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Although Grudem is Reformed and generally sound, he does have some weaknesses that would not put him high on my list of recommended systematic theology books. Most certainly, his book is not great although quite popular. Robert Reymond's A New Systematic Theology Of The Christian Faith is probably as good Reformed systematic theology as you will find among the recently published works.Originally posted by J.R.Maddox:
Grudens work is great. He comes from a reformed view yet is very well rounded. Ryries basic work on Bible Doctrines is also very nice.
Yes. I always thought that we did it as gentlemen and truth seekers and we parted as friends.Originally posted by Rhetorician:
paidagogos,
Although you and I have disagreed before, I am surprised at your mild rebuke.
IMHO, Lewis is dangerous for the novice. He is so appealing as an intellectual but he is completely unorthodox as a theologian. It is better for the neophyte to read orthodox theologians until he is firmly grounded and then he can branch out into other views. This is the problem of liberal seminaries that destroy the faith of budding preachers by exposing them to liberal theologians before they are grounded in orthodoxy. He can find plenty of variety in orthodoxy, for example, by reading Chafer and Hodge. A mother doesn’t feed her infant chicken backs with the small bones in it; the baby may swallow a bone and choke.
I am not telling the questioner to "swallow the bones with the meat," only to expose himself to a pleathora (sp?) of theology and "schools of theology." He should not just take one theological tome and have it as the only one he reads and ingests. True?
No, by no means. I simply mean that we see this one issue differently.And I don't know why you would part fellowship with one (me) over a recommendation of one monograph (if indeed this is what you are doing?)? Which, I do not believe you are. But, maybe a word of clarification from you is needed to clear this up?
IMHO, one doesn’t read indiscriminately, especially as a novice. One needs guidance and direction by one grounded in the faith. This is the Biblical pattern, I believe.This instance and example concerning Lewis is exactly what I am trying to get him to learn to do for himself. He cannot possibly know to make the kind(s) of decisions that you have put upon me if he is not widely read and his "own man?" That is all I am trying to have him understand!
You’re welcome.By-the-by, I take your compliment to heart! Thank you for it! I really did not realize anyone was watching or even cared?! I will be more careful to craft better theological answers and reflections in the future based "on the wounds of a friend!"
sdg!
rd
The thing is, Lewis himself wrote on more than on occasion about his own deficiencies as a theologian. I'd recommend that anyone read Lewis, but only if they understand that what they are getting is philosophy and not theology. Those who do not know the difference would be better served reading something else.Originally posted by paidagogos:
We’ll have to part company over C.S. Lewis. I’ve considered you a pretty good theologian and I cannot understand how you could recommend Lewis’ theology when he was certainly no theologian at best and probably a heretic at worst. Although I was a Lewisan fan in college, further reading, study, and thought brought a reversal of my position on Lewis.
This is great advice here. I would wholeheartily second this! </font>[/QUOTE]Does anyone else have a problem with this???? How is it great advice not to listen to the man that God has placed over you and watches over your soul as one who must give an account? How is it good advice not to listen to the one who has studied the theology and original languages and spends every day immersed in the Word and in prayer in order that he might proclaim God's Word to you?Originally posted by PastorSBC1303:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Rhetorician:
DO NOT get your theology second hand from the influence of your home pastor or anyone else. BE YOUR OWN MAN! And also, be slow to attach yourself to any one theological system.
No one said to not listen to your pastor. No one said to not take seriously the views and the convictions of the men God has placed in your life.Originally posted by Calvibaptist:
Does anyone else have a problem with this???? How is it great advice not to listen to the man that God has placed over you and watches over your soul as one who must give an account? How is it good advice not to listen to the one who has studied the theology and original languages and spends every day immersed in the Word and in prayer in order that he might proclaim God's Word to you?
No one said to not listen to your pastor. No one said to not take seriously the views and the convictions of the men God has placed in your life.Originally posted by PastorSBC1303:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Calvibaptist:
Does anyone else have a problem with this???? How is it great advice not to listen to the man that God has placed over you and watches over your soul as one who must give an account? How is it good advice not to listen to the one who has studied the theology and original languages and spends every day immersed in the Word and in prayer in order that he might proclaim God's Word to you?
Would not the opposite be true as well? Many errant views have been passed on from person to person because people were not willing to search the Scriptures for themselves.Originally posted by Calvibaptist:
Too many errant views come from ignoring what those who have come before us have hashed out already.
I would agree with this 100%. But that does not mean that we should not be willing to hammer out our own beliefs instead of just taking what someone else has said.RC Sproul has wisely said that if you study the Scripture and come up with an interpretation that a majority of the church has ignored or refused for the majority of church history, it is a good idea for you to dump your interpretation.
I just reread the passage. I do not think you can say that they did not continue to search out the Scriptures daily after their salvation. There is nothing there that limits that searching out to only preconversion. So while I agree it is referring to them searching the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching about salvation was true, should we automatically assume that it stopped once they were saved?BTW, if you read Acts 17:10-12, the Bereans in question were unbelieving Jews who searched the Scriptures when Paul preached the gospel and eventually believed. They were not believers who were testing the teachings of Paul.
I have never suggested that anyone should not search the Scripture for themselves. Of course they should. In fact, pastors and churches should teach their members how to study the Bible in addition to what the Bible says.Originally posted by PastorSBC1303:
Would not the opposite be true as well? Many errant views have been passed on from person to person because people were not willing to search the Scriptures for themselves.
I don't believe that anyone should "just take what someone else has said," including their pastor or other well-known preachers. That was not the point. The quote that I objected to said that people should not "get their theology from their home pastor." They should "be their own man." You agreed whole-heartedly. This is tantamount to saying that you should not allow yourself to be taught theology by your pastor. This is unbiblical. The reason God has given pastors is to teach theology (the study of God) from the Bible.I would agree with this 100%. But that does not mean that we should not be willing to hammer out our own beliefs instead of just taking what someone else has said.
I assume that it continued since they became believers. Believers will continue in the Word. I was just saying that the passage did not refer to believers but to unbelievers searching the Scripture. Too many people listen to people quote this passage and don't look it up and see that it is referring to unbelievers.I just reread the passage. I do not think you can say that they did not continue to search out the Scriptures daily after their salvation. There is nothing there that limits that searching out to only preconversion. So while I agree it is referring to them searching the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching about salvation was true, should we automatically assume that it stopped once they were saved?
I think perhaps you and I have a different take on what Rhet initially posted. Hopefully Rhet will jump in here and share with us what he meant.Originally posted by Calvibaptist:
That was not the point. The quote that I objected to said that people should not "get their theology from their home pastor." They should "be their own man." You agreed whole-heartedly. This is tantamount to saying that you should not allow yourself to be taught theology by your pastor. This is unbiblical. The reason God has given pastors is to teach theology (the study of God) from the Bible.
of course Priscilla and Aquila had not learned on their own either... that is, it wasn't just them saying "it's just me and my Bible" or "its just me and Jesus" (not that I think you are saying this per se) .... but they had been taught by Paul along side their own study.... and so it is a combination of showing one's self approved, an able student on the word, along with listening to the teachers God has given to the church that creates a balanced Christian.... there are no lone-ranger Christians...Originally posted by TaterTot:
This is what comes to mind - I think it fits. Acts 18: 24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
These church folks heard the preacher, Apollos,(and they were apparently more grounded in their "theology" than he) and took him away privately to teach him. So I think this shows that the sheep really need to know the word and the way of the Savior strongly, on their own.