On What Authority Do You Determine Your Theology?
As a fellow follower of Jesus Christ, a local church pastor, and a seminary professor, I often enjoy conversations with others related to the meaning of particular verses, the substance of a particular theology, or the practical application of a particular principle. As the author of this blog for the past seven years, I also receive many questions, seek to provide answers as I can, and take specific (and sometimes not very popular) positions. In every one of those areas, the ultimate question that must be answered by me, other followers of Christ, pastors, professors, writers, and anyone else striving to honor God in daily living, On what authority do you determine your theology?
Relating back to a recent miniseries related to the devil’s role in sin, as well as the Ask Pastor Kevin response to whether or not the COVID vaccine is the Mark of the Beast, I sought to address recent questions I received from the biblical perspective. In both instances, not everyone agrees on these issues. In cases like these, one must consider both the basis of the disagreement as well as its substance.
Understanding Theological Disagreements
In both these instances, like almost everything I write, not everyone agrees with me. That’s hard to believe, I know, but true. (Said in gist for those who might have missed it!) On a serious note, of course, disagreements are expected. Often, many sides exist to a particular debate. Let me suggest three questions that are important in any particular disagreement:
- What is the authority used to determine one’s particular position?
- Are the disagreements on the theological level or the wisdom level? (Is this primarily a disagreement of what is believed or how what is believed gets functionally practiced?)
- How do these disagreements relate to overall orthodoxy (big picture – what one believes) and orthopraxy (big picture – how one acts)?
These three questions relate in almost every instance of disagreement.
On What Authority Do You Make Your Opinion?
In every conversation, inside every opinion, and lived out in every decision, there lies an underlying authority. In other words, one’s opinion, thought, or action rests upon some belief. That particular belief depends upon some authority. Consider a few examples:
- Is Satan making me sin?
- Is the vaccine the Mark of the Beast?
- Can a Christian get remarried after a divorce?
- Should a Christian use birth control?
- Can a woman pastor in a church?
All of these are legitimate questions, that, when answered, rest upon some kind of foundation. The foundation is what we will call the authority for the answer.
Essentially, one asks of a particular person’s argument, What warrant do you have for believing that?
Often, the authority used to answer such questions or disputes disappears into the background of the conversation, is implicit, and usually understated. Let me illustrate with some real, non-theological conversations.
Illustration One –
Position: You should not get a flu shot every year.
Our immediate question, Why? On what basis would you tell someone else they should not get a flu shot?
“Because they do not work.”
How do you know they do not work?
“I took one several years ago and still got the flu. In fact, it was the sickest I have been ever over the winter. It took months to really feel better.”
What is the basis of their opinion then?
Authority: Personal Experience
Illustration Two –
Position: Our state should drop Daylight Saving Time.
Our immediate question again, Why? On what basis should the state drop participating in Daylight Saving Time?
“Because I think it is stupid, plus I am a morning person and enjoy the extra light in the morning. It simply does not make sense to me.”
What is the basis of their opinion then?
Authority: Personal Opinion
Illustration Three –
Position: You should want bats living in your backyard.
Our immediate question again, Why? On what basis should you want bats living in your backyard?
“Because research shows that bats control insect populations, benefit gardens with their guano, pollinate flowers and plants, and distribute seeds.”
What is the basis of their opinion then?
Authority: Empirical Research
On What Authority Do You Determine Your Theology?
All three examples were specifically not related to a theological issue and were for illustrative purposes only.
Related to theology, it is important that you have the right foundation for your theological positions. Why? Because we must live under the fear of God. Since we recognize His character and His actions, we respect all that He wants and seek to believe consistent with Him. We strive for God-honoring, Christlike beliefs and behaviors. Since God’s opinion matters most, we want to understand it and live in light of it.
From that standpoint, the process of making theological positions is important. Tomorrow, in part two of this article, I will walk you through the process of making a wise, theological choice.
Image Credit Fa Barboza
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
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