Series: Gospel Shaped Church 10/25/20
Week 8: 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Can you discern bad theology?
How important is it to discern bad theology?
Why is it news that someone’s faith has been deconstructed?
Why is it NOT news that someone’s faith has been constructed?
The subtleties of the doctrines of demons and the schemes of deceitful spirits are legion and we must learn them.
If we are not vigilant, any one of us can become susceptible to falling prey to cumulative and collective attacks on our faith. We will be lumped together with every bad example that can be named and shamed into not wanting to appear like those hypocrites. But our faith does not fall off a cliff, but it can creep. Generally speaking, this creep appens in minor increments, not in leaps and bounds.
This is a very real threat. Jesus warned us. Paul warned us. Peter warned us. Jude warned us and John warned us. And I guess you can say James did too but in more indirect ways.
Were they all just overreacting? Should we be more open to newer ideas of how to read the gospel? Were their warnings misplaced and misguided? Should we be at all concerned about being arrogant about what we believe? Is there real danger in pointing out the harm in the prosperity gospel, the progressive gospel, in the legalistic gospel, in the consumer gospel, in the positivity gospel or in the pluralistic gospel that absorbs all ideas? Let us pray for humility and wisdom. When was the last time someone asked for wisdom?
Blessed is a person who finds wisdom, And one who obtains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her produce better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are those who hold on to her. The Lord founded the earth by wisdom, He established the heavens by understanding. By His knowledge the ocean depths were burst open, And the clouds drip with dew. My son, see that they do not escape from your sight; Comply with sound wisdom and discretion, And they will be life to your soul… - Proverbs 3:13-22
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