Tag Archives: Theology

I Hate Theology.

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No, I’m not saying that I hate theology. “I Hate Theology” is the title of an essay that has been reposted at Internet Monk, and I got the chance to read for the first time. This is a link to the original post, here is an excerpt that gets to the heart of the message:

I hate this, and I am not ashamed to say so. Christ didn’t call theologians, he called disciples. Let’s follow Jesus, not just talk about the two natures. He didn’t establish a seminary or a library, but a church, which is a pretty down and dirty business that does a lot more than just stare at its confessions in wondrous rapture and awe. He didn’t give the great debate assignment, but the great commission. We’re on mission with a God who is doing great things in history. Or are we? Some of us are theologizing about ministry so much that we appear to be undermining ministry itself. It’s a great commission to make disciples of all nations, not a great commotion about who can be more literal about the elements of the Lord’s Supper.

I’ve written a lot lately about being the salt and the light, and I’m probably not done yet. This is what iMonk is saying; you can debate and discuss all the things that ministry should be and do, but then someone still has to do them. Discussing the salt of the earth and being salty are not the same thing. Jesus actually mentions this. Telling someone to go their way and be fed is not the same as feeding them.

This is just one point iMonk makes in his essay. You really should read the whole thing, and don’t get mad too quickly. It might not be what you think it is (the whole book by its cover sort of thing). I listen to a lot of preachers, I read lots of blogs. Very few things you hear or read are worth putting into practice in your everyday life. I’m suggesting this is one of them.

The Faith of Satan

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We’re studying the Gospel of Mark in our Sunday morning small group, and my wife was fascinated by one of the stories in chapter one.  As this person possessed by a demon is approached by Jesus, he identifies Jesus and asks why he is there.  Jesus at once commands his silence, then casts out the unclean spirit.  This event was early in his ministry, and Jesus didn’t want anyone blabbing out who he really was just yet.  On at least one occasion, Jesus will instruct those just healed to tell no one what has happened.  The interested thing, though, is that the demonic spirit knew immediately that Jesus was the Holy One of God when he saw him.  Many people would listen to the sermons, see the signs and wonders, and still not believe.  Jesus would read from the prophets, have long talks with leaders such as Nicodemus, and still people would walk away puzzled not knowing what to believe.  But any demon or unclean spirit Jesus encountered at once knew who he was, and often questioned if they were to be punished before the time.  We should not be surprised at their apparent knowledge. 

Jesus exists from everlasting to everlasting with God.  The Nicene Creed describes him as being the eternally begotten Son of God.  Before their fall from grace, the angelic beings worshipped God (and his Son) in heaven.  Consider also the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness.  The devil can quote scripture, no doubt.  And just why was he offering Jesus all this stuff anyway?  He knew that by following God’s plan, Jesus could ruin all of his plans.  Herod had tried to kill Jesus as an infant, now Satan would attempt to derail his ministry just as it was beginning.  Just because someone believes in God or knows scripture doesn’t make them a true believer.  This is illustrated by James 2:19 that says “…even the devils believe and shudder.”  They know the scripture, the prophesies, and even the God that created them better than we do.

Isaiah 1

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I just read a very good (if not somewhat lengthy) post here on Isaiah Chp. 1. I’ve preached more than once on this text. It’s a harsh reprimand for people that “play church” by doing all the churchy things, but not worshiping in spirit and in truth. If you’ve been reading my weblog, you know how I feel about that. Isaiah mentions all the things they’re doing; the stuff God commanded. But the problem is they have innocent blood on their hands. They live in their sins, and act out the motions, but are not changed people inside. God (through Isaiah) finally tells them to stop doing evil, and learn to do good. Jesus quotes Isaiah when he says “this people love me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” In Deuteronomy, God says to “circumcise your hearts.” Replace everything in the Isaiah 1 list with singing hymns, praise and worship choruses, powerpoint slides, taking collection, etc. Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman about worshiping in spirit and in truth. Isaiah says that true religion is to visit the widow and the fatherless, an idea echoed in the New Testament. Worship is an outward extension of what’s inside of us, not something we can rehearse until we get it right.

What I beleive

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My attempt to “briefly” explain my faith.

The Bible tells the story of humanity’s relationship with God. It is basically the story of Jesus. Jesus is described in the Nician Creed as eternally the begotten son of God the Father, so it takes more than the 4 Gospels to tell the whole story. He was with the Father before the beginning of our time, and will reign eternally sitting at God’s right hand. The Bible is the account of man’s fall from his first estate, his inability to approach a God that is holy, and God’s plan of salvation to bring sinful man back into fellowship by redeeming individuals through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Law given by Moses doesn’t justify, it only shows how far we fall short of righteousness. Only after understanding that we cannot redeem ourselves, does Christ appear incarnate to become the sacrifice for many. In short, the Old Testament is the story of mankind’s fall and inability to fix it. The Gospels tell the story of “God with us,” the earthly lifetime of Jesus, and his death, burial, and resurrection. Beginning with Acts, the New Testament tells the story of the creation of the church, and instructs us how to build the kingdom of God.

This is the most concise way to cover the very basic tenants of my faith. I could expound each sentence of the above paragraph into volumes, and may endeavor to do so. I believe at the essence of the Bible story is the story of Jesus. I believe sharing the Gospel message, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, should be the very heart and soul of Christianity. If a church has preaching and teaching devoid of Christ, it becomes a self-help program, a social event, a theological seminar, or something other than a New Testament church. Helping couples strengthen their marriage, training parents to raise their children, offering youth activities to keep kids off the streets are all a part of what the church should be doing, but not the whole. All of the church’s programs and activities should be focused and centered on sharing Christ.

It is not true that everyone has heard about sin, knows about the cross, and what the world needs to hear is something else. Every sermon doesn’t have to be on the crucifixion for the church to be Christ-centered. But in almost every sermon preached, lesson taught or song sung, the Gospel message should be plainly visible. In Galations 2, Paul is saying that the very life he lives is actually Christ living in him. When the world looks at us and listens, Christ should be seen and heard.

I know that I am not alone in this, but there are not as many of us as there used to be. Which is why it is more important than ever in our dark world to shine the Gospel light. Let’s encourage one another in this mission, pray for one another, and invite others to join the effort to spread the Gospel so there can be a next generation of believers.