Theology and biblical study can be overwhelming. I am the furthest thing from an expert but I do want to share with you some tips on how to form your theological opinions.
Truth is a lot of times we can form opinions on scripture prior to even reading scripture. We hear someone take a position and tell us why that is true in the Bible and that version sounds good so we resist anyone else’s take on scripture because our mind is made up already.
Don’t put any theologian on a pedestal no man has it exactly right, only God has full knowledge. You can be a Lutheran or a Calvinist or a part of any other denomination while disagreeing with the person who started the denomination or the person the denomination is named after. As a matter of fact you should disagree with them on occasion as they’re a…
After re-posting, “The Journey” for Throwback Thursday, I had meant to write a follow up to the series but honestly with everything that has gone on in six years it has been a bit overwhelming. I realized today I don’t need to fill this follow up with all these details on my life but just focus my attention on God.
God has continued to take me on this journey, molding me and changing me along the way. I am much better man the more I submit to Him and His Word.
The past few years I have gotten more into theology, invested my time in church and have became a deacon. I give all glory to God for these next steps in my journey.
It hasn’t been all great, it has been a tough road in these six years since I last wrote “The Journey” but what I can tell you is God has been there the whole way. It sounds cliché but its true. My wife and I have experience death of loved ones, financial strain, marital problems, doubt, fears, anxieties but God has always been there and He has blessed us even though we don’t deserve it.
He does this because He loves us and He loves you who are reading this!
I don’t know what my future hold but I know God has always been there and will always be there because He is the One who Was, Is and is Yet to come.
This is going to be a short post. It saddens me to see so many manipulate scripture to fit their own narrative of God and what God wants. I know that sounds harsh but when a person points out their favorite Bible verses to prove their opinion of God or how someone should act, it is exactly that, manipulating the Word of God. It is extremely important to take a FULL Bible approach.
Today I saw someone arrogantly “LOL” someone’s comment and post a line of scripture as if God had one line for all situations. The person could have easily found another line from scripture to disprove what she said.
Does that mean the Bible contradicts itself? Absolutely not. God knows that situations are different, the World is not Black and White. That is why you have to get grasp of the full Bible, the full story before you…
Throwback Thursday. This is from December 2018. Having gotten really into theology in the past year and a half this post really hits home with me more than ever.
I really wanted to write a Christmas blog this week but this has been on my heart.
Why are so many Christian discussions like comment sections so toxic? It makes me sad. Where is the love? Just because you can quote scripture doesn’t mean you know scripture.
So many Christians take a few scriptures and use that as a license to judge.
Didn’t Jesus tell you not to judge?
Stop taking a few verses out of context in order to behave like you are God, you are not.
All you’re doing is pushing people away from the Lord, your job as a Christian on Earth is to bring others to Jesus and take care of the needy. Not tear down your brothers and sisters in Christ.
It’s okay to go to other Christians and attempt to reconcile them with God. But it seems that many only wish to “expose” false…
Theology and biblical study can be overwhelming. I am the furthest thing from an expert but I do want to share with you some tips on how to form your theological opinions.
Truth is a lot of times we can form opinions on scripture prior to even reading scripture. We hear someone take a position and tell us why that is true in the Bible and that version sounds good so we resist anyone else’s take on scripture because our mind is made up already.
Don’t put any theologian on a pedestal no man has it exactly right, only God has full knowledge. You can be a Lutheran or a Calvinist or a part of any other denomination while disagreeing with the person who started the denomination or the person the denomination is named after. As a matter of fact you should disagree with them on occasion as they’re a fallible man.
It is very important when you hear a scripture verse used in an argument to cross reference that verse with the rest of the Bible. Scripture doesn’t contradict itself if you find a verse that seems to do so then find another interpretation of the original verse from scripture you were cross referencing and see if that view makes more sense.
Read those who you disagree with, you can still learn from your brothers and sisters even if you disagree with them.
Learn what heresy is, it is not just something you disagree with, true heretical doctrine should be spoken out against in a different manner than a non-heretical stance that is different than your own.
It’s okay not classify yourself, you can hear all sides and form your theology. For example when it comes to soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), I don’t classify myself as anything. I have my opinion (I will not share it because soteriology is like the politics of theology it cannot be brought up without a big argument ensuing). I listened to all sides of the argument and read the scripture and came to my opinion on salvation. I am sure it may fall in a category but that doesn’t really bother me. I just want to focus on being a Christian first and a category within Christianity second.
