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Isaiah records that God says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Luther famously (and often) said that "Humility is the basis of all sound theology." And Lutherans often stress that we cannot avoid mystery since God is simply smarter than any man (or woman, lol) - even all of us put together! And there's no reason to assume that God has told us EVERYTHING (we probably don't have all the "dots") or that we could remotely understand it even if He did. One of the fundamental aspects of the Reformation was a "protest" of Catholic Scholasticism, the medieval movement of a tiny number of Catholic theologians who appointed themselves to invent stuff and insert stuff into Scripture so that God would "make sense" and jibe with the pop philosophies and theories of the day; to make Scripture as smart as they felt they were; "What God forgot to say is....." One of the fundamental aspects of he Reformation was the need for humility. As Charles Wesley is credited as saying, "We must be bold where Scripture is clear, silent where Scripture is silent, and wise enough to know the difference."
Of course, people will ask questions. And there's nothing wrong with that. The problem comes when self appoints self to answer the questions of self and then declares such to be dogma that God must accept (or God would not be smart). What begins as a valid question.... turns into a constant flow of speculation turned into divisive dogma.... not infrequently running head on with what God actually said (or at least being something God never remotely said). The prophet Jeremiah stated that God "hates those who say "God says" when God never did."
In the words of one of my friends, "Christians can't seem to shut up" "Some seem to be unable to leave well enough alone." "Some seem intent on messing things up with their speculations." We seem to have a problem with unanswered questions..... with mystery.... with humility. Yet Scripture calls on us to be "Stewards of the mysteries of God." NOT "Correctors of God" or "Answer men for God." We are to be Caring for the MYSTERIES. In fact, until the middle ages, Christian teachings were not called doctrine, they were called "holy mysteries." Lutherans at times say, "God gets the last word." Often, all this speculation-turned-dogma BEGINS with valid questions.... even sound, biblical teachings.... but taken too far or with speculation that may seem "logical" or may jibe with secular ideas but simply not be what God says.; individual denominations or persons unwilling to shut up, individual persons or denominations appointing self to correct God, to be the divine Answer Man.
For Luther, this meant "issues" with some new, unique dogmas found only in the RCC denomination: Purgatory, Transubstantiation, Infallible Bishop in Rome (or _____), for example. But it must be admitted, this is not a uniquely Catholic problem! Protestants too quickly demonstrated the same propensity ( sometimes worse), Luther saw this beginning even during his own lifetime. Humility seems hard.
In fairness, this is not absolute. The doctrine of the Trinity, it must be admitted, is not SPECIFICALLY stated in Scripture. It is an example of combining various verses - and affirming what they say (God is one, God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit) - embracing the mystery, the tension. But it is true, this was soon "packaged" with some language and understandings a bit beyond what Scripture actually says. This may be THE most universal Christian teaching there is but there is more in the language than Scripture actually states. BUT the teaching (God is one, God is Father Son and Holy Spirit) is very Biblical and the Trinity makes no attempt to explain it or reconcile it or even understand it.... and this is ECUMENICAL, not the invention and possession of just one person or faith community (not unique to Catholic or Lutheran or Reformed or Orthodox or Anglican or Pentecostal). IMO, I'm a bit more willing to consider what is ancient, ecumenical, universal than something some individual dude suddenly theorized and dogmatized (whether such be without biblical support or especially if it actually contradicts many Scriptures).
IMO, much of what so steadfastly DIVIDES us is a result of just such individualism, just such speculation of self, just such self answering the questions of self and then demanding God (and everyone else) agrees with them or they aren't too smart. But humility.... mystery.... means we will be left with unanswered questions, with things we can't "fit together", with "dots" we cannot connect. It may hurt our ego but... God is likely smarter than we are.
Isaiah records that God says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- Josiah
.
Isaiah records that God says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Luther famously (and often) said that "Humility is the basis of all sound theology." And Lutherans often stress that we cannot avoid mystery since God is simply smarter than any man (or woman, lol) - even all of us put together! And there's no reason to assume that God has told us EVERYTHING (we probably don't have all the "dots") or that we could remotely understand it even if He did. One of the fundamental aspects of the Reformation was a "protest" of Catholic Scholasticism, the medieval movement of a tiny number of Catholic theologians who appointed themselves to invent stuff and insert stuff into Scripture so that God would "make sense" and jibe with the pop philosophies and theories of the day; to make Scripture as smart as they felt they were; "What God forgot to say is....." One of the fundamental aspects of he Reformation was the need for humility. As Charles Wesley is credited as saying, "We must be bold where Scripture is clear, silent where Scripture is silent, and wise enough to know the difference."
Of course, people will ask questions. And there's nothing wrong with that. The problem comes when self appoints self to answer the questions of self and then declares such to be dogma that God must accept (or God would not be smart). What begins as a valid question.... turns into a constant flow of speculation turned into divisive dogma.... not infrequently running head on with what God actually said (or at least being something God never remotely said). The prophet Jeremiah stated that God "hates those who say "God says" when God never did."
In the words of one of my friends, "Christians can't seem to shut up" "Some seem to be unable to leave well enough alone." "Some seem intent on messing things up with their speculations." We seem to have a problem with unanswered questions..... with mystery.... with humility. Yet Scripture calls on us to be "Stewards of the mysteries of God." NOT "Correctors of God" or "Answer men for God." We are to be Caring for the MYSTERIES. In fact, until the middle ages, Christian teachings were not called doctrine, they were called "holy mysteries." Lutherans at times say, "God gets the last word." Often, all this speculation-turned-dogma BEGINS with valid questions.... even sound, biblical teachings.... but taken too far or with speculation that may seem "logical" or may jibe with secular ideas but simply not be what God says.; individual denominations or persons unwilling to shut up, individual persons or denominations appointing self to correct God, to be the divine Answer Man.
For Luther, this meant "issues" with some new, unique dogmas found only in the RCC denomination: Purgatory, Transubstantiation, Infallible Bishop in Rome (or _____), for example. But it must be admitted, this is not a uniquely Catholic problem! Protestants too quickly demonstrated the same propensity ( sometimes worse), Luther saw this beginning even during his own lifetime. Humility seems hard.
In fairness, this is not absolute. The doctrine of the Trinity, it must be admitted, is not SPECIFICALLY stated in Scripture. It is an example of combining various verses - and affirming what they say (God is one, God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit) - embracing the mystery, the tension. But it is true, this was soon "packaged" with some language and understandings a bit beyond what Scripture actually says. This may be THE most universal Christian teaching there is but there is more in the language than Scripture actually states. BUT the teaching (God is one, God is Father Son and Holy Spirit) is very Biblical and the Trinity makes no attempt to explain it or reconcile it or even understand it.... and this is ECUMENICAL, not the invention and possession of just one person or faith community (not unique to Catholic or Lutheran or Reformed or Orthodox or Anglican or Pentecostal). IMO, I'm a bit more willing to consider what is ancient, ecumenical, universal than something some individual dude suddenly theorized and dogmatized (whether such be without biblical support or especially if it actually contradicts many Scriptures).
IMO, much of what so steadfastly DIVIDES us is a result of just such individualism, just such speculation of self, just such self answering the questions of self and then demanding God (and everyone else) agrees with them or they aren't too smart. But humility.... mystery.... means we will be left with unanswered questions, with things we can't "fit together", with "dots" we cannot connect. It may hurt our ego but... God is likely smarter than we are.
Isaiah records that God says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- Josiah
.
