How has your theology changed?

[RLBosley]

One of my pastor's favorite sayings is along the lines of, "If your theology hasn't changed in 10 years, you aren't really studying."

So that makes me wonder, how has the theology of our various BB'ers changed over time?

And do you think that is an accurate statement?

For me personally:

Theology
I've moved from Dispensationalism to New Covenant Theology/Progressive Covenantalism

Eschatology
From pre-Trib, pre-mill to historic pre-mill (post-trib) with a-mill leanings

Soteriology
From totally free-will Arminian to a strange hybrid that I'm not really sure what I'd be called. (That's a technical term)

 

[preacher4truth]

One of my pastor's favorite sayings is along the lines of, "If your theology hasn't changed in 10 years, you aren't really studying."

I've heard this before as well. It is actually true and conveys why a large amount of Christians do not progress in their understanding; because they do not study. Too many use a proof-texting apologetic they've not thought out thoroughly and have used for years.

As for me I was once free will* IFB but after study I am now Reformed Baptist and am convinced of the DoG being true more and more.

- Blessings

*edit to say I was not 'free will Baptist' but a Baptist who believed in free will &c. I've since rejected free will being true concerning the lost. I've always held to OSAS. :wavey:

 

[salzer mtn]

One of my pastor's favorite sayings is along the lines of, "If your theology hasn't changed in 10 years, you aren't really studying."

This is just a off the wall statement that at first glance sounds good but has no substance. A person that constantly changes their theology are not grounded in truth.

 

[RLBosley]

This is just a off the wall statement that at first glance sounds good but has no substance. A person that constantly changes their theology are not grounded in truth.

No one said anything about "Constantly changing."

It's a simple admission that none of us have a perfect theology. None.

It's foolish to say that we aren't constantly re-evaluating our theology. One could easily be born again and have a horribly inaccurate theology. Does that mean they were never grounded in truth? Of course not. Instead they were grounded in THE Truth and should, God-willing, go on to learn more and more truth, which would continually cause them to re-evaluate and modify their theology.

I've heard this before as well. It is actually true and conveys why a large amount of Christians do not progress in their understanding; because they do not study. Too many use a proof-texting apologetic they've not thought out thoroughly and have used for years.

As for me I was once free will* IFB but after study I am now Reformed Baptist and am convinced of the DoG being true more and more.

- Blessings

*edit to say I was not 'free will Baptist' but a Baptist who believed in free will &c. I've since rejected free will being true concerning the lost. I've always held to OSAS. :wavey:

Agreed. And I was also IFB but now more reformed though I'm not all the way. And same for me regarding 'free-will'/OSAS. Though I prefer to express it as perseverance.

 

[salzer mtn]

No one said anything about "Constantly changing."

It's a simple admission that none of us have a perfect theology. None.

It's foolish to say that we aren't constantly re-evaluating our theology. One could easily be born again and have a horribly inaccurate theology. Does that mean they were never grounded in truth? Of course not. Instead they were grounded in THE Truth and should, God-willing, go on to learn more and more truth, which would continually cause them to re-evaluate and modify their theology.

If at every ten year mark my theology has changed then that would be a constant change because you don't suddenly change at the ten year mark but you would be changing in the between years.

 

[RLBosley]

If at every ten year mark my theology has changed then that would be a constant change because you don't suddenly change at the ten year mark but you would be changing in the between years.

Not necessarily. My theology never changed for most of my life, then a year ago I started studying more thoroughly and withing 9 months my entire former system collapsed. (Of course, I now feel I was not truly born again prior to just 2 1/2 years ago.) I'm still working on the details and so in a sense my theology is still changing, but to equate that to not being grounded in truth is nonsense.

So you're saying your theology hasn't changed?

 

[Deacon]

I've often felt sorry for pastors/elders because I felt that they couldn't change (much) because change might confuse and irritate their congregation.
1) They are restrained by their initial written doctrinal statement.
2) They are too busy to study major doctrinal controversies with introspective self-evaluation.

Rob

 

[preacher4truth]

If at every ten year mark my theology has changed then that would be a constant change because you don't suddenly change at the ten year mark but you would be changing in the between years.

Persons theology should be ever growing which is changing theologically and according to the essence of the OP. I can't see that as a negative unless one inserts something negative into it.

The OP isn't about being tossed about by every wind of doctrine as seems to be your contention. You're misunderstanding the OP. It's about progressing in theological understanding.

