I Desire Help Developing a Theological Work I am Writing

[Steven Yeadon]

I am currently outlining what I thought was going to be a theological book. I have the equivalent of an MTS degree and am halfway to an MDiv. In addition, I am an avid writer, though I am not yet published. To change that status and use my gifts and experiences for the Kingdom of God, I decided to write a theological book on important issues that seem to go under the radar. However, with 21 essays identified as necessary for the work, and still climbing, it looks like I will have to split the tome I was working on into several volumes.

I have been working on this project, in a sense, ever since I joined the BB over a year ago. The process of outlining the books has become a massive effort, that I am going slowly through as I do an inductive bible study of the entire NT and the Book of Proverbs.

The unifying theme, it seems to me, is finding and bringing to light what I believe are key deceptions Satan is using in the Church. Then, I examine what the biblical response should be. This is where I find my fire, my passion, and the key intellectual battleground I believe I can help in. However, I am trying to be gentle with any doctrinal correction.

I present the current titles of my essays as they give away the gist of the books:

1-1) Confirming Your Salvation: The Effects of a Living Faith
1-2) Judge Not? Correcting a Common Misunderstanding and Resurrecting Church Discipline
1-3) Interpreting the Times: The Spiritual Health of the American Church
1-4) Personal Holiness: A Foundation for Christian Faith
1-5) The Bible's Teachings Trump Our Life Experiences: What Being the Word of God Means to Our Reality
1-6) The Doctrine of Hell: The Need to Embrace the Day of Judgment in Tears

2-7) Reason is Not Equal To Scripture: A Warning About Having a Rational Faith
2-8) A Segue: Belief in a Creator God is in Fact Very Reasonable
2-9) Christian Tradition is Not Equal to Scripture: A Warning About "High Church" Christianity
2-10) The Supernatural Deception of Our Time: A Warning About the Charismatic Movement
2-11) The Lie of the Enemy Called the Scientific Worldview
2-12) What is Biblical Womanhood? Countering Modern Feminism
2-13) Our Sexual Activity is Judged by God: Combating the Sexual Revolution
2-14) Should Children be Rationed? Exposing the Real Problem with Birth Control

3-15) Offerings: A Call for Radical Generosity in the Face of Lazarus
3-16) Solving the Problem of Evil Using the Bible: Accepting a Fool's Wager
3-17) What is a Fool, a Simple Person, and a Scoffer According to the Bible?
3-18) A New and Much Darker Perspective on the Historical Church in Light of a Timeless Gospel
3-19) Some Thoughts on Politics, Nationalism, and a Kingdom Not of this World
3-20) Warnings to the Pharisees and Scribes: Convicting Words and the Need to Study, Understand, Apply, and Quote the Whole Bible
3-21) A Sampling of C.S. Lewis' Apologetical Arguments Against other Religions: Christianity on the Offensive

What are your thoughts that could help this project?

The problem I have run into is that a word by word inductive study of the bible has produced in me, a far, far more conservative faith that, to me, seems against the grain of the evangelical movement. I am not turning mainline or charismatic or high church, instead I am discovering that my reading of the bible for two years has put me at odds with most evangelical pastors as a matter of course. I am simply hyper-conservative compared to the average churchgoer and pastor.

I guess I wonder if it is possible to be a Non-Evangelical, non-Charismatic, non-Mainline Protestant Christian due to a very literal reading of the bible? Or am I simply misreading things and lacking an understanding of how these 21 viewpoints I am writing mesh with the Church?

Any insights that can help me?

 

[Aaron]

Yes. You're not grounded well enough to write about the Scriptures.

My advice, drop out of seminary and get a job and live your faith.

I Stop to Assess the Reasons to Post or Not Post Here at the BB. Why Do We Post Here?

 

[1689Dave]

I am currently outlining what I thought was going to be a theological book. I have the equivalent of an MTS degree and am halfway to an MDiv. In addition, I am an avid writer, though I am not yet published. To change that status and use my gifts and experiences for the Kingdom of God, I decided to write a theological book on important issues that seem to go under the radar. However, with 21 essays identified as necessary for the work, and still climbing, it looks like I will have to split the tome I was working on into several volumes.

