Theological Differences
April 22, 2010 by Mike Wells
John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”
Over the years I have grown away from theological debates, understanding that unity could not come through the agreement of a creed or doctrine, but rather from agreement on whom we recognize and trust, Him in whom we believe. Out of that awareness has come the revelation that the purpose of the Bible is to testify about Jesus. As long as that premise is maintained, believers can have “growth discussions” on a variety of topics. For the underlying question will always be, “How does that passage testify to Christ?” The Bible is misused when it is quoted not to testify to Jesus but rather to testify to an individual’s belief system. To say it another way, when the Bible is testifying to itself or to the thinking of an individual rather than to the living Word, Scripture becomes a source of division, pride, and dead doctrinal disputes.
love this Mike. I spent so much time in circles where all we talked about was the Bible and it was a way for us to show off how much we knew over the next guy. But now I desire to grow through the Word in a way that only draws me to Christ’s life and molds me as His servant, not His scribe.
as I read this, it dawned on me that I was using this type of scripture to keep me away from false teachers and false prophets. It has actually kept me away from all believers except who I think has the truth. I know I have eternal life but I did not know the fullness of the life internal I can have.
there are 2 types of farms in australia. those having a deep well and no fences, and those with no well but fenced in. its the same with churches, those preaching to get listeners one step closer to Jesus, not needing to know who is in or out, and those with no well, but strict discipleship tests to make sure members stay in.
peter and paul preached little christology in acts
and yet we’re explicitly told in scripture that those who heard their message were genuinely saved. I suggested that just because Muslims can’t bring themselves to say, “Jesus is God,” we shouldn’t write them off so quickly as heretics.
i understand the root word for righteousness is the same for generosity towards the poor and opressed.
Jesus accepted all except including prostitutes, except rich man who opressed poor.
so who is in and who is out? sheep are in, goats are out.