One strong hold that must constantly be pulled
down is doctrinal error. Sadly, sometimes our own doctrinal error becomes
our own strong hold! A strong hold is a fortress or strong fortification. (Un)Spiritual strong holds are strong
fortifications which oppose and exalt themselves against the truth of the cause
of Christ. A strong hold that is both a creeping error and insidious enemy is “theological
systems”. What appears to be our friend often becomes our foe.
Every time I warn against the errors of
systematic theology I receive a strong push-back against that warning. Please
hang to your hats until I have my say! Let me first define what I mean by
“systematic theology” and then address the problem itself. Systematic theology
as a discipline formulates or arranges a rational account of the parts of
biblical teaching into an orderly whole. Systematic theology as study takes all
the information about a subject and organizes it into a system. For example,
the entire Bible's teaching about the church forms a system of doctrine or
teaching called ecclesiology. The entire Bible's teaching about angels forms a
system of doctrine or teaching called angelology. And so on. Now what could be
wrong with that? Surely the Bible is not a contradictory mass of random texts,
but a congruent whole of consistent thought.
First, notice that systematic theology is
a work of man rather than a work of God. A cursory comparison of Systematic
Theology: an Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem or
Systematic
Theology by Louis Berkhof quickly reveals they do not look anything
like the Bible! The Bible is God revealing to man; systematic theology is man
trying to understand what God wrote. So far, so good. The difficulty lies
ahead. Often the Bible student falls for the error that systematic theology is
some kind of body of revealed truth. Nay! God forbid! The Bible is the body of
revealed truth. We begin to understand that the underlying problem is not
systematic theology in and of itself, but man and his use of it.
Second, learn that systematic theology is
not some body of truth but a task performed by the Bible student in developing
an understanding of God’s revealed truth. It is a task that is never finished! This
task is ongoing; our views must constantly be updated by the word of God. We do
not know it all, so we are continually learning. Just when we think we have it
all figured out, something in the Bible twists out of shape the nice neat
organization we had formulated to keep all things in order. Let the Bible do
the twisting. Don’t fight for your system; believe the Bible. May our walls of
error fall down flat.
Third, know that the task is your task. The goal of Bible study is to
find the intended meaning of the author and take it at face value -- not wrest
it to fit our theological systems or some present-day standard. Upon professing
faith, most of us were handed a theological system within which to work. First
joined a Reformed Church? You start with Calvinism as your system. Saved and
baptized at a Free Will Baptist Church? You begin with Arminian undergirding.
These variants are kinds of “systems within systems”. Within the overall
category of soteriology (systematic theology regarding salvation) one may fall
in these major camps or in between or outside of them. Regardless of background,
the new believer usually begins Bible study by trying to interpret within and
fit everything into the theological system he or she inherited. But our
beliefs must be our beliefs and not
those handed to us. One of the greatest deficiencies of systematic theology is
that one borrows and holds it rather
than owns it.
Fourth, be warned that our systems are
often our undoing in understanding or not understanding the Bible. We must
learn to come to the Bible text for that text to speak to us, rather than
conforming the text to fit our presuppositional system. Many “systems within
systems” become our strong holds of defense of what we believe. Everything in
the Bible must fit neatly in its place within the system. Something else cannot be true, because it does not fit
the system. Well that sounds right, because the Bible does not contradict
itself! Yes, we can rightly believe that the Bible does not contradict itself. That
does not mean the Bible cannot contradict our system. Remember, God wrote the
Bible. You developed your system (or had it handed to you). Only one is
inspired and without error.
There are many strong holds, theological
systems developed as logical systems for the depository of truth. Calvinism,
Arminianism, Dispensationalism, Amillennialism, Landmarkism, Universalism. One of the most brazen systems
I have ever seen is that of "Conditional Time Salvation". It is a subset of
Calvinism under the broader system of soteriology. It posits two salvations,
one eternal and one in time. Eternal salvation is unconditional and without
reference to man, carried out by God unknowingly. Time Salvation is conditional
and entered in to by man of his own will, and includes all passages of
scripture associating repentance and belief with salvation. Under this system,
all sorts of Christ-rejecting unbelievers can unknowingly have eternal salvation
and enjoy the felicity of glory in heaven. To the “true believer” (in it), it
becomes almost unassailable in its strength against all texts of scripture to
the contrary. We proudly lean back and puff out our chests. We could believe no
such thing. But this is just one example. The "two wine theory" is another such system. Start with belief that there are two wines and good is always grape juice and bad is always fermented -- and you'll always see that everywhere you look. Start with the Bible and you just might be surprised. One’s own system never looks as
unscriptural as the systems of others, but it just may be.
Finally, know that we don't know everything and don't have to know everything. If we don't know what a particular book or text or verse or word means, there is no ultimatum to make it mean something that fits neatly into our system. It is OK to say, "I don't know what this means, or how it fits in with the rest of what I believe." Just leave it alone until you receive more light. We're not trying to win a debate, but trying to understand and believe the Word of God! One may like for everything to come in nice neat packages, but God is His wisdom and sovereignty did not package the Bible that way. Perhaps there is a reason.
Finally, know that we don't know everything and don't have to know everything. If we don't know what a particular book or text or verse or word means, there is no ultimatum to make it mean something that fits neatly into our system. It is OK to say, "I don't know what this means, or how it fits in with the rest of what I believe." Just leave it alone until you receive more light. We're not trying to win a debate, but trying to understand and believe the Word of God! One may like for everything to come in nice neat packages, but God is His wisdom and sovereignty did not package the Bible that way. Perhaps there is a reason.