The Dangers of Theological Systems

[Revmitchell]

1) The Bible is NOT a systematic theology.

2) We can do exegetical violence to individual passages to make them fit our systems.

3) We can fall prey to “accidental Papalism.”

4) We can become arrogant and divisive.

The Solution

1) Submit your system to your exegesis.

2) Focus on book by book, verse by verse exposition.

3) Hold your system with humility.

Let’s talk about these questions:

Is there a “perfect system?”
What are the dangers of dogmatic theological systems?
Can you add to the solution section? (or quarrel with it).


http://sbcvoices.com/the-dangers-of-theological-systems/

 

[evangelist-7]

I am sorry, but I really have no idea what you're talking about.
I.E. I'm not a believer in Christian cemetaries, er ... seminaries.

I believe whatever I believe the Holy Spirit has taught me while studying the word, etc.

Remember John 14:16-26 where Jesus promises that the Spirit will teach us all things?

IMO, Jesus was not saying that God's Spirit will teach differently to different people producing different doctrines
(but some who are ready for it will get deeper teaching, which won't disagree with shallower teaching).
.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

1) The Bible is NOT a systematic theology.

2) We can do exegetical violence to individual passages to make them fit our systems.

3) We can fall prey to “accidental Papalism.”

4) We can become arrogant and divisive.

The Solution

1) Submit your system to your exegesis.

2) Focus on book by book, verse by verse exposition.

3) Hold your system with humility.

Let’s talk about these questions:

Is there a “perfect system?”
What are the dangers of dogmatic theological systems?
Can you add to the solution section? (or quarrel with it).


http://sbcvoices.com/the-dangers-of-theological-systems/

Im sorry but I learned a great deal from systematic theology & that is after I attempted to read the bible only (then I had NO understanding of it)....so for me a beginner it was very helpful. Also listening to these debates help to formulate my understanding. Elsewise I would have been totally in the dark.

 

[Revmitchell]

Im sorry but I learned a great deal from systematic theology & that is after I attempted to read the bible only (then I had NO understanding of it)....so for me a beginner it was very helpful. Also listening to these debates help to formulate my understanding. Elsewise I would have been totally in the dark.

The op is not condemning them but it is saying be careful how you view them.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The op is not condemning them but it is saying be careful how you view them.

Like anything, you could become obsessed---that is true. Any theology is a guide post that could also lead you off the proverbial cliff without tempering it with Scripture, prayer & the Holy Spirit.

 

[SolaSaint]

But you will ruin the Seeker movement with that kind of talk.

 

[Iconoclast]

I am sorry, but I really have no idea what you're talking about.
I.E. I'm not a believer in Christian cemetaries, er ... seminaries.

I believe whatever I believe the Holy Spirit has taught me while studying the word, etc.

Remember John 14:16-26 where Jesus promises that the Spirit will teach us all things?

IMO, Jesus was not saying that God's Spirit will teach differently to different people producing different doctrines
(but some who are ready for it will get deeper teaching, which won't disagree with shallower teaching).
.

Remember John 14:16-26 where Jesus promises that the Spirit will teach us all things?

Evidently the Holy Spirit has not taught you that the verse was promised to the Apostles.....not you...The bible no where says what you say..maybe some seminary training will help:thumbs::wavey::thumbs:

 

[Streetsweeper]

Let’s talk about these questions:

Is there a “perfect system?”
What are the dangers of dogmatic theological systems?
Can you add to the solution section? (or quarrel with it).

Great topic. I think covenant theology does the best job of tying together the disparate Biblical themes.
I wouldn't say Calvinism is a distinct systemaic theology so much as Calvins Biblical interpretation which is consistent with covenant theology.

I've never before heard of Deeper Life or Baptist Identity.
I also haven't had any useful exposure to theological frameworks which tie together Gsopel Centred or Christ Centred themes. I suspect they would tend to fall into either the dispensational or covenant interpretations.

The Comments from SBS voices seem to place a primacy on biblical exegesis, but it is important to be aware that Biblical exegesis is also informed by the systematic hermeneutic. Neither biblical theology or systematic theology can be reasonably justified without reference to the two levels of study.

