Doctrinal accuracy is not an option in the church, but a mandate, as teachers are to teach sound doctrine and pay attention to what accords with sound doctrine (cf. Titus 2:1). There is nothing wrong with the quest to be right, contrary to the teachings of the so-called "emerging church," which has the postmodern philosophy that we haven't nailed down biblical orthodoxy yet, making it "shrink-wrapped" or "freeze-dried." It is dangerous to react to dogma by not believing in dogma or to be anti-dogma. It is true, however, that one can be correct in his doctrine and have no spiritual life; we don't want to content ourselves on just being right theologically, with no inner reality. Faith is more than acquiescence or consent to the church's dogma.
We cannot think that we are a cut above others or that less informed brethren are poor specimens of the faith. It is vitally more important to be right in our hearts than in our minds--but both are necessary for a living faith. "You cannot have a sound life without a sound doctrine, but you can have a sound doctrine without a sound life" according to R. C. Sproul. You could say that one could get A's in theology class and hardly know the Lord at all, but if one does know the Lord, he will not ignore theology; however, it cannot just be in his head
We don't kiss our brains goodbye when converting but begin our search for the truth. The sign of a believer is that he loves the truth and the sign of the unbeliever is that he rejects the truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10) The unbeliever does not "obey the truth" and will "reject the truth" (cf. Rom. 2:8). It is not an option to dismiss doctrine as unimportant, an aside, or only a side-issue; one cannot ignore doctrine--it's just what doctrines will be adhered to. If we dismiss doctrine, we are committing spiritual suicide because we cannot avoid it doctrine. You could say that it is necessary, but not sufficient for a healthy relationship with God. You can have no normal relationship with God without it, but you can also have no normal relationship with it, too. We cannot dismiss doctrine as irrelevant, because of only childish faith balks at learning the things of God in depth. (Cf. 1 Tim. 3:9: "They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.")
We are to contend (per Jude v. 3) for the faith (the common body of knowledge we adhere to). We must not remain an infant in the faith, unable to comprehend the meat of the Word. What some believers do is to reject all theology or doctrine because they have experienced bad theology or bad theologians and reject theology per se because of it. This is not an option for the true student of the Word (cf. John 8:31). As we use our mind to God's glory, we are to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you..." (1 Peter 3:15, NKJV).
To despise theology is to despise the very Word of God.--not an option (can't avoid it!). How can you be right in your heart, if you are not right in your mind first? Our hearts reflect what we think: "Keep [guard] thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23, KJV). Proverbs says, (23:7, NKJV): "As he thinks in his heart, so is he...." We are what we think about and our heart is only a reflection of our thoughts. To be sure, there can be no spiritual health with correct theology, and there can be none without it either. One should not content himself just to be doctrinally orthodox either. This is what the situation with the Ephesian church was: They were theologically sound, but had left their first love--this is dead orthodoxy!
We must apply what we know and make it our experience, not just pride. According to 1 Timothy 4:1, one of the signs of the last days will be that churches will bail out theologically--they will not heed sound doctrine and "depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons." When you ignore sound doctrine, it only opens the door to false doctrine. We don't just ignore good doctrine because we've had a bad experience with bad doctrine. Simply because we hate being wrong, we must not avoid theology altogether. God places a premium on the mind and deplores ignorance--ignorance is no excuse and is not bliss either! We may be against intellectualism, but not against the mind per se and using it to God's glory, as we love God with all our minds.
God's will is to dispel our ignorance and it is the domain of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, as we "shall know the truth and the truth shall set [us] free" according to John 8:32. "Canst thou by searching find out [fathom] the deep things of God?" (Job 11:7, KJV). The answer is "NO!." Our religion is a religion of revelation and not of human origin: "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes."
One modern phenomenon is that we are increasing in knowledge, but remaining unchanged in our natures. There is a vacuum in everyone that only God can fill, according to Blaise Pascal. Carl Jung said the "central neurosis of our time is emptiness." Billy Graham says we are all on a great "Quest" to find meaning and purpose in life and live in a vacuum that is boring (only man is truly capable of being bored despite his environment and circumstances) and "nature abhors a vacuum." Man not only needs knowledge, but he needs a relationship with God and the wisdom to use it.
It is actually pride that closes the door to learning: To commence learning we must admit our ignorance! "I believe in order to understand," said Augustine. In other words, "all knowledge begins in faith." We must remain vigilant, humble, teachable, open-minded, receptive, needy, and willing to do as God reveals to us to be in the right frame of mind to mature. When we learn the truth we must not merely say, "How interesting!" It is meant to upset and challenge us and our lifestyle--God's Word is meant to shock us out of our comfort zones!
