On Theological Head-Hunters

We need to guard against theological vandals:

Some things you just can’t talk about too much. If you are a Christian, you can never talk too much about theology. But sadly, you can never talk too much about the misuse and abuse of theology as well. Theology is simply the study of God, something every believer should be keen on.

As anyone knows when they enter into various theological discussions, there are plenty of heated debates and arguments, and too often those who are the most obnoxious and rancorous when it comes to attacking the views of others are those who actually seem to know the least about what they are talking about.

This has always been the case, but it has all gotten much worse in the internet age. The social media is awash with armchair theological experts who think they know it all, and are more than happy to go on the warpath when anyone dares to take a slightly different point of view. They are theological head-hunters and can cause almost as much damage as actual head-hunters.

Indeed, I have said it before: when folks with their theological pet peeves come along and take cheap pot shots at my social media posts, going off track and fully misrepresenting those theological views they seem to so hate, I am NOT impressed. And if they keep it up after several polite warnings, I eventually will have to step in and bring it to an end.

Those folks who are obsessed with “correcting” others with differing yet legitimate theological views, and derailing an online conversation are not going to long remain on my friends’ list. Just sayin’. Who needs ‘friends’ like that who are more interested in pushing their pet theological agendas than they are in actually contributing something useful and edifying for the Kingdom.

What really bugs me when this happens are at least two things: First, their theological comments often have nothing directly to do with what I have posted. Whenever folks intentionally or otherwise derail a conversation I am having, or take things off on a tangent, preventing what I am really trying to say from being heard, that is not good.

That is especially problematic when what I posted may just be a general encouragement for Christians to love the Lord more, to be more holy, to serve God more faithfully, and to be salt and light in the world. I am trying to offer spiritual encouragement, and it is not appreciated when someone comes along and wants to turn it into yet another theological fight.

Second, far too often what they are attacking is so badly twisted and misrepresented that it is clear they really have no clue. They likely have never read anything from those theologians they love to hate on. This cuts in all directions. I have had plenty of folks attacking Arminianism, yet it is clear they have no idea what it actually teaches. In the same way, I have had plenty of folks attacking Calvinism, yet it is clear they have no idea what it actually teaches.

The same with various eschatological points of view and so on. If you are going to come along and pick a fight, at the very least you should know what you are talking about. So many of these folks clearly do not. They may have watched a few videos and so now they think they are the world’s leading authority on all things theological.

I certainly do not claim to know it all, or to have it all right, theologically speaking. Mind you, I have spent 50 years reading, studying, teaching and writing on theology. But I still have so much to learn, and I sometimes evolve on some issues. Yes, some basic core theological truths have to be strongly defended and promoted.

But there are plenty of matters where there is some room to move, and we all can just calm down a bit and allow a little theological room to move. Not all doctrines or teachings require us to go to the wall over. Many allow us to be a bit flexible, showing a bit of grace and humility to others along the way.

The examples of what I have been discussing here are endless, and I have dealt with many of them in the past. Let me run with one more, because it just happened. But I am not picking on any one individual here, since this kind of thing happens all the time.

But in this case a post of mine urging believers on in making a difference in the world and being salt and light was immediately set upon by one of these folks. He pushed the silly old canard that those who are Calvinists believe everything is predestined, and so they will sit back and do nothing. The idea was, if you want to see anything happen for Christ, you must renounce any and all forms of Calvinism.

Now since this fellow had posted a number of comments along these lines for a while now, I knew where he was coming from, and I simply deleted his latest offering. The truth is, this was a complete hatchet job on what this particular theological camp happens to believe.

Indeed, some of the most active believers I know of, who are fully involved in social and cultural activism, and are fully into the culture wars, and are seeking for righteousness to sweep the nation, are those who hold to these beliefs. Of course many who do not hold to these theological views are also fully active and committed to transforming the nations.

