There's a lot of talk in the church about talking about theology. Theology is a fine subject. Martin Luther elevated theology (the study of God) as the head of all subjects. He said, "Whatever we may do, let us see to it that we do not lose the Bible but read and preach it! When theology flourishes, everything goes on happily; for theology is the head of all branches of knowledge and the arts."
Theology is a worthy pursuit. It is the core of the mission of God and, therefore, the center of the mission of the Church. But there is a danger. Not all conversation claimed as theological is really about theology. Someone may assert that he is discussing theology when, in reality, he is not discussing the things of God, but the things of man.
Jesus rebuked Peter when his theology went the way of man. After Peter confessed Christ as the Messiah, the disciple went on to try to keep Jesus away from suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus responded, "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8:33).
Peter thought he was talking theology. Jesus let him know that theology can easily drift into an anthropological gutter when placed in the shaky hands of sinful men.
Even Luther realized this danger. He said, "The proper subject of theology is man, guilty of sin and lost, and God, who justifies and is the Savior of sinful man. Whatever in theology is sought or argued outside this subject is error and poison."
As you venture into the high calling of bringing lost people the Good News of the Savior, you are immersing yourself in theology. But there will be people around you--even people in the church--who claim that your theology is secondary to the "real" theological issues they want to talk about.
Be on guard against such theological misdirection.
Putting lost humanity and the Savior God on the back burner, servings of pseudo-theology may be placed before you. Debates about music, church adornments, vestments, worship style, ministry titles, structure, hymnals, uniformity in practice, and the like will be served up as theological conversation. But this is not theology. Dare I say that even some debates about communion practice and the pastoral office are not in the realm of genuine theology.
Oh, it can be worthwhile to discuss these subjects. But, too often, human pride can commandeer god-subjects and elevate them even above the cross of Jesus Christ, above real theology. No one would admit this affront to the cross, but if someone spends more time thinking, talking, writing, and debating about anthropological issues, where is his heart?
Paul cautioned believers in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Why? Because theological misdirection will pull us away from the cross and away from God's mission.
I hear a lot of talk about who's breaking worship rules, how pastors are supposed to dress, how worship services are to be outlined, and why some pastors and congregations are to be looked at with suspicion and disregard. But I don't hear a whole lot of genuine theological conversation. What if we discussed our obedience to the Great Commission? What if we discussed our personal alignment with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)? What if we talked about our ministry of reconciliation and our adherence to Christ's command to forgive and to love each other? What if we discussed what it means to have a Christ-like attitude in light of Philippians chapter 2? What if we debated how the church can grow and develop as the light of the world (Matthew 5)? What if we discussed how the Word of Christ can dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (Colossians 3)?
What if we minimized anthropological smokescreens and pride-filled platitudes and started to venture into genuine theology?
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-one)
2 comments:
Mike,
Thanks for a thought-provoking article. But I wonder...Were the reformers mistaken when they included articles on church rites and church order and the office of preaching and the mass and distinction among foods in the Augsburg Confession along with articles on God and original sin and justification? I don't believe that they were! Were, and are, these articles (distinction among foods, etc.) of a genuinely theological nature? I believe that they were and are! Both Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions address topics such as the preaching office and the order of service and church order and the place and role of tradition, etc. That is why these topics continue to be discussed. Are these discussions always theological? No. Oftentimes they are intensely, sinfully personal. The church would be well-served to follow your counsel of applying the Word of God to ourselves first--before engaging our brethren. Again, thanks for a thought-provoking article!
Thank you for your insight and thought, Allan. I agree that the reformers were not mistaken. It's interesting to think through how they addressed these issues and what their motives and priorities were. My goal was to stimulate thought and discussion. Thank you for your excellent comments and for getting the conversation started!
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