theology

Lisa Robinson from Reclaiming the Mind Ministries writes:

I probably don’t need to explain what knee-jerk theology is. We all know it and we all do it, to varying degrees. Somebody makes a comment or pontification on some doctrinal point or passage in Scripture that is an affront to how we’ve understood it. The knee-jerk response instantly rebuts, refutes and refuses to acknowledge any of the merits. After all, if that person saw things as we see it, they wouldn’t hold that position, right?

But the reality is there is no such thing as two truths at the same time. Somebody is missing it. Somebody is wrong. I do believe in our human nature, we most likely will assign that blame on the other person and respond accordingly. But another reality is…we could be wrong.

So how do we overcome the knee-jerk reaction and treat each dissent fairly, objectively and with truth as the end goal. Here is a quick list that I think might help.

....

Ten Steps to Avoiding Knee-Jerk Theology Read it!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING MORE THAN EARNEST by R. Scott clark

"Another legacy to evangelicalism is a radically individualistic faith. If one cannot be certain about the historicity of the faith then one flees to mystical experience. Pietistic evangelicalism replaced the "priesthood of all believers" (access to God through Christ alone) with the "papacy of every believer" (the sole authority of the believer). Individualism has replaced the older Protestant idea of divinely ordained authority located in Scripture and in the courts of the church, and has led to a nearly irreparable fragmentation of the Christian landscape." - R. Scott Clark

The following audio files are from William Lane Craig's Sunday school class at his home in Georgia.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

Denying the Trinity has become not only relatively common in the modern church, but many people are afraid to stand up to those who are denying it. "If you believe in Christ but reject His unique deity, you might have a very nice religion, but can you call it Christianity?" Gregory Koukl

Download TR065 MP3

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Carl Trueman, Why and How I Teach Heresy:

And we learn from heresies not simply by refuting them but also by first of all asking the critical question, `Is there a legitimate concern which underlies or drives this particular heresy?’ In almost every case, the answer is yes, and the orthodox can learn from the question as a means of critiquing, refining, and strengthening their own doctrinal understanding and commitment.

How can you not believe in predestination when you read passages like this one... and there are so many. It's not like predestination eliminates fee will. I don't understand why so many people don't understand that.

Isaiah 46
46:1 Bel kneels down,
Nebo bends low.
Their images weigh down animals and beasts.
Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.
46:2 Together they bend low and kneel down;
they are unable to rescue the images;
they themselves head off into captivity.

I put a copy of Calvin's Institutes on my n810 so that I can read it whenever I want. I never have been happy with digital reading sources because you can't easily make notes in the book, but I may start carrying a notebook (paper, with covers) again to keep my notes on when I start into the Institutes.

The copy I put on the n810 came from here.

Like good story telling, good theology takes lots of hard work, lots of good thinking. Unfortunately, it's too easy to take the easy way, and just accept whatever we've been told. We're exhorted in scripture to test everything, and that really does mean EVERYTHING.

The audio is really glitchy, but the content makes it worth publishing (I think). There are some pops, and obviously missing parts of words, but I think you can figure it out. If it's too bad, let us know.

"For God so loved the world that ... all things work out for the good."

Or something.

Have you ever noticed that when you memorize scripture you tend to memorize only the stuff you like... only the stuff that proves your point?

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One of our listeners and friends wrote us asking about the Trinity, "I heard a sermon on this subject; I would like to hear a discussion by you. Some sermons even say, 'Forget the Trinity - they are all "Jesus."' So what is your take?"