The Danger of Theology
The Danger of Theology
The following are examples of people expressing their thoughts, while not exactly treading lightly:
Calvinist, Alan Kurschner, writes: “God desires that his sheep are saved. God desires that his people are saved. He does not desire that every single individual who has ever lived, live in glory with him forever. If that were the case, we have an incompetent, unhappy, and impotent God.” (The Calvinist Gadfly, emphasis mine)
Calvinist, Matthew McMahon, writes: “I reject anything which makes God a cosmic bell-hop tending to the commands and demands of sinful men as another gospel. I reject anything which removes God’s sovereignty to place man as the Sovereign as another gospel. I reject anything which denies the sovereign decrees of God and His electing grace to put salvation into the hands of sinful men as another gospel. I reject anything which denies man’s total depravity and exalts his fictitious free will as another gospel. I reject anything which places the perseverance of man to glory in the incapable hands of a sinful man as another gospel. I reject anything which endeavors to treat God as the great Grandfather in the sky beckoning and pleading with man to be saved as changing the true God into a pitiable wimp.” (Why I am a Calvinist, emphasis mine)
Calvinist, Erwin Lutzer, summarizes with the views of Calvinist, J.I Packer: “He sees Arminianism as teaching that God is waiting in ‘quiet impotence’ at the door of our hearts, waiting for us to let him in.” (The Doctrines That Divide, p.198, emphasis mine)
Calvinist, Charles Spurgeon, states: “The Arminians say, Christ died for all men. Ask them what they mean by it. Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men? They say, ‘No, certainly not.’ We ask them the next question—Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular? They answer ‘No.’ They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent. They say, ‘No; Christ has died that any man may be saved if’—and then follow certain conditions of salvation. We say, then, we will go back to the old statement—Christ did not die so as beyond a doubt to secure the salvation of anybody, did He? You must say ‘No;’ you are obliged to say so, for you believe that even after a man has been pardoned, he may yet fall from grace, and perish. Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you. You say that Christ did not die so as to infallibly secure the salvation of anybody. We beg your pardon, when you say we limit Christ’s death; we say, ‘No, my dear sir, it is you that do it.’ We say Christ so died that He infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ’s death not only may be saved but are saved, must be saved, and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved. You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it. We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.” (Particular Redemption, emphasis mine)
These kinds of statements perfectly demonstrates why theology can be dangerous. Being filled with denominational pride, a person can end up blaspheming God. Keep in mind what God says: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8) We must always have a healthy mistrust of ourselves, and abandon our own feelings, and submit to exactly what God says, because that is truth.
Arminians can run into danger just as easily as the Calvinist. When criticizing Calvinism, on the grounds that it makes God the author of sin, sometimes Arminians add that Calvinists seem to worship another god, and worse, that the god they worship is Satan. So the danger lies on both sides.
These people had no idea that they were actually blaspheming God, but now they know.
Question: What is the danger in studying Theology?
Answer: Sometimes, when a person becomes so attached to a particular theology, not only do they risk becoming smug, hard-headed, defensive and filled with denominational pride, the greater danger still, is when so aggressively attacking an opposing theology, what if you are wrong, and are blaspheming God? That’s why you want to express your points thoughtfully, while yet treading lightly.
Here is an example from John 8:48-53: “The Jews answered and said to Him, ‘Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?’ Jesus answered, ‘I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.’ The Jews said to Him, ‘Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, “If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.” Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?’”
“Danger!, Will Robinson, Danger!”
From the 1960’s sci-fi TV series, Lost in Space, the Model B-9, Class M-3 General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Control Robot, which had no given name, but endowed with superhuman strength and futuristic weaponry, served to protect the Robinson family from all forms of dangers, including from Dr. Zachary Smith, the cowardly yet diabolical, self-serving Doctor aboard the crew.
So, too, I can’t help but imagine this Robot similarly crying out Danger!, when we hear these kinds of statements coming from Calvinists about God. What if they are wrong? If wrong, Spurgeon is telling Jesus to keep His atonement!, and that he will never renounce Calvinism. Yikes! The other quotes speak for themselves.
