Josh Hatcher's Blog
Monday, March 06, 2006
Bye Bye Bad Theology
Wow. Changes. Big Changes.
I've realized that for a long time, I've believed some well crafted and thought out theology and doctrine, that is just that…. Theology and doctrine.
Merriam Webster's says this:
Main Entry: the·ol·o·gy
Pronunciation: thE-'ä-l&-jE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -gies
Etymology: Middle English theologie, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy
1 : the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world
2 a : a theological theory or system
3 : a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary
----------------------
Main Entry: doc·trine
Pronunciation: 'däk-tr&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin doctrina, from doctor
1 archaic : TEACHING, INSTRUCTION
2 a : something that is taught b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : DOGMA c : a principle of law established through past decisions d : a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations
Not that either of these in and of themselves are bad…. All that theology is is the study of God,, and doctrine is just teaching or instruction..
But when scripture is interpreted in such away that takes away from it's original meaning, it is "crafty" theology that preaches a doctrine that is not true….
I decided that I want to take scripture for what it says, and subtract anything that I've learned that is added to scripture, or "twisting" it to get a desired doctrine.
It's going to be hard.
If there's one thing I learned in my church background, it's to take scripture at it's word. It's infallible, It doesn't contradict itself.
And the times it appears to contradict are those places that doctrine and theology often try to iron out the wrinkles… unfortunately, their just stretching all the cloth to the back, and wadding it into a ball, hoping we don't notice the wrinkles in the back, because the front sure looks nice…. Even if the shirt is tight and about to pop a button or two. (if that picture makes no sense, grab the back of your shirt and pull it tight to pull the wrinkles out of the front, and you'll see what many Christians are doing to the faith… making a lot of wrinkles in the back, to make the front more presentable.)
Ultimately, I know this. It doesn't MATTER what I believe about half of the things that Christians argue about in terms of my position in God's eyes…. What does matter is what GOD thinks about those things.
And I refuse to be so prideful to tell God what He can and cannot do. And Who he should and should not be.
If he wants me to dance naked in the street, if he wants me to scrub myself with fire ants, I'll do it.
And I know he wants me to take Him at His word….
So my question for YOU for today is this…
What about God and His word am I trying to explain away?
Do I believe that the Bible is true, and infallible? Why or why not?
And do I believe that scripture has the power to transform me?
I've realized that for a long time, I've believed some well crafted and thought out theology and doctrine, that is just that…. Theology and doctrine.
Merriam Webster's says this:
Main Entry: the·ol·o·gy
Pronunciation: thE-'ä-l&-jE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -gies
Etymology: Middle English theologie, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy
1 : the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world
2 a : a theological theory or system
3 : a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary
----------------------
Main Entry: doc·trine
Pronunciation: 'däk-tr&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin doctrina, from doctor
1 archaic : TEACHING, INSTRUCTION
2 a : something that is taught b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : DOGMA c : a principle of law established through past decisions d : a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations
Not that either of these in and of themselves are bad…. All that theology is is the study of God,, and doctrine is just teaching or instruction..
But when scripture is interpreted in such away that takes away from it's original meaning, it is "crafty" theology that preaches a doctrine that is not true….
I decided that I want to take scripture for what it says, and subtract anything that I've learned that is added to scripture, or "twisting" it to get a desired doctrine.
It's going to be hard.
If there's one thing I learned in my church background, it's to take scripture at it's word. It's infallible, It doesn't contradict itself.
And the times it appears to contradict are those places that doctrine and theology often try to iron out the wrinkles… unfortunately, their just stretching all the cloth to the back, and wadding it into a ball, hoping we don't notice the wrinkles in the back, because the front sure looks nice…. Even if the shirt is tight and about to pop a button or two. (if that picture makes no sense, grab the back of your shirt and pull it tight to pull the wrinkles out of the front, and you'll see what many Christians are doing to the faith… making a lot of wrinkles in the back, to make the front more presentable.)
Ultimately, I know this. It doesn't MATTER what I believe about half of the things that Christians argue about in terms of my position in God's eyes…. What does matter is what GOD thinks about those things.
And I refuse to be so prideful to tell God what He can and cannot do. And Who he should and should not be.
If he wants me to dance naked in the street, if he wants me to scrub myself with fire ants, I'll do it.
And I know he wants me to take Him at His word….
So my question for YOU for today is this…
What about God and His word am I trying to explain away?
Do I believe that the Bible is true, and infallible? Why or why not?
And do I believe that scripture has the power to transform me?
:: posted by joshhatcher, 4:17 AM
1 Comments:
Well said, Josh. I have learned that I was taught many false doctrines through the years...then when you start reading the Bible, you have to wonder??? Where and How did those doctrines come to be so widely accepted, believed and taught.
Now I go straight to the truth...the Word and I try to let God show me what it means.
Now I go straight to the truth...the Word and I try to let God show me what it means.