I have been working on this project, in a sense, ever since I joined the BB over a year ago. The process of outlining the books has become a massive effort, that I am going slowly through as I do an inductive bible study of the entire NT and the Book of Proverbs.

The unifying theme, it seems to me, is finding and bringing to light what I believe are key deceptions Satan is using in the Church. Then, I examine what the biblical response should be. This is where I find my fire, my passion, and the key intellectual battleground I believe I can help in. However, I am trying to be gentle with any doctrinal correction.

I present the current titles of my essays as they give away the gist of the books:

1-1) Confirming Your Salvation: The Effects of a Living Faith
1-2) Judge Not? Correcting a Common Misunderstanding and Resurrecting Church Discipline
1-3) Interpreting the Times: The Spiritual Health of the American Church
1-4) Personal Holiness: A Foundation for Christian Faith
1-5) The Bible's Teachings Trump Our Life Experiences: What Being the Word of God Means to Our Reality
1-6) The Doctrine of Hell: The Need to Embrace the Day of Judgment in Tears

2-7) Reason is Not Equal To Scripture: A Warning About Having a Rational Faith
2-8) A Segue: Belief in a Creator God is in Fact Very Reasonable
2-9) Christian Tradition is Not Equal to Scripture: A Warning About "High Church" Christianity
2-10) The Supernatural Deception of Our Time: A Warning About the Charismatic Movement
2-11) The Lie of the Enemy Called the Scientific Worldview
2-12) What is Biblical Womanhood? Countering Modern Feminism
2-13) Our Sexual Activity is Judged by God: Combating the Sexual Revolution
2-14) Should Children be Rationed? Exposing the Real Problem with Birth Control

3-15) Offerings: A Call for Radical Generosity in the Face of Lazarus
3-16) Solving the Problem of Evil Using the Bible: Accepting a Fool's Wager
3-17) What is a Fool, a Simple Person, and a Scoffer According to the Bible?
3-18) A New and Much Darker Perspective on the Historical Church in Light of a Timeless Gospel
3-19) Some Thoughts on Politics, Nationalism, and a Kingdom Not of this World
3-20) Warnings to the Pharisees and Scribes: Convicting Words and the Need to Study, Understand, Apply, and Quote the Whole Bible
3-21) A Sampling of C.S. Lewis' Apologetical Arguments Against other Religions: Christianity on the Offensive

What are your thoughts that could help this project?

The problem I have run into is that a word by word inductive study of the bible has produced in me, a far, far more conservative faith that, to me, seems against the grain of the evangelical movement. I am not turning mainline or charismatic or high church, instead I am discovering that my reading of the bible for two years has put me at odds with most evangelical pastors as a matter of course. I am simply hyper-conservative compared to the average churchgoer and pastor.

I guess I wonder if it is possible to be a Non-Evangelical, non-Charismatic, non-Mainline Protestant Christian due to a very literal reading of the bible? Or am I simply misreading things and lacking an understanding of how these 21 viewpoints I am writing mesh with the Church?

Any insights that can help me?

I think this is a great spread of topics and a great approach. I'm challenged thinking about what I'd write under each heading.

 

[HankD]

The unifying theme, it seems to me, is finding and bringing to light what I believe are key deceptions Satan is using in the Church.

To do what Steve?

 

[Steven Yeadon]

To do what Steve?

My primary goal is to serve in and pursue His Kingdom in relationship to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

I also want to help people discover the truths and treasures of the bible that I have found since coming to saving faith two years ago.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

Yes. You're not grounded well enough to write about the Scriptures.

My advice, drop out of seminary and get a job and live your faith.

I believe that is a fair assessment.

I am not currently in seminary, as I am in the process of getting a job to pay for it. I am also very much trying to live my faith currently, as a man with two severe disabilities.

I agree with you off the bat on one thing: I should master the NT more before ever publishing the books I am writing. I should probably keep my essays outlined, when I'm done doing so, and see if my theology changes as I master the NT. When I complete the first phase of my project to do an inductive bible study of the whole NT and the Book of Proverbs, then I can then think about fleshing out my essays and publishing my books. That way I don't do work that will need to be redone later if my theology changes as I gain biblical mastery.

