We love our systematic theology and our interpretational guidelines.
- Dispensational.
- Covenant.
- Calvinist (or non-Calvinist).
- Deeper life.
- Baptist Identity
- Gospel-centered or Christ-centered.
There is a lot to be gained from theological systems. They help us
unify and organize our thoughts and see consistent themes in the study
of Scripture. They help us link Genesis to Leviticus to Matthew to
Romans to Revelation. It is great to have an organizing hermeneutical
principle when we are studying scripture.
But these controlling hermeneutical principles have some inherent dangers. I would mention some of them here.
1) The Bible is NOT a systematic theology.
If God wanted us to approach theology with radically organized
theological systems, then he ought to have given us a Bible that is more
systematic. It just isn’t.
Wouldn’t it have been a lot easier if Paul had given us a detailed
order of end-times events? I am convinced, after many hours of study, of
the eschatological system I profess. But I am amused when anyone speaks
of eschatology and says, “The Bible clearly says.” Sorting out the end
times is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle when all the pieces do
not seem to fit together. You do the best you can under the power of the
Spirit to put all the pieces together and you humbly accept that others
may put them together a little differently. Continue at Dave Miller
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