You must open yourself up to the possibility that you may be wrong and let God's Word do its thing and have its total impact! If you've never made a mistake, they say, you've never made anything! Finally, never get caught in the trap that you've arrived--that you do not have any more need to learn anymore, having the attitude of a "know-it-all." Soli Deo Gloria!
We cannot think that we are a cut above others or that less informed brethren are poor specimens of the faith. It is vitally more important to be right in our hearts than in our minds--but both are necessary for a living faith. "You cannot have a sound life without a sound doctrine, but you can have a sound doctrine without a sound life" according to R. C. Sproul. You could say that one could get A's in theology class and hardly know the Lord at all, but if one does know the Lord, he will not ignore theology; however, it cannot just be in his head
We don't kiss our brains goodbye when converting but begin our search for the truth. The sign of a believer is that he loves the truth and the sign of the unbeliever is that he rejects the truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10) The unbeliever does not "obey the truth" and will "reject the truth" (cf. Rom. 2:8). It is not an option to dismiss doctrine as unimportant, an aside, or only a side-issue; one cannot ignore doctrine--it's just what doctrines will be adhered to. If we dismiss doctrine, we are committing spiritual suicide because we cannot avoid it doctrine. You could say that it is necessary, but not sufficient for a healthy relationship with God. You can have no normal relationship with God without it, but you can also have no normal relationship with it, too. We cannot dismiss doctrine as irrelevant, because of only childish faith balks at learning the things of God in depth. (Cf. 1 Tim. 3:9: "They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.")
We are to contend (per Jude v. 3) for the faith (the common body of knowledge we adhere to). We must not remain an infant in the faith, unable to comprehend the meat of the Word. What some believers do is to reject all theology or doctrine because they have experienced bad theology or bad theologians and reject theology per se because of it. This is not an option for the true student of the Word (cf. John 8:31). As we use our mind to God's glory, we are to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you..." (1 Peter 3:15, NKJV).
To despise theology is to despise the very Word of God.--not an option (can't avoid it!). How can you be right in your heart, if you are not right in your mind first? Our hearts reflect what we think: "Keep [guard] thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23, KJV). Proverbs says, (23:7, NKJV): "As he thinks in his heart, so is he...." We are what we think about and our heart is only a reflection of our thoughts. To be sure, there can be no spiritual health with correct theology, and there can be none without it either. One should not content himself just to be doctrinally orthodox either. This is what the situation with the Ephesian church was: They were theologically sound, but had left their first love--this is dead orthodoxy!
We must apply what we know and make it our experience, not just pride. According to 1 Timothy 4:1, one of the signs of the last days will be that churches will bail out theologically--they will not heed sound doctrine and "depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons." When you ignore sound doctrine, it only opens the door to false doctrine. We don't just ignore good doctrine because we've had a bad experience with bad doctrine. Simply because we hate being wrong, we must not avoid theology altogether. God places a premium on the mind and deplores ignorance--ignorance is no excuse and is not bliss either! We may be against intellectualism, but not against the mind per se and using it to God's glory, as we love God with all our minds.
God's will is to dispel our ignorance and it is the domain of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, as we "shall know the truth and the truth shall set [us] free" according to John 8:32. "Canst thou by searching find out [fathom] the deep things of God?" (Job 11:7, KJV). The answer is "NO!." Our religion is a religion of revelation and not of human origin: "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes."
One modern phenomenon is that we are increasing in knowledge, but remaining unchanged in our natures. There is a vacuum in everyone that only God can fill, according to Blaise Pascal. Carl Jung said the "central neurosis of our time is emptiness." Billy Graham says we are all on a great "Quest" to find meaning and purpose in life and live in a vacuum that is boring (only man is truly capable of being bored despite his environment and circumstances) and "nature abhors a vacuum." Man not only needs knowledge, but he needs a relationship with God and the wisdom to use it.
It is actually pride that closes the door to learning: To commence learning we must admit our ignorance! "I believe in order to understand," said Augustine. In other words, "all knowledge begins in faith." We must remain vigilant, humble, teachable, open-minded, receptive, needy, and willing to do as God reveals to us to be in the right frame of mind to mature. When we learn the truth we must not merely say, "How interesting!" It is meant to upset and challenge us and our lifestyle--God's Word is meant to shock us out of our comfort zones!
You must open yourself up to the possibility that you may be wrong and let God's Word do its thing and have its total impact! If you've never made a mistake, they say, you've never made anything! Finally, never get caught in the trap that you've arrived--that you do not have any more need to learn anymore, having the attitude of a "know-it-all." Soli Deo Gloria!
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