Has Theology gone too far?

[romans224]

All throughout history man has had this urge to fully understand its creator, however it has caused more harm then good. Before anyone comes and tries to knock down my concern I am asking for careful prayer and meditation on this issue. I for one am tired of man "trying to explain" this or that. Instead we should be in agreement more then disagreement. Anyone intrested in studying this?

[LoudRam]

We should be in agreement more. One of the problems I see is man (finite) trying to fully understand an infinite God. We can't do it.

Our prayer should be that God through the Holy Spirit grant us understanding and knowledge about who God is and how we are to serve and worship Him.

Satan is always there as well to interfere with that as best as he can. And our fallen nature or flesh doesn't help either.

[BlessedinHim]

I understand what you are saying. I like to just read the bible and see what it says, using a concordance or a strongs as my help. Sometimes a commentary, but more times than not, I see problems even with commentary. Of course, that could be that it is me not understanding what I am reading, too. I try to ask the questions tho. who, what, when, where, why.....and that seems to help, too. Before the cross, or after the cross.

I try to just let the scripture speak for itself in context.

It is futile for us to try to understand something we have absolutely no inkling of an idea on. Eternity, heaven, 100% just and merciful, no respector of persons, completely Holy. We have no experience in these things. How can we really understand them, I am sure the best we can do is speculate.

[Saved by Grace_06]

I believe that it is because of a lack of Good theology, the church suffers. I'm so sadded by today's Christanity. There's only two things that will make Christians worthy of being called "Christians" today: 1. Severe persecuation insomuch as to distinguish the sheep from goat. 2. A reformation of truth (i.e., true theology).

[Aliya]

All throughout history man has had this urge to fully understand its creator, however it has caused more harm then good. Before anyone comes and tries to knock down my concern I am asking for careful prayer and meditation on this issue. I for one am tired of man "trying to explain" this or that. Instead we should be in agreement more then disagreement. Anyone intrested in studying this?

The problem with systems of theology is that we try to put God in a box, thinking we have him all figured out.

The reason I love Les Feldcik's bible teaching is that he sticks to scripture, using scripture to interpret scripture. I'm down for the most part to the bible, a Concordance, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries.. and when I'm stuck, I go to bible teachers who don't teach a system of theology, but read the book - and see if they have found a scriptural answer.

So yes.. I agree with you. Not sure I have time to study the idea, if that is what you mean, as I'm too busy studying my bible!

[CarolLyn]

All throughout history man has had this urge to fully understand its creator, however it has caused more harm then good. Before anyone comes and tries to knock down my concern I am asking for careful prayer and meditation on this issue. I for one am tired of man "trying to explain" this or that. Instead we should be in agreement more then disagreement. Anyone intrested in studying this?

When we get to heaven, we will no longer "see through a glass darkly". Until then, I think we should just agree to disagree, in love. Although it is good to talk about our differneces in theology, we will continue to have differences until we get to heaven and understand it all perfectly. Then we will probably find out that all of us were wrong in many areas.

[romans224]

For my understanding it seems we depend more on receiving knowledge then depending on God's Holy Spirit to provide that knowledge. I mean honestly when you study the beginning of the church it was fishermen. However when in prayer and reading the scriptures they became more as one. The biggest problem I have seen in theology is the fact of " I am right and you are wrong". I like that some in this thread agree it is by studying the word on your own you come to a better understanding of God. If we believe in the bible and what it says then why not act like it tells us, as in being as one in Christ? Honestly if I offend anyone I personal do not care, because I would rather someone be offended and try to look up the answers themselves in the Word then too continue down a theology that someone else assumes is right! BTW I am not saying allow theology is corrupt rather it is when we disagree we try to come up with a new idea. I say that instead of looking on what we disagree on look at the things we know we SHOULD AGREE on!

[CarolLyn]

I love God's word and I love to read it and study it. But what really gets me in the Book is when I read or hear something I disagree with. That's when I really learn the most, it seems. I guess I need to be motivated, and disagreement motivates me to study even more and deeper than I would have otherwise.......always in love, of course!

[HeIsEnough]

All throughout history man has had this urge to fully understand its creator, however it has caused more harm then good. Before anyone comes and tries to knock down my concern I am asking for careful prayer and meditation on this issue. I for one am tired of man "trying to explain" this or that. Instead we should be in agreement more then disagreement. Anyone intrested in studying this?

The scriptures are supposed to have a primary impact on our tongues, our actions, and our thoughts. To take (you) and make (you) full of mercy and grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, not lacking in any of the fruits of the Spirit. This is the theology that the Lord is looking for in our lives, imho. Without applying the precepts to our own heart firstly, anything can happen. (You) can even graduate from a famous seminary and pastor a flock, write books, be quoted and be famous, but that doesn't mean it is the heart God is looking for, not in the least. We won't be able to agree on everything in this life about theology, but we can demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in the process. It's all we have. If we cannot and refuse to demonstrate that, then perhaps some of our problems are far bigger and more personal.

[JoelH]

All throughout history man has had this urge to fully understand its creator, however it has caused more harm then good. Before anyone comes and tries to knock down my concern I am asking for careful prayer and meditation on this issue. I for one am tired of man "trying to explain" this or that. Instead we should be in agreement more then disagreement. Anyone intrested in studying this?

You may have some points in the context of petty theological divisiveness. However, I think ever since 1900 AD the Western Christendom has had insufficient rigours of theology as it has focused on unity above all else, rather than unity in truth as Jesus commanded. In other words, the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction such that I would now prescribe precisely the opposite of your suggestion - more, not less, theology into church.

Theology itself is not a bad thing after all because it focuses on what and why we believe. It also lets us to focus on the truth rather than errors. A generation who doesn't guard truths as set out in the Bible will get apostasized quickly within 2 generations, and these truths need to be taught and retaught anew for each new generation.

YBIC,

Joel