This just seems like being careful with the Word of God. When I do offer teaching to others, for now, I should preface it with an acknowledgment that I have a very long way to go in mastering the Word, because I am a young Christian.

 

[HankD]

My primary goal is to serve in and pursue His Kingdom in relationship to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

I also want to help people discover the truths and treasures of the bible that I have found since coming to saving faith two years ago.

My primary goal is to serve in and pursue His Kingdom in relationship to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

I also want to help people discover the truths and treasures of the bible that I have found since coming to saving faith two years ago.

And how is this related to the "key deceptions Satan is using in the Church".

What is Satan trying to do to "the Church" with these "key deceptions"?
Why is he doing this?

IMO It would help to state your thesis and answer these questions early on in your dossier and give clarity to the body of your work.
Your 2 Corinthians citation would be a good scriptural tool to this end.

you seem to need education in the writing of research papers.

State your thesis then prove it.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

And how is this related to the "key deceptions Satan is using in the Church".

What is Satan trying to do to "the Church" with these "key deceptions"?
Why is he doing this?

IMO It would help to state your thesis and answer these questions early on in your dossier and give clarity to the body of your work.
Your 2 Corinthians citation would be a good scriptural tool to this end.

you seem to need education in the writing of research papers.

State your thesis then prove it.

Thank you, I will work on my thesis, explaining it, and then determine how I can prove it.

 

[Yeshua1]

I am currently outlining what I thought was going to be a theological book. I have the equivalent of an MTS degree and am halfway to an MDiv. In addition, I am an avid writer, though I am not yet published. To change that status and use my gifts and experiences for the Kingdom of God, I decided to write a theological book on important issues that seem to go under the radar. However, with 21 essays identified as necessary for the work, and still climbing, it looks like I will have to split the tome I was working on into several volumes.

I have been working on this project, in a sense, ever since I joined the BB over a year ago. The process of outlining the books has become a massive effort, that I am going slowly through as I do an inductive bible study of the entire NT and the Book of Proverbs.

The unifying theme, it seems to me, is finding and bringing to light what I believe are key deceptions Satan is using in the Church. Then, I examine what the biblical response should be. This is where I find my fire, my passion, and the key intellectual battleground I believe I can help in. However, I am trying to be gentle with any doctrinal correction.

I present the current titles of my essays as they give away the gist of the books:

1-1) Confirming Your Salvation: The Effects of a Living Faith
1-2) Judge Not? Correcting a Common Misunderstanding and Resurrecting Church Discipline
1-3) Interpreting the Times: The Spiritual Health of the American Church
1-4) Personal Holiness: A Foundation for Christian Faith
1-5) The Bible's Teachings Trump Our Life Experiences: What Being the Word of God Means to Our Reality
1-6) The Doctrine of Hell: The Need to Embrace the Day of Judgment in Tears

2-7) Reason is Not Equal To Scripture: A Warning About Having a Rational Faith
2-8) A Segue: Belief in a Creator God is in Fact Very Reasonable
2-9) Christian Tradition is Not Equal to Scripture: A Warning About "High Church" Christianity
2-10) The Supernatural Deception of Our Time: A Warning About the Charismatic Movement
2-11) The Lie of the Enemy Called the Scientific Worldview
2-12) What is Biblical Womanhood? Countering Modern Feminism
2-13) Our Sexual Activity is Judged by God: Combating the Sexual Revolution
2-14) Should Children be Rationed? Exposing the Real Problem with Birth Control

3-15) Offerings: A Call for Radical Generosity in the Face of Lazarus
3-16) Solving the Problem of Evil Using the Bible: Accepting a Fool's Wager
3-17) What is a Fool, a Simple Person, and a Scoffer According to the Bible?
3-18) A New and Much Darker Perspective on the Historical Church in Light of a Timeless Gospel
3-19) Some Thoughts on Politics, Nationalism, and a Kingdom Not of this World
3-20) Warnings to the Pharisees and Scribes: Convicting Words and the Need to Study, Understand, Apply, and Quote the Whole Bible
3-21) A Sampling of C.S. Lewis' Apologetical Arguments Against other Religions: Christianity on the Offensive

What are your thoughts that could help this project?

