Flapjacks & Theology

SBC · Site Admin Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 380

Dangers to Avoid:

(1) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage idolatry. It is very possible to worship the Bible of God and not the God of the Bible; it is very possible to worship the theology of God and not the God of theology.

(2) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage us older guys to communicate a very dangerous thing to you younger guys: that theology is an end in itself. By the way that we interact—the attitude that we have, the pleasure that we take in debate, the reason that we play “devil’s advocate,” etc.—we could send the message that theology is an end in itself.
If we send that message, we lie. Knowing God (intellectually) is not an end in itself: it is a means to the only thing in the universe that is an end in itself: knowing God (relationally).

(3) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage a reactionary spirit. Don't embrace something just because it's outside of the box that you grew up in.

(4) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage an arrogant, "know-it-all" attitude. There is no way that anybody could know everything about everything. The best posture that we can take is the posture of a humble questioner.
Don't let pride get between you and learning: if somebody brings up a name, concept, or word that you're unfamiliar with--ask.

(5) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage an elitist self-perception. Nobody here is smarter or more spiritual than anybody else. We're just one of many, many groups of guys who talk together--we just prefer to do it over flapjacks.

(6) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage you to identify with a "big name" when it is mentioned, even though you are ignorant of many things about that name. There are many figures who are indisputably gifts to the church, but who are also in serious error in ways that you may not be aware of.

(7) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage the current trend of embracing a position but not embracing the process that it takes to get there.
All of history can be seen through the lens of generational dynamics. Some generations react against previous ones, some build on previous ones, some retain the position but not the passion of previous ones, etc. Right now, there seem to be a number of young guys latching onto some position after reading one good article, listening to one good sermon, or having one good discussion. They want to stand on the shoulders of older guys' conclusions, but not do the hard work that it takes to arrive at those conclusions.

(8) This forum could be dangerous because it could encourage you to go home, throw some epiphany in somebody's face, and do a lot of damage. You may feel that it is incumbent upon you to "enlighten" your parents, your siblings, your pastor, your youth-pastor, etc. In my experience, this will probably result in two things:
(A) . . . For one, you'll make that loved one feel stupid. They probably won't have a list of 10 reasons that they disagree, because while you were brushing up on that disputable issue, they were busy shepherding a flock of God, or working to support your family, etc. But they will feel stupid when you talk circles around them.
(B) . . . Secondly, you'll only gain their disappointment. Something that seems like no big deal to you, may be a very big deal to your parents. Something that you believe or do could absolutely rock their world. Is it really worth that look in their eyes?

Closing statement:
Be more concerned about potential sin in your own motives than about potential inaccuracy in others' positions.