To be honest still there are too many persons that haven't grown a bit theologically or have grown very little. 1 Cor. 3. To become contented is to stop growing.

 

[Bob Alkire]

One of my pastor's favorite sayings is along the lines of, "If your theology hasn't changed in 10 years, you aren't really studying."

So that makes me wonder, how has the theology of our various BB'ers changed over time?

And do you think that is an accurate statement?

For me personally:

Theology
I've moved from Dispensationalism to New Covenant Theology/Progressive Covenantalism

Eschatology
From pre-Trib, pre-mill to historic pre-mill (post-trib) with a-mill leanings

Soteriology
From totally free-will Arminian to a strange hybrid that I'm not really sure what I'd be called. (That's a technical term)

I moved just the opposite of you in theology and eschatology I was a mill and in soteriology, I'm freewill in the free grace camp, never have been what I would call Arminian. This move happen in the 60's and hasn't changed from then on. I'm still learning and growing but it seems to be in the same direction.

 

[RLBosley]

I moved just the opposite of you in theology and eschatology I was a mill and in soteriology, I'm freewill in the free grace camp, never have been what I would call Arminian. This move happen in the 60's and hasn't changed from then on. I'm still learning and growing but it seems to be in the same direction.

That's interesting. I've heard of several leaving Dispensationalism but only a handful going the other way.

And perhaps Arminian isn't quite the right word for what I was, as I always believed in OSAS, but you get the idea.

 

[Crabtownboy]

If a person's theology does not change as they grow older it does mean they are not studying, they are not growing spiritually, they are not gaining a deeper understanding of God. Not to grow is at best to be simply stationary, at worst to have already died.

This is not just true of theology, but in all areas of life. It is like a 21 year old who has not progressed past where they were when they were 7 years old. Sad state for anyone to be in, IMHO.

 

[preacher4truth]

If a person's theology does not change as they grow older it does mean they are not studying, they are not growing spiritually, they are not gaining a deeper understanding of God. Not to grow is at best to be simply stationary, at worst to have already died.

I disagree with your assessment. To believe what you've said would mean that many new believers were already grounded in all sound doctrine from the time they were born from above up until their current state today.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Scripture says we grow by the milk of the Word, as we do our theology changes and grows.

Gaining a deeper understanding of God is in itself changing theologically. Many can study and yet this does not mean learning and advancing. Take for instance the milk being preached at church where the sheep are being fed the same shallow theology week after week, month after month, year after year. Several deacons have brought their disappointment concerning this to my attention and this church isn't an isolated instance, it's an epidemic. (No, I am not the pastor of this church).

This is not just true of theology, but in all areas of life. It is like a 21 year old who has not progressed past where they were when they were 7 years old. Sad state for anyone to be in, IMHO.

This paragraph above is contradictory to your first paragraph. You're trying to have it both ways. In your second paragraph you actually show were many Christians are today who say they study -- they've been in kindergarten 30 years theologically -- yet they 'study' year after year. And that is a sad state and the is the state of many in churches today.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I disagree with your assessment. To believe what you've said would mean that many new believers were already grounded in all sound doctrine from the time they were born from above up until their current state today.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Scripture says we grow by the milk of the Word, as we do our theology changes and grows.

Gaining a deeper understanding of God is in itself changing theologically. Many can study and yet this does not mean learning and advancing. Take for instance the milk being preached at church where the sheep are being fed the same shallow theology week after week, month after month, year after year. Several deacons have brought their disappointment concerning this to my attention and this church isn't an isolated instance, it's an epidemic. (No, I am not the pastor of this church).



This paragraph above is contradictory to your first paragraph. You're trying to have it both ways. In your second paragraph you actually show were many Christians are today who say they study -- they've been in kindergarten 30 years theologically -- yet they 'study' year after year. And that is a sad state and the is the state of many in churches today.

I believe you misread or misunderstood my first paragraph. My intention was to say that a person who does not study, pray, read, meditate does not grow and if they do not grow their theology does not change. They remain babies in Christ and never deepen their understanding.

 

[quantumfaith]

No one said anything about "Constantly changing."

It's a simple admission that none of us have a perfect theology. None.

It's foolish to say that we aren't constantly re-evaluating our theology. One could easily be born again and have a horribly inaccurate theology. Does that mean they were never grounded in truth? Of course not. Instead they were grounded in THE Truth and should, God-willing, go on to learn more and more truth, which would continually cause them to re-evaluate and modify their theology.