The problem I have run into is that a word by word inductive study of the bible has produced in me, a far, far more conservative faith that, to me, seems against the grain of the evangelical movement. I am not turning mainline or charismatic or high church, instead I am discovering that my reading of the bible for two years has put me at odds with most evangelical pastors as a matter of course. I am simply hyper-conservative compared to the average churchgoer and pastor.

I guess I wonder if it is possible to be a Non-Evangelical, non-Charismatic, non-Mainline Protestant Christian due to a very literal reading of the bible? Or am I simply misreading things and lacking an understanding of how these 21 viewpoints I am writing mesh with the Church?

Any insights that can help me?

Maybe God does not want you to write that book, but to have you apply what He is teaching to you in those areas now!

 

[Reynolds]

I am currently outlining what I thought was going to be a theological book. I have the equivalent of an MTS degree and am halfway to an MDiv. In addition, I am an avid writer, though I am not yet published. To change that status and use my gifts and experiences for the Kingdom of God, I decided to write a theological book on important issues that seem to go under the radar. However, with 21 essays identified as necessary for the work, and still climbing, it looks like I will have to split the tome I was working on into several volumes.

I have been working on this project, in a sense, ever since I joined the BB over a year ago. The process of outlining the books has become a massive effort, that I am going slowly through as I do an inductive bible study of the entire NT and the Book of Proverbs.

The unifying theme, it seems to me, is finding and bringing to light what I believe are key deceptions Satan is using in the Church. Then, I examine what the biblical response should be. This is where I find my fire, my passion, and the key intellectual battleground I believe I can help in. However, I am trying to be gentle with any doctrinal correction.

I present the current titles of my essays as they give away the gist of the books:

1-1) Confirming Your Salvation: The Effects of a Living Faith
1-2) Judge Not? Correcting a Common Misunderstanding and Resurrecting Church Discipline
1-3) Interpreting the Times: The Spiritual Health of the American Church
1-4) Personal Holiness: A Foundation for Christian Faith
1-5) The Bible's Teachings Trump Our Life Experiences: What Being the Word of God Means to Our Reality
1-6) The Doctrine of Hell: The Need to Embrace the Day of Judgment in Tears

2-7) Reason is Not Equal To Scripture: A Warning About Having a Rational Faith
2-8) A Segue: Belief in a Creator God is in Fact Very Reasonable
2-9) Christian Tradition is Not Equal to Scripture: A Warning About "High Church" Christianity
2-10) The Supernatural Deception of Our Time: A Warning About the Charismatic Movement
2-11) The Lie of the Enemy Called the Scientific Worldview
2-12) What is Biblical Womanhood? Countering Modern Feminism
2-13) Our Sexual Activity is Judged by God: Combating the Sexual Revolution
2-14) Should Children be Rationed? Exposing the Real Problem with Birth Control

3-15) Offerings: A Call for Radical Generosity in the Face of Lazarus
3-16) Solving the Problem of Evil Using the Bible: Accepting a Fool's Wager
3-17) What is a Fool, a Simple Person, and a Scoffer According to the Bible?
3-18) A New and Much Darker Perspective on the Historical Church in Light of a Timeless Gospel
3-19) Some Thoughts on Politics, Nationalism, and a Kingdom Not of this World
3-20) Warnings to the Pharisees and Scribes: Convicting Words and the Need to Study, Understand, Apply, and Quote the Whole Bible
3-21) A Sampling of C.S. Lewis' Apologetical Arguments Against other Religions: Christianity on the Offensive

What are your thoughts that could help this project?

The problem I have run into is that a word by word inductive study of the bible has produced in me, a far, far more conservative faith that, to me, seems against the grain of the evangelical movement. I am not turning mainline or charismatic or high church, instead I am discovering that my reading of the bible for two years has put me at odds with most evangelical pastors as a matter of course. I am simply hyper-conservative compared to the average churchgoer and pastor.

