Why should one consider reviewing Christian Theology?
What is theology?
Theology means ‘study of God’.
Note: Theology is not controlled by any distinct religion, faction, institution or organization.
What is Christian theology?
Christian theology is a ‘study of God’, in respect to what someone believes the Bible says, means, teaches, and what Christians are to understand and believe.
Note: It is the Bible that reveals truth to those seeking it [not theology], and Christians should be united behind that truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture {is} given by inspiration of God, and {is} profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: :17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Doesn’t Christian theology allow us to better understand God?
Christians do not have the Biblical freedom to a ‘difference of opinion’ concerning the Scriptures.
Theology will always generate disagreements and disputes in Christian beliefs.
Christian theology does not unit Christians, but divides them.
[See: #7 Is Christianity one body in Christ?]
Sometimes it is necessary to re-examine subjects, doctrines, teachings, and the traditions that we have been taught to make sure that we know what is the truth.
This can involve the evaluation and utilization of terms and Bible translations, detecting the original Biblical meaning, and to make sure that we understand and are in full agreement with scriptural teachings only.
It is most important for us to know God‘s Word and not someone’s interpretation of it.
We must always allow the Bible to explain the Bible, and there cannot be any exceptions.
Why?
Biblical truths can only come from Biblical facts, and Biblical facts must be the first priority over one’s faith and/or belief.
There are over 350 classifications (organizations) and/or definitions for Christian religions. From these, there are over 22,000 different denominations and sects.
Christianity is Catholic, and Protestantism is revised Christianity.
Some protestant religious organizations are similar in their teachings and doctrines. There are those that will diverse slightly and others to an enormous extreme.
Most (if not all) Christian doctrines and statements of beliefs will declare that “they insist that all Biblical teachings must be supported by the Scriptures”.
This is an opened door for anyone to preach and teach anything they choose, because it is they that are interpreting the Bible, and not the Bible interpreting itself.
Mythology, fables, personal beliefs, and traditions will usually take precedence over proper exegesis. Most religious leaders are tainted with tradition.
So, when they are challenged, confronted, or have found something in the Bible that conflicts with what they have been taught, or believe, then they make every endeavor to try and make things “right” by assigning their well-intended, but erroneous ideas to the subject matter.
We all must learn to separate myths, fables, and traditional teachings from Biblical truth.
When dealing with Biblical facts, there will be those that become offended because they feel that their faith or church is being unjustly attacked.
Note: When offering Biblical facts and truth where facts and truth have been lacking, it could appear that way.
This is in no way my purpose or intention.
In order to understand the Bible (God’s Word) we need to seek the wisdom of God, not man’s theology and religion. One should never impose a personal belief on another as an absolute.
This website is not in judgment of the reader or their faith, but to cause one to think and determine whether or not return to God’s Word.
This website can be considered as an attack on the religious system that mixes God’s Word with paganism and the teachings and doctrines of men.
Christians need to leave organized religion and return to God and His word.
At times, the Bible does not give an exact detailed explanation on a given subject. So most (if not all) theologians will make an attempt to complete a Biblical subject matter based on what they think and determine, and not what the Bible really says and means.
This allows any religious group (Christianity is the subject matter here) to decide what their beliefs, faith, teachings, and doctrines should be.
The Bible cannot, and does not contradict itself.
It is mans interpretations and translations that create contradictions.
Extra-biblical sources, traditions, personal beliefs, suppositions, possibilities, guessing, opinions, as well as the teachings and the doctrines of men should never be accepted in any Bible study.
The truth is rarely popular. As always, there will be those that do not care and/or ignore facts in favor of what they were taught and choose to believe.
When one chooses to believe what they want, they have that privilege.
But in order for one to find Biblical truth, each individual must seek the truth from God and then allow the Bible to do the explaining, not from the interpretations, extra-biblical teachings, and doctrines of men.
If one wishes to pick and choose which Bible verse, definition, translation, etc., based upon what they think it should mean, they will 100% of the time find themselves straying significantly from the truth.
No one should go through the Bible sorting, picking, or selecting which verses they want to accept (or not) that suits or fits what they want to believe.
The Bible is one complete book, and stands or falls as one complete book. There is nothing short of the whole book as it is written and must be accepted in its entirety.
One’s personal thoughts, beliefs, traditions, ideas, myths, opinions, and what they have been taught must always give way to Gods’ Word if one has the desire to understand His truth.
There are always going to be those that have a mental attitude that is a hindrance against any Bible study. This mental attitude is condemnation before investigation.
Many Christians prefer to adhere to their own concepts in spite of any evidence that requires a change of mind. They are impervious to any evidence that would alter or change their point of view.
Some may think it is better to remain in religious ignorance of certain doctrines so they will not have to face the facts and decisions that knowledge brings.
But, this has always resulted in the rejection of God and His Word.
Hosea 4:6 My people are like as if they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt not minister as priest to me and as thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
There are at least four hindrances that are prominent in the understanding of the Scriptures.
1. A Bible study with preconceived and/or fixed ideas.
2. Taking verses out of context, and the failure to compare other Scripture verses which would clarify and/or confirm what the Bible really says and means. (i.e.) Ignore verses that are contrary to ones idea or belief.
3. To stubbornly adhere to only one translation of the Bible. (i.e.) Using the K.J.V. only, that has over 20,000 translation errors.
4. Theological biases.
Note: This will cause most to put up defenses. (This will incite one to concentrate on an argument to refute a statement, unaware that the present information might be answering that very argument.)
We should all be willing to admit to error, but there are some that will not.
There will be those that will imply that one scripture verse can undo a Biblical fact on the subject matter in question.
But when the Bible correctly explains that verse, they will come up with another verse that they think will undo all of the other verses in the Bible, therefore, compounding their error.
Most (maybe all) of the Christian religions are un-Scriptural by theology, traditions, teachings and doctrines, because they are either directly (and/or indirectly) contrary to the Holy Bible. Theology is best described by the following Scripture verse.
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Are those that profess Christianity ready and willing to acknowledge the possibility that their theology for their beliefs might be incorrect? Acknowledge means: To admit the truth; to face reality; to recognize.
Summary
The original meaning for a Christian was ‘a follower of Christ’, but that meaning has changed since the second century.
The meaning of a Christian today is one that generally follows an organized religion.
These religions are comprised of an extreme variety of teachings and doctrines.
All doctrines of these religious systems are distinguished by the theologians (and clergy) of a particular organized religious system.
Theology has bastardized the Holy Bible; blasphemed God, and belittled Jesus Christ.
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