Agreed. And I was also IFB but now more reformed though I'm not all the way. And same for me regarding 'free-will'/OSAS. Though I prefer to express it as perseverance.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[salzer mtn]

Persons theology should be ever growing which is changing theologically and according to the essence of the OP. I can't see that as a negative unless one inserts something negative into it.

The OP isn't about being tossed about by every wind of doctrine as seems to be your contention. You're misunderstanding the OP. It's about progressing in theological understanding.

To be honest still there are too many persons that haven't grown a bit theologically or have grown very little. 1 Cor. 3. To become contented is to stop growing.

I'm not a mind reader if the op meant progressing in theology then he should have said so. Most people that do an about face in what they believe and then admit they were not saved to began with are prone to believe everyone else is in the same boat as they are.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Yes, I have changed. I am much less dogmatic about things that are not important and more dogmatic about things that are. And I see the difference between the two much more clearly.

 

[preacher4truth]

I'm not a mind reader if the op meant progressing in theology then he should have said so. Most people that do an about face in what they believe and then admit they were not saved to began with are prone to believe everyone else is in the same boat as they are.

Yes, I agree. I do not believe the OP was in the slightest about doing an about face. If such were true, the only sense where such an opinion could end upon a severe and just indictment of the OP would be in the sense of this; one turning against the Gospel of Christ and to claim such as change and growth. I see none of this suggested herein.

What I do see is that believers progress in their theological understanding and enlightenment, and thereby these same grow and change theologically as it were.

- Blessings

 

[preacher4truth]

I believe you misread or misunderstood my first paragraph. My intention was to say that a person who does not study, pray, read, meditate does not grow and if they do not grow their theology does not change. They remain babies in Christ and never deepen their understanding.

Perhaps I misread your post.

Your last example is what I was getting at in mine, and in that I see you misunderstanding perhaps my point. Some spend years and never grow and do kindergarten over and over for years.

This reminds me of a story I heard. A teacher had spent years teaching and therefore expected a promotion yet another teacher got the promotion instead. Upon approaching the principal as to why she didn't receive the promotion, and a newly arrived teacher did, the principal replied like this 'The other teacher has grown in her few short years and you've merely repeated your same protocol for the many years you've been here, and have not grown nor advanced in your skills.'

That was my point. I apologize I was not clear enough on that, my fault, yet I think CTB we are probably on the same page and talking past one another.

- Blessings

 

[Crabtownboy]

Perhaps I misread your post.

Your last example is what I was getting at in mine, and in that I see you misunderstanding perhaps my point. Some spend years and never grow and do kindergarten over and over for years.

I agree.

This reminds me of a story I heard. A teacher had spent years teaching and therefore expected a promotion yet another teacher got the promotion instead. Upon approaching the principal as to why she didn't receive the promotion, and a newly arrived teacher did, the principal replied like this 'The other teacher has grown in her few short years and you've merely repeated your same protocol for the many years you've been here, and have not grown nor advanced in your skills.'

That was my point. I apologize I was not clear enough on that, my fault, yet I think CTB we are probably on the same page and talking past one another.

- Blessings

No problem at all. Thanks for the reply.

Becoming spiritually more mature should, IMHO, be everyone's goal. I believe that as we mature our theology will mature also and maturity will result in our theology changing to a deeper level.

 

[RLBosley]

I'm not a mind reader if the op meant progressing in theology then he should have said so. Most people that do an about face in what they believe and then admit they were not saved to began with are prone to believe everyone else is in the same boat as they are.

Oh please. You don't need to be a mind reader to understand what I was saying or the meaning behind the phrase mentioned.

And I do not believe everyone is in the "same boat" as I was. Also, my beliefs didn't change immediately after being truly born again. My theology was totally unrelated to that. I had grown up in church all my life and prayed a prayer when I was young, and thought myself to be saved. I now do not believe that was the case.

Yes, I have changed. I am much less dogmatic about things that are not important and more dogmatic about things that are. And I see the difference between the two much more clearly.

:thumbs: Good to hear.

Yes, I agree. I do not believe the OP was in the slightest about doing an about face. If such were true, the only sense where such an opinion could end upon a severe and just indictment of the OP would be in the sense of this; one turning against the Gospel of Christ and to claim such as change and growth. I see none of this suggested herein.

What I do see is that believers progress in their theological understanding and enlightenment, and thereby these same grow and change theologically as it were.

- Blessings

Exactly. Thank you.