I guess I wonder if it is possible to be a Non-Evangelical, non-Charismatic, non-Mainline Protestant Christian due to a very literal reading of the bible? Or am I simply misreading things and lacking an understanding of how these 21 viewpoints I am writing mesh with the Church?

Any insights that can help me?

Not insulting you, just speaking as I see it; you need to figure out what you believe before you try to write books about it.

 

[Yeshua1]

Not insulting you, just speaking as I see it; you need to figure out what you believe before you try to write books about it.

Just any one of his topics could be a small book!

 

[Steven Yeadon]

Not insulting you, just speaking as I see it; you need to figure out what you believe before you try to write books about it.

Post #6 explains that I realized this. I am still outlining my essays because it helps me understand what I believe and will stand for as being consistent with the Word of God. Its kind of like getting a term paper or essay test where you are forced to make up your mind on on the issues at hand.

 

[1689Dave]

Post #6 explains that I realized this. I am still outlining my essays because it helps me understand what I believe and will stand for as being consistent with the Word of God. Its kind of like getting a term paper or essay test where you are forced to make up your mind on on the issues at hand.

WHy not post some of your studies to different groups to see how they hold up. I've done this in various groups to knock the rough edges off over the years. Nothing like paedobaptists to challenge credobaptism. Arminians to challenge the few portions of Calvinism I hold to. Etc. Etc.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

WHy not post some of your studies to different groups to see how they hold up. I've done this in various groups to knock the rough edges off over the years. Nothing like paedobaptists to challenge credobaptism. Arminians to challenge the few portions of Calvinism I hold to. Etc. Etc.

That is an idea I have thought about, the reason I do not is that an essay is so long. Even an outline of concepts, structure, and bible verses is pretty long. When I post a wall of text on this board, I usually get no responses or I get few responses and no robust discussion. I may have to take my most condensed findings and post them in order to see what happens. That may be wise.

 

[1689Dave]

That is an idea I have thought about, the reason I do not is that an essay is so long. Even an outline of concepts, structure, and bible verses is pretty long. When I post a wall of text on this board, I usually get no responses or I get few responses and no robust discussion. I may have to take my most condensed findings and post them in order to see what happens. That may be wise.

I've done that before. Post enough to see if interest develops and see what happens.

 

[HankD]

I've done that before. Post enough to see if interest develops and see what happens.

Yes, lets see what you have.

 

[1689Dave]

Yes, lets see what you have.

I'll post it in the Baptist Theology & Bible Study thread. Named Matthew 24

 

[Yeshua1]

Post #6 explains that I realized this. I am still outlining my essays because it helps me understand what I believe and will stand for as being consistent with the Word of God. Its kind of like getting a term paper or essay test where you are forced to make up your mind on on the issues at hand.

How do you feel about modern Day Charismatics theology now?

 

[Steven Yeadon]

How do you feel about modern Day Charismatics theology now?

I believe they are a dangerous group of people in the church lost in untruth. I view them as much an enemy of sound doctrine as the RCC.

Their power gift ministers are both supernatural deceivers who themselves are deceived by Satan, as well as those who will cry "Lord! Lord!" at the Judgment. I believe when they work anything supernatural that advances the Kingdom, it is in spite of their status in heaven. I believe that when they work anything supernatural that does not advance the Kingdom, it is by the power of Satan. When you add the Charismatic charlatans, who prophesy of their own minds, you have a brood of vipers leading that movement.

 

[Yeshua1]

I believe they are a dangerous group of people in the church lost in untruth. I view them as much an enemy of sound doctrine as the RCC.

Their power gift ministers are both supernatural deceivers who themselves are deceived by Satan, as well as those who will cry "Lord! Lord!" at the Judgment. I believe when they work anything supernatural that advances the Kingdom, it is in spite of their status in heaven. I believe that when they work anything supernatural that does not advance the Kingdom, it is by the power of Satan. When you add the Charismatic charlatans, who prophesy of their own minds, you have a brood of vipers leading that movement.

I would suggest thast the re are some who are saved, but are teaching with a misunderstanding of how the Spirit operates, such as AOG ministers, but the ones that fit into what you described are word of faith, name it claim it, the modern day prophets/Apostles, and any who claim to have extra revelation!