It is just idiotic – and false – to so wrongly mischaracterise folks like this, twist their theology, and abuse what they believe. That certainly helps no one, and it is actually Satan who pushes that sort of stuff, not God. When you spend all your time attacking other believers who do not fully line up with your views, it is not the Holy Spirit motivating you to do so.

But just as in life in general too many people try to build themselves up by tearing other people down, so too in the Christian world. Many of these folks seem to have issues, and instead of presenting them to the Lord and seeking his help, they will simply lash out at others in a vain and egotistical fashion.

Again, biblical truth matters, but having that sort of fleshly and carnal censorious spirit where you are always attacking others is not from God, but from self and from Satan. Those believers who routinely do this need to call a time out, get on their faces before God, and deal with these issues.

A refusal to pull away for a season and assess oneself in the light of God’s word indicates an arrogant and unteachable spirit. And if that is the case, it does not matter how much theological knowledge you have, or think you have. You will do little for Christ and the Kingdom.

We all need to be on guard against this. I know I do. Let’s pray for each other in this regard, shall we?

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6 Replies to “On Theological Head-Hunters”

  1. While its important to guard against heresy, at present there is so much of it. one feels overwhelmed. Which is another reason I believe time is short.
    I am not focused on arguments, whether theological or political. The time is short. I am trying to be focused on saving as many souls as possible.
    Peoples minds are being darkened. They are the proverbial lobster not knowing its being boiled to death. Even some who are reading this now. Be warned, the great day of judgement is soon approaching. And you will stand before a Holy God in your sin. REPENT while there is time!

  2. One will always be dealing with the zealots that believe too much in too little of their chosen verses from Scripture as we know from the Temptations of Jesus Christ hence the implementation of the gracious reminder to the “It is also written….”.

    PS. On another topic…Do you have a copy of Bishop Sheen’s book “Communism Answers Questions of a Communist” to share by some means (any)? I have read that the Bishop used this book to evangelize the most ardent communists of his day. If so, the book would have a utility as never before.

  3. Thanks for that Els Hunt. I am deeply involved, (boots on the ground) in a street ministry to the “homeless”, most of whom are really drug and alcohol abusers and /or mentally ill. It was brought to my mind and heart by our Lord a while back, that merely sitting in the seats at church and writing checks for someone else to go and tell others of Jesus wasn’t quite what he had in mind when he said in Mark 16:15- “And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” I take that verse and the similar one in Matthew 28:19-20 as marching orders from Jesus since it was the last thing that he said for us to do as he ascended into Heaven. Bottom line is that millions are on the wide road to the Lake of Fire and I believe that time is very short, either for the world as a whole or just for individuals as we never know when our time here is up.

  4. Hi Bill,

    I really appreciated this article. I understand that getting angry about minor differences in theology can be unnecessarily divisive between Christians. And upon reflection I may be guilty of this myself. With this I refer to the Arminianism/Calvinism debate that has continued for centuries. If this has been me, then I apologise.

    For about two years I studied Calvinism, and honestly, it got me very depressed. I started to question my own salvation.
    “What if I’m one of those people who could never be saved and just thought I was?”
    It was like the rug was pulled from under me.
    I had never heard this teaching before. Could I trust God? Does He actually love me? Does He love my family? Limited Atonement teaches that God desires to save only some of humanity and that the rest are disposable people. It teaches that Christ did not die for all.

    I would like to make the point that this was really my only motive for debating Calvinism. That is, I don’t really care about winning arguments for arguments sake, or being considered the best theologian or having the last say on the matter. I don’t even like conflict. I just want to believe that God’s redemptive plan includes me. That it includes my family. And that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

    Thanks,
    Kyle

  5. Thanks Kyle. Leaving aside the interminable Calvinism Arminianism debate, there is a simple test which often is worth running with as to those who may question their salvation, or wonder if they are “elect” and so on. Those who care about such things likely ARE part of God’s forever family, while those who do not worry about such matters likely are not!

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