Most importantly read scripture on your own and let the Holy Spirit be your teacher.
God is the ultimate teacher, He can teach through man but it is His Word not ours.
While we debate Holidays and are heretic hunting in the church arguing over petty things like Halloween in October and in December it will be Christmas trees the sick are not being healed, the hungry are not being feed, the cold won’t be clothed, the needy wait for their needs, the widowed are not being comforted, justice is not being fought for and the unsaved wait to hear the Gospel.
How often do we see discussions on politics, theology and other things turn toxic and become an obsession by the Body of Christ?
People end up behaving the opposite of the manner God has taught them.
I am not saying certain topics aren’t important, what I am saying is prioritize what you’re doing and use discernment to see if what you’re doing bares fruit.
I’ll give an example.
If you come home and notice the house is dirty but then see your children are hungry and without food, your brother is cold and without coat, your sister is sick and without medicine, you look outside and your neighbor is drowning in a nearby lake screaming for someone to save them what do you do?
Do you clean the house to make everything appear well while everyone suffers?
What is your priority?
Save your neighbor, give medicine to your sister, warm your brother, feed your children and then you can focus on cleaning the mess which truly when you think about it was a much smaller mess than you realized at first.
I’ve written before that people use the Bible to justify their opinions rather than use the Bible to form their opinions. They will say “I feel this. Jesus said this and that matches how I feel.” But they ignore the other things Jesus said or did so that way they can live how they want. This leads people to walking around with their own version of Jesus’ character and the Bible.
That is why it is so important to remember the Bible is not going to tell you one answer that relates to all issues. You have to cross reference and know the situation otherwise you are missing so much in the Bible.
You can’t take one or two scripture and think it’s the end all be all of life. If you do then you will end up with a very tiny Bible.
Know the Bible, know the situation and use your discernment to determine how to react in a Christian manner.
Have a Blessed Week, Chris
PS-Here is Heritage Baptist Church’s Online Services
1-Rabbi Johnathan Cahn. This is a wonderful YouTube Channel from the Messianic Rabbi Johnathan Cahn. You can hear selections from his services, informative videos and announcements. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjsoQpzk-XQOt4YM6nzq_-Q
2-The Remnant Radio. A theology based broadcast that tackles all different types of topics in order to get a better understanding of the Bible. They encourage discussions on Biblical topics many disagree over. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC31RZ-b3D1w452JLuzLVl4Q
4-Behold Israel. The YouTube channel of Amir Tsarfati. He is an Messiah believing Jew from Israel. He posts Bible discussion Q&A’s, sermons, teachings and updates from the Middle East. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa3C7WpFobavsDJdkKUtodw
5-AoC Network. A channel that divulges deep into Biblical Study, they use clips from movies and shows for the background as they talk about Biblical topics. They have a lot of fascinating videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsYAEW0n3tGsRfMVfIRzRw
6-The Bible Project. This is easily one of the best YouTube channels. They’re a crowd funded channel that posts animated videos explaining the Bible as it was intended to be read. I can’t explain enough how much I love this channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfwlh9XpX2Y_tQfjeln9QA
7-Dr. Michael S Heiser. Author of the Unseen Realm, Dr. Heiser is known for his Biblical studies that go right to what the Bible tells us based on the authors who wrote it. He focuses on the text and explains the context of the Bible. He is also known for the “Naked Bible Podcast”. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXnk65DI454GQmc3PeEqQQ
8-ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry. A Messianic channel whose goal is to spread the Gospel and the truth about who Yeshua/Jesus is to the people of Israel. The channel features messages that explain the Gospel, the importance of Israel, exposes the flaws of Rabbinic Judaism that relies on man and not God. Also hear wonderful testimonies of those who come to know Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah. https://www.youtube.com/c/ONEFORISRAEL/videos
9-Steven Bancarz and Reasons for Jesus. A channel by former New Age writer Steven Bancarz. He focuses on apologetics and exposing New Age religious practices. Listen to his testimony video. It is moving.
10-Superbook! The last one is a fun one. This of course is for kids and children at heart (ME!). These are cartoons based on the Bible for children. They also have shows that talk about topics that can help children get a Biblical world view. https://www.youtube.com/c/SuperbookTV/videos
These are some of my go to channels. Feel free to post yours in the comment section.
The Good Word 