"[F]or everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil" (Heb. 5:13-14, ESV).
A word to the wise is sufficient: We are all theologians, or on the learning curve of sound doctrine, and a good theologian is not someone who got A's in theology class, but applies what he knows--something cannot be in the heart that is not first in the mind, thus the necessity of study.
Deacons are to be able to teach and have "great assurance in their faith" (1 Tim. 3:13, NIV). They must not be recent converts and have a good reputation with those who are outside, so as not to fall into the condemnation or trap of the devil. Deacons are not necessarily theologians, but have a familiarity and background in the relative subjects, and do not balk at learning the things of God in depth.
Now, theology is one of he keys to a sound faith, and we cannot escape theology simply to avoid bad theology--this would be spiritual suicide. It is childish to remain immature in the faith and to refuse to grow by limiting yourself to the mere milk of the Word (cf. Heb. 5:14). Theology is necessary for spiritual maturity, but it is not sufficient! We aren't content merely to be theologically correct, as if it's all in our head--it's infinitely more paramount that our hearts be in the right place and have room for Jesus! Also, it is not necessary to be a nit-picker or to split hairs over doctrine to value it; the good student of the Word knows what truths are necessary and which are negotiable: Augustine appropriately said, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Brotherly love is more important than enjoying being impeccably right all the time like a know-it-all--who doesn't "know as he ought to know" (cf. 1 Cor. 8:2).
To sum up, 1 Timothy 3:9, NIV says, "The [deacons] must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience." This implies a systematic study of basic Bible doctrine or truths, and besides: He must be able to teach! Deacons who serve well as teachers are worthy of double honor. He is not a theologian per se, but a student of the Word, who knows his way around the block theologically-speaking. A theologian, by the way, is not just someone who's good at theology, and is more of a calling than a spiritual gift, like apologist would be to the unbeliever.
We cannot avoid theology just to avoid bad theology! Christianity is based on sound doctrine and it is requisite of any good teacher to teach sound doctrine: "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:2, NIV). They are to "preach the Word" (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2) and to be able to instruct those who stray from the truth accordingly. It is detrimental to the church body to become anti-intellectual, in the sense of rejecting sound theology and study and to become what would be a mystical heresy. Rejecting theology is rejecting knowledge, and this is no option for Christians! The primary reason believers are negative to theology is a rejection and distrust of theologians, by and large, and the impact and mark that bad theologians have made, even in seminaries and so-called Christian institutions of higher learning.
We must not reject theologians nor theology because theology is a sum total of our spiritual heritage through the ages, starting with the church fathers, such as Athanasius, the Father of Orthodoxy, the great Saint Augustine. the Doctor of Grace, and Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor. If it weren't for these larger-than-life figures of history, where would we be today? Don't get me wrong: the mere presence of sound teaching or doctrine will not change our heart, but it must be matched with heart in the right place--doctrine is intended to be understood by the mind, but our whole heart (do we love Jesus, the personification of Truth?), and we must respond to God (intellect, will, and emotions). There is an ideal balance of doctrine and application or love in action, and we never stop learning, in fact, to learn we must admit our ignorance!
Trying to make infant believers digest the solid food of Bible doctrine may become counterproductive and leave them cold, turning them off to the deeper truths with the bad experience. As we mature in Christ, we gain an appreciation and taste for sound doctrine. Remember, the Pharisees hated and rejected Jesus' unconventional and novel theology, and we might find ourselves being unpopular at the outset likewise! In other words, we must have a heart for God, nevertheless, and be willing to do His will as revealed. Soli Deo Gloria!
A word to the wise is sufficient: We are all theologians, or on the learning curve of sound doctrine, and a good theologian is not someone who got A's in theology class, but applies what he knows--something cannot be in the heart that is not first in the mind, thus the necessity of study.
Deacons are to be able to teach and have "great assurance in their faith" (1 Tim. 3:13, NIV). They must not be recent converts and have a good reputation with those who are outside, so as not to fall into the condemnation or trap of the devil. Deacons are not necessarily theologians, but have a familiarity and background in the relative subjects, and do not balk at learning the things of God in depth.
Now, theology is one of he keys to a sound faith, and we cannot escape theology simply to avoid bad theology--this would be spiritual suicide. It is childish to remain immature in the faith and to refuse to grow by limiting yourself to the mere milk of the Word (cf. Heb. 5:14). Theology is necessary for spiritual maturity, but it is not sufficient! We aren't content merely to be theologically correct, as if it's all in our head--it's infinitely more paramount that our hearts be in the right place and have room for Jesus! Also, it is not necessary to be a nit-picker or to split hairs over doctrine to value it; the good student of the Word knows what truths are necessary and which are negotiable: Augustine appropriately said, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Brotherly love is more important than enjoying being impeccably right all the time like a know-it-all--who doesn't "know as he ought to know" (cf. 1 Cor. 8:2).
To sum up, 1 Timothy 3:9, NIV says, "The [deacons] must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience." This implies a systematic study of basic Bible doctrine or truths, and besides: He must be able to teach! Deacons who serve well as teachers are worthy of double honor. He is not a theologian per se, but a student of the Word, who knows his way around the block theologically-speaking. A theologian, by the way, is not just someone who's good at theology, and is more of a calling than a spiritual gift, like apologist would be to the unbeliever.
We cannot avoid theology just to avoid bad theology! Christianity is based on sound doctrine and it is requisite of any good teacher to teach sound doctrine: "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:2, NIV). They are to "preach the Word" (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2) and to be able to instruct those who stray from the truth accordingly. It is detrimental to the church body to become anti-intellectual, in the sense of rejecting sound theology and study and to become what would be a mystical heresy. Rejecting theology is rejecting knowledge, and this is no option for Christians! The primary reason believers are negative to theology is a rejection and distrust of theologians, by and large, and the impact and mark that bad theologians have made, even in seminaries and so-called Christian institutions of higher learning.
We must not reject theologians nor theology because theology is a sum total of our spiritual heritage through the ages, starting with the church fathers, such as Athanasius, the Father of Orthodoxy, the great Saint Augustine. the Doctor of Grace, and Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor. If it weren't for these larger-than-life figures of history, where would we be today? Don't get me wrong: the mere presence of sound teaching or doctrine will not change our heart, but it must be matched with heart in the right place--doctrine is intended to be understood by the mind, but our whole heart (do we love Jesus, the personification of Truth?), and we must respond to God (intellect, will, and emotions). There is an ideal balance of doctrine and application or love in action, and we never stop learning, in fact, to learn we must admit our ignorance!
Trying to make infant believers digest the solid food of Bible doctrine may become counterproductive and leave them cold, turning them off to the deeper truths with the bad experience. As we mature in Christ, we gain an appreciation and taste for sound doctrine. Remember, the Pharisees hated and rejected Jesus' unconventional and novel theology, and we might find ourselves being unpopular at the outset likewise! In other words, we must have a heart for God, nevertheless, and be willing to do His will as revealed. Soli Deo Gloria!