From SBC Voices
1) The Bible is NOT a systematic theology.

I tend to disagree with this statement. The Bible is certainly not presented to us in a nice neat package, and that is a major reason why systematic theology is useful.

From SBC Voices
2) We can do exegetical violence to individual passages to make them fit our systems.

True

From SBC Voices
3) We can fall prey to “accidental Papalism.”

Again I disagree with this statement. It was because the reformers started tying together the various themes throughout the Bible that they came to be convinced of the errors being propogated by the church. Systematic theology is actually a safeguard against religion being captured by a politcally motivated organisation.

From SBC Voices
4) We can become arrogant and divisive.

True

From SBC VoicesThe Solution
1) Submit your system to your exegesis.

Of course

From SBC Voices
2) Focus on book by book, verse by verse exposition.

This really seems to be repetition of the biblical theology exegesis of solution point 1, and as I noted above needs to maintain awareness of the underlying interpretive assumptions.

From SBC Voices
3) Hold your system with humility.

True.

 

[evangelist-7]

Evidently the Holy Spirit has not taught you that the verse was promised to the Apostles.....not you...

Evidently, you have no idea that God has provided many Scriptures with double and triple meanings/applications!

And, I suppose you don't believe Paul's verses where he says true believers have the Holy Spirit INSIDE of them.

Are you a born-again believer with the Holy Spirit INSIDE of you?
.

 

[Jerome]

Remember John 14:16-26 where Jesus promises that the Spirit will teach us all things?

Evidently the Holy Spirit has not taught you that the verse was promised to the Apostles.....not you...The bible no where says what you say..maybe some seminary training will help:thumbs::wavey::thumbs:

Here's what a commentator [one to whom many here truckle] saw in that verse:

"This admonition is highly useful to all; for, if we do not immediately understand what Christ teaches, we begin to grow weary, and grudge to bestow unprofitable labor on what is obscure. But we must bring an eager desire to receive instruction; we must lend our ears and give attention, if we desire to make due proficiency in the school of God; and especially we need patience, until the Holy Spirit enable us to understand what we thought that we had often read or heard to no purpose. That the desire of learning may not be weakened in us, or that we may not fall into despair, when we do not immediately perceive the meaning of Christ speaking to us, let us know that this is spoken to us all." —John Calvin

 

[shodan]

Excellent list. Spurgeon noted that "it is a dangerous state of things if doctrine is made to drive out precept" http://spurgeonwarquotes.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/a-call-to-holy-living-spurgeon/

 

[Yeshua1]

I am sorry, but I really have no idea what you're talking about.
I.E. I'm not a believer in Christian cemetaries, er ... seminaries.

I believe whatever I believe the Holy Spirit has taught me while studying the word, etc.

Remember John 14:16-26 where Jesus promises that the Spirit will teach us all things?

IMO, Jesus was not saying that God's Spirit will teach differently to different people producing different doctrines
(but some who are ready for it will get deeper teaching, which won't disagree with shallower teaching).
.

same Spirit has given pastors/teachers to the Church though!

As sometimes what we think the bible means is NOT what it means!

 

[Yeshua1]

1) The Bible is NOT a systematic theology.

2) We can do exegetical violence to individual passages to make them fit our systems.

3) We can fall prey to “accidental Papalism.”

4) We can become arrogant and divisive.

The Solution

1) Submit your system to your exegesis.

2) Focus on book by book, verse by verse exposition.

3) Hold your system with humility.

Let’s talk about these questions:

Is there a “perfect system?”
What are the dangers of dogmatic theological systems?
Can you add to the solution section? (or quarrel with it).


http://sbcvoices.com/the-dangers-of-theological-systems/

Think we need to realise that while the bible is "perfect theology", NO theological system is!

Also that we need to have BOTH a biblical and systematic theologies, and that we need to be able to interact in a knowledgable way with differing viewpoints also, as NONE of us are inspired Apostles, holding to all right truths!