Roadblocks of Doing Good Theology

Many would imagine that the benefits seen in doing good theology would encourage and drive a church to pursue good doctrine at any cost, but unfortunately that is not the case. There are many roadblocks that stand in the way of many churches from pursuing God-honoring theology. Perhaps the greatest challenge is that of postmodernism.

Postmodernism strips away the absolute truth. Ultimately, taking away any certainty of our faith and our belief. Philip G. Ryken says, “Postmodernism says that there is no truth, with a capital T. It is not merely skeptical about knowing the truth, but denies that there is any one absolute and universal truth to be known at all . . . Truth is subjective; what is most real and most true is my own experience” (Only One Way Ed. Phillips, 89). The very essence of truth is being questioned and postmodern thinking is challenging the very nature and character of God. My concern as a servant of Christ is to stand in the truth and aide in preventing postmodernity from infiltrating the church walls. I believe that for a church or a believer to adopt this model of thinking is contra-biblical. We do not serve a God that is uncertain and untrue, but rather we find the exact opposite. I strongly believe that Postmodernism’s denial of the truth is detrimental to the life of the church and the believer as an individual. The Gospel is based on the truth. Not only is the Gospel based on theological truth, but even historical truth because apart from the actual historical death and resurrection of Christ our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). Christianity is based on truth.

One of the more subtle movements that are threatening the church today is postconservatism. Postconversatives claim to hold to the foundations of conservative theologians. But their favor of the coherence model of truth creates massive clashes between the church community and the Word of God. In my perspective it seems as though it creates pluralism between cultures, opposed to pluralism between individuals. It allows for the church community to determine their own acceptable truths in relation to previous church groups in the past and the future. While postconservatives may claim to hold to the foundations of conservative Christianity postconservatives actually finds themselves moving away from the center. Roger Olson a proponent of postconservatism says, “by becoming postconservative while retaining and even strengthening evangelical distinctives; by being open to revision in belief and practice that is required by fresh understanding of God’s word” (Olson n.d., 17). How can the center and orthodoxy be retained if there is revision? Postconservativism creates many problems for myself in ministry because it has the potential to take away the very faith we stand on.

Along with postconservatism, the emergent movement has stemmed from postmodernist to create waves of problems within the church. According to www.emergentvillage.com the movement consists of a network of friends that were unhappy with the conventional way the church practices theology (Emeregent Village). They are more open about their view of practicing orthodox theology in the church body. I believe that this is a very dangerous movement within the church and the issues regarding the emergent church movement can be addressed by the application of proper theology. I have found that very helpful tool in addressing the emergent church movement is D.A. Carson’s book, Becoming Conversant with the Emergent Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications. In the book Carson presents some strengths of the movement (mainly their assessment of the culture) and points out many errors that arise with the movement. Part of my conviction as a shepherd would be to teach good theology regarding the church body. In observing the emergent church movement I can see the importance of having a Scriptural view of the church body. A failure to teach biblical ecclesiology may have dangerous results like the emergent church movement.

Personally, I feel as though the greatest struggle that I may face ministering in a postmodern world is to have a mindset that in my own knowledge I would be able to turn a persons heart toward God. I am undoubtedly sure that God will have to constantly remind me that only He can open the eyes of the individual. I am convinced that my task is to teach the truth regardless of the outcome and to continue to walk with Him. The best thing I could do in a postmodern world is to teach the truth of Scripture. As a pastor my goal in ministry would be to an accurate preacher of the Word whether it be systematic, historical, biblical, philosophical, or practical theology.

Concluding the previous series of posts regarding: Theology, the Pastor, and the Churc

Theology is a vital part of the church and the believer. Theology, when done correctly, allows a believer to draw closer to God and find joy in knowing Him. Maurice Roberts comments saying,

The thought of God should be the Christian’s panacea. It should cure all his ills at a stroke. And what an infinity there is in the thought of God! Nothing can approach in beauty to the idea of the true and living God. That there exists a Being who is infinite in power, knowledge and goodness, that that Being cares for me with a perfect love as though I were the only man in existence, that he loved me before I was born and created me to enjoy him eternally and that he sent his Son to suffer the agony of the cross to secure my eternal happiness—that, surely, must be a thought to end all sorrow. It ought to be and often it is (Roberts 1994, 5).

As a pastor my conviction is to do Scripturally sound based theology, to proclaim Christ, and to encourage believers, to guard the faith and to pass it on to disciples who will follow. As a pastor my convictions are to teach the Scriptures holistically for the benefit and encouragement of the elect and myself. Having proper thoughts of God is the greatest task a believer can ever do. Doing good theology changes lives and glorifies God and it is something that should be pursued by every believer.