On What Authority Do You Determine Your Theology?
Common Mistakes in Making a Wise, Theological Opinion
Today concludes the miniseries answering the question, On What Authority Do You Determine Your Theology?. In issues related to theology, the church, and personal living, Christians often take sides. These hot topics take us much discourse and often cause disunity among brothers- and sisters-in-Christ. Typically, the person taking a particular position passionately believes that he or she is right and others around them wrong. Part 1 introduced the idea of Authority as it relates to defining personal positions. Part 2 and Part 3 introduced a two-step process to make a wise, theological opinion. Today, this article discusses common mistakes in making a wise, theological opinion.
Using the principle of step one and the five questions from step two of the process of making a wise, theological opinion as the guide, today’s blog will provide six common mistakes.
Common Mistakes of Making a Wise, Theological Opinion
In my opinion, these mistakes often leave us in a weak, theological opinion without even knowing it. Often our passion toward an issues helps fuel some of these mistakes. Sometimes they reflect spiritual or emotional immaturity. Yet, no doubt that each one of us want to reflect the opinion of our wonderful Lord accurately, compassionately, and practically. In fact, each of us desire to reach a clear, biblically faithful, theologically accurate, practically helpful position..
Step One: Be Aware of False, Potential Authorities for Theological Opinions / Arguments
The mistake on this level comes from the principle itself. When we fall to this fallacy, we do so because we have not carefully considered what false authority drives our opinion rather than God and the Bible. Potential false authorities we discussed include: Personal Experience, Personal Opinion and Logic, Empirical Research, and Culture.
Without careful attention to what actually drives your opinion, each of these could hijack your theological process and leave you with less than a wise, theological opinion. In fact, you might fall to the fallacy of being conformed to the world (cf., Rom 12:1), unintentionally tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (cf., Eph 4:14), or otherwise a man-centered theology. Remember the warning from Paul, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Col 2:8).
Step Two: Work through a Specific, Faithful Theological Process
Notice each of the following common mistakes as they relate to the five questions used to determine what the Bible teaches from any particular text as they help created a wise, theological opinion / position.
What Does the Text Mean?
The most common mistake in answering the question, What does the text mean?, relates to taking a verse out of context. When considering a particular text/passage/periscope, it is essential to keep it in its immediate context. Many times unwitting people quote a verse and make an application in a particular way which does not reflect the immediate context. The “words” of the text sound in context, yet there is a fundamental lack of awareness of the text’s greater context.
For instance, to use a very common example, how many times have you heard someone quote Philippians 4:13 and apply it to a football game, basketball game, an individual competitor’s ability, or in some other non-applicable way to a person’s ability to accomplish a hard task? Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Upon a careful examination of the text, one realizes that the context determines the meaning of the all things. He is teaching here that in the strength of Jesus Christ, regardless of where he is, what is going on around him, or any other component of the situation, he can be content. The text is about contentment; however, only through context would someone known this.
Context is critical and must be a primary concern in the exegetical process.
What Does the Text Mean in Relationship to…
Here the common mistake relates to crossing authors, genres, historical time periods, or testaments. As the interpreter begins to take steps back away from the text to look at a broader view of a book, author, genre, or testament, it is essential to pay attention to consistency. When one misses the consistency of a particular area of observation, mistakes in interpretation are likely to happen.
For instance, while considering a particular word in a text, you cite verses from 1 Peter, 1 John, Galatians, and Acts. Each of these books are written by different biblical authors and the individual word in each of those texts must be considered individually in its own unique context. Peter, John, Paul, and Luke may use the exact same term in a nuanced way differently than the other. This is true in the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John often nuance individual terms as they relate to each one’s own Gospel.
Taking a broader look, this also is true of crossing testaments without any concern for the immediate context as well. A promise to Israel or a particular prophet does not mean that New Testament believers enjoy the same promise or get the same fulfillment. Each of these would need to explored individually to seek to determine what the text means in each specific place.
How Does this Text Fit in My Understanding of the Rest of Scripture?
The most common error here relates system-driven interpretations. In other words, one’s theology or functional theology determines what a particular passage means rather than the passage itself. This happens quite often, especially for those who have deeply held opinions that are driven by a particular theological position or personal preference. Each of us must guard our hearts closely here related to this error.
For instance, consider 1 John 2:2, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” In this instance, some observe this text with a very strong reformed theology related to salvation of the elect, which teaches Jesus only died for the elect. Why does this matter? They would teach that Jesus died for “our” sins (those Christians to whom John writes in the first century) and the sins of the “whole world” (that is, the world of the elect). A more natural reading of both John (biblical theology) and the text itself (exegetical theology) would define “our” sins as Christians and the “whole world” as everyone else. This reading does not dismantle a reformed person’s theology per se, but must be explained in light of the text, not simply driven by one’s systematic theology. This is just one of many examples that could be cited.
What Have Others Throughout Church History Said about This Text?
The common error here considers two different options related to church history. It is possible to not care enough about church history. Often, when we do not care enough about what others in the history of the church since Christ have said, written, or taught about a passage, then we fail to learn from the breadth of wisdom. On the other hand, it is possible to care too much as well. Those men and women in the past who have considered, written, and taught from these passages were people walking with Christ just like you and me. What they thought about a passage, although interesting and, at times, important, is still just that – a person in Christ looking, meditating, and communicating a passage or theology.
Therefore, related to this question, we choose balance. Yes, consider church historians and what has been taught over the years, but do not go to seed on a particular person, place, or time period.
How Should I Respond? So What?
The final area relates to practical implications and application. Related to our practical theology or personal application of theological truth to our life and practice, there are two mistakes that often get made.
First, making applications that are not congruent with the rest of the process. In other words, you decide how you are going to live without any reference to the process through which you should have worked. This happens often. A person mentions a text but then communicates an application that does not correspond to the text. This sometimes happens when the person already had an opinion even before that individual approached the text. Essentially, the person brings the opinion to the text and does what it takes – even if it is inconsistent with the evidence from the text – to do whatever he or she wanted to do from the beginning.
Second, sometimes your personal application gets communicated as meaning instead of your applied wisdom. We must guard against making a specific application in such strong wording that it communicates personal opinion as biblical fact. Over the years I have seen this over and over where someone determines a specific application and then communicates it to others as if it is straight from a biblical text.
Key Questions to Ask as You Make an Informed, Wise, Theological Position
The following four questions can help you determine whether or not you are committing one of the more common errors as listed above:
- Have I understood the meaning of the text clear enough to explain it in simple terms? (In other words, can you simply explain the original author’s authorial intent of the text in a way that is easily understood with a clear explanation of the context, structure, and vocabulary of the text?)
- Have I drawn clear lines between the meaning of the text and my personal application of it? (In other words, can you explicitly state how the meaning of the text impacts your application of it?)
- Can you explain what influence, if any, and how your personal experience, personal opinion, personal logic, empirical research, and culture impacted your view of the passage’s meaning and its application? (In other words, have you intentionally tested your preconceived ideas, thoughts, desires, and beliefs over against the Bible’s teaching?)
- Have you developed a clear way forward in personal application that honors the text, the fear of God, care for others, and personal responsibility?
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