It gives mental stability. As long as we "keep the main thing the main thing": In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity (St. Augustine's dictum). It is a childish faith that "balks at learning the things of God in depth," says R. C. Sproul.

 Once we know our way around the block theology-wise we can "deliver the goods" as we hone our skills. Doctrine is not blasé or dull; it is the foundation upon which our interpretation rests and the superstructures are built. We need to improve doctrine's reputation and realize that it is just "teaching" and basically it what the Bible teaches dogmatically. It is not an application like promises, commands, warnings, examples, but principals to have faith in. To be mighty in the Scripture like Apollos we need a frame of reference or a worldview, so to speak.

We can "add a cup of discernment" when we know doctrine--if you only drink of one fountain, you will lose it, according to Chuck Swindoll. But we must never be intolerant of those we disagree with, or what we have is "truth gone to seed." Remember, no one has a monopoly on the truth or has cornered the market. The Bible itself is profitable for doctrine and the measures up where we don't.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Equality Of Sin

This question is raised by those who want to believe pseudo-saints sins are just as bad as rapists, murderers, or thieves. They may have a pride problem and self-righteous attitude and God hates pride, but the point is that there is a gradation of sin, though one can drown in 6 feet of water as well as 60 feet. Remember the words of our Lord who told Pilate that the one who delivered him over had the "greater sin." Are all sins equal in severity in God's eyes? Do all sins deserve the same punishment? Obviously, if there is justice in the afterlife, Hitler will get a severer sentence than your typical run-of-the-mill sinner. It was said of Judas that it would've been better had he never been born--and so there you are. Jesus did say that some sins deserve fewer whips than others. God is a God of justice as well as mercy and there will be no cruelty in hell, only what justice demands.

If all sins were equal, that would encourage the slanderer to go all the way from character assassination to murder, since they are the same. Jesus did say that lusting was committing adultery, but he didn't say they were the same. Rome has divided sin into mortal and venial. Those which destroy the grace of salvation are more serious and require penance and are called mortal. All sins are mortal in the sense that they deserve eternal hell, but no sin is mortal in the sense that it cancels the state of grace. All sins are venial to the Christian, in that he only needs to confess them and repent to regain fellowship, not a state of grace or salvation.

The closer you get to God the more you see your shortcomings and sins; you don't begin to see yourself as perfect or having "arrived." There are certain sins that are an abomination to the Lord: homosexuality, bestiality, incest, to name a few. Remember, how Lot said to the men in Sodom not to "do such a disgusting sin." We live in an age of sexual predators and perverts and this is becoming more rampant every day, but we must not go along with a society that we are just progressing in leniency and toleration; it is alright to be shocked and abhorred at our society. We are often shocked at others' sins when we should be shocked at ours.   NB: The Pharisees considered all commandments of equal weight, but Jesus changed that and called some more serious (cf. Matt. 23:23).  Soli Deo Gloria!

Should We Be Ashamed Of Depression?

We all have to learn individually how to cope with our "demons." After we have indulged ourselves in a pity-party (being in a funk, in the pits, or having the doldrums) we should rebound to fellowship (or as a friend told me to "snap out of it"), and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Let's not wallow in self-pity, but seek a divine viewpoint--things are not all that bad as we make them out to be. Depression usually happens to people who have a sensitive side and are in touch with their feelings (but this is a luxury not all enjoy); those too busy with the rat-race don't have time to get depressed nor elated, for that matter. "Sorrow is better than laughter because a sad face is good for the heart" (Eccl 7:3). [Remember Christ was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."]

Here is a case in point: Psalm 40:2 says the psalmist was lifted out of the "slimy pit," out of the "mud and mire": he strengthened himself in the Lord his God (1 Sam 30:6b). N.B. he didn't necessarily know why he was depressed ("Why am I downcast O my soul?" (Ps 42:11). "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings" (Ps 40:2). As we quoted Psalm 42: "Why are you cast down O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" Evidently, he had bouts with being of broken and contrite spirit or of depression, which some call sloth. According to Rome, this is one of the seven deadly sins.  Depression is more common than most admit: Note Neil Diamond's song "Song Sung Blue" which says, "Me and you, are subject to, the blues now and then/Song sung blue, everybody knows one, every garden grows one."

God puts trials in our way to make us learn dependence on Him. If we think we are a rock that feels no pain or an island that doesn't cry like the Simon and Garfunkel song "I Am A Rock" we will suffer more because we are in this thing together and all the parts of the body must work in coordination and in sync. It takes a real man and a big person to admit his weaknesses and vulnerabilities to others. True fellowship often takes place when we "come clean" (share our vulnerabilities) and are totally honest as to our feelings--sometimes the best of us needs "therapy." I like Job 23:10: They are merely trials we must overcome. "The Lord knows the way that I take; when he has tried me I shall come forth as gold."

  By common definition, depression is anger turned inward; however, depression often results from fallacious or erroneous thinking, and we must substitute a more helpful and healthy thought. Job was so depressed he wanted to die. Likewise, Elijah wanted to die and so did Jonah. God gave Elijah something to eat and he was good to go, as they say.   Jonah was angry and wanted to die. Many suicides can be prevented if we knew the warning signs of depression and suicidal ideation.

Note that depression usually is the result of the dwelling of living in the past, misinterpreting the present, or anticipating the future.   Some say, "Impression without expression = depression!"  How do we overcome? 2 Cor. 1:4 says: "[Who] comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted."

Find someone who's been there and done that!   Abe Lincoln rightly said that the Bible is the best cure for the blues--he was known for getting depressed. People who get depressed often also get elated or have periods of euphoria (bipolar affected personalities), and tend to be more in touch with their feelings--that is good! Sometimes, to get out of depression, all we need is to talk with a friend ("I get by with a little help from my friends")--this is talk therapy. Sometimes we just have to wait it out: "This too shall pass!" "Wait, I say, on the Lord" (cf. Psa. 27:14).

A good rule of thumb is to be too busy to get depressed, which is a luxury that not all possess. It is not depression per se that is sin, (the coping skills need to be healthful habits of hygiene),  but what we end up doing that can be problematic: oversleeping, overeating, shopping sprees, social withdrawal, etc. We need to find therapeutic things to do (hygienic psychology) when depressed like going for a walk, and talking to God about what concerns us: "Casting all your care upon the Lord..." (1 Pet 5:7). "Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved" (Psa 55:22).  The ultimate is sometimes prayer therapy or even talk therapy (not cash therapy, food therapy, or sleep therapy!).   "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God..." (Phil. 4:6).   Soli Deo Gloria!