This series is from the From the Editor’s Desk column of the Sword and Trumpet. The articles were co-authored by Paul Emerson and myself.
Perhaps the main takeaway from this series is our need to keep Scripture central in all things. Christian thought throughout history is fraught with division between men, often caused by too much emphasis on rational systems and too little emphasis on what the text of Scripture actually says. When we humans become entrenched in our maxims, theories, and constructs to the point that we dodge the clear meaning of Scripture, we are in dangerous territory. We cease to humbly hear the conviction and correction of the Spirit, preferring our logic to His leading. God’s written word alone must define all truth.
When we are entrenched in our opinions, we fail to consider whether our “opponent” has a genuine angle on the truth which we ourselves are missing. In our pride, sometimes we drive away the very thing which ought to lead us closer to Christ. The more entrenched each side is in its theological constructions the more difficult it is to find biblical center. The history of the Arminianism/Calvinism debate teaches us that big-headed theology sometimes leads people away from Christ rather than closer to Him.
With that clarification, it should also be noted that theological systems can help us along the road which leads to Christ. Though both of these systems have their flaws, each emphasizes particular aspects of the gospel which tend to be blurred in the opposite view. Alongside that, these systems summarize biblical doctrines in way that are accessible and memorable. Kept in their proper place, theological summaries such as we find in Arminianism and Calvinism can help us get a hold of God’s truth.
Which leads me to one final point. Our biblical and theological studies ought to have a singular goal: to discover Christ. God gave us Scripture so we can know Him and experience His goodness. That is, there is a connection between the facts of the gospel and the person of Christ. The apostle Paul helps us make this connection in 2 Corinthians 4. In verse four he says that the glory of Christ shines on us in the gospel. Christ, who is “the image of God,” shines in our hearts through the gospel. The message of the gospel—which is discovered in Scripture—is our best conduit to Christ Himself. We encounter Him in all of His glory as we uncover more and more of the truth of Scripture. Thus the written word of God is inseparable from the fullest and best experience of Christ.
All this to say, we should not distance ourselves from theology just because a good many men in Christian history have used it as a weapon rather than as a tool for worship. The theological strife tempts us to abandon the project altogether. But that only leads us and others away from Christ. Rather, let us adopt the apostle’s perspective in recognizing that the clearer our picture of Christ (dare I say it, the better our theology), the fuller our experience of His glory. We need theology if we want the full glory of Christ.
Any system which blurs our vision of Christ must be discarded; any system which crystallizes His glory is essential. Biblical theology is not only important. It is luminous with the glory of Christ.