Troubled

I was troubled by what I saw in the Christian book store. Snuggling innocently, at least seemingly so, next to exemplary books by Billy Graham, Ravi Zacharias, and R.C. Sproul were those by Elaine Pagels, Marcus Borg, and Bart Ehrman, each denying the reliability of Scripture. I wouldn’t have been so disturbed about this unholy sight had the latter three been tucked away in the back room, where the “adult” literature is usually sequestered, with a posted warning, “Read at your own risk!!”

I don’t want to seem alarmist. Our faith has weathered many such assaults, but only the smallest number of Christians have the tools to read Pagels, Borg, and Ehrman profitably. My favorite seminary professor didn’t have those tools, even after graduating from a Bible-based seminary! He confided that it took him a decade to recover from the skepticism he encountered in his PhD studies.

A decade is too long! As faith can build up and edify, bad theology can devastate and corrupt. It should be no surprise to us that Jesus felt it imperative to warn his flock about the threatening theological influences swimming around them, like hungry sharks:

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).

Of course, Jesus was warning against the teachings of the Pharisees, not their cuisine! Sadly, we often fail to recognize the toxin which can overtake us so slowly and imperceptibly. Perhaps we think too much of ourselves; perhaps we chafe at the restrictions of the faith? In any case, we are often theologically naïve and therefore vulnerable. Jesus saw this in His followers and was moved by compassion for them:

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

To remedy this, Jesus taught them His Gospel. However, in many churches, doctrine has become a dirty word, an embarrassment! But it’s doctrine that fortifies against mind-rape! Unsurprisingly, Paul taught that an elder must be able to:

Hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach (Titus 1:9-11).

Bad doctrine can ruin “whole households,” while true doctrine can rescue. Some argue that it’s all about loving relationships and community building, but actions must follow beliefs as thunder does lightening. Therefore, Paul prays first for understanding:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding [#1]. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord [#2] and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:9-10).

Daniel Mann