Can you critique your chosen theological system?

Ooooh man, this is a good one! Let me mull this one over and I will be back!

Okay, I thought about it...
Honestly, each time I "defend", lets not kid ourselves, we are defending it when we get into these debates, I find holes. But that pushes me to learn more and read further and find out why its there and what the explanation is for the hole. In essence, I find a filler for the hole. But I think this is good. It helps us to better understand why we believe/ support the theology. It helps us to grow and find the truth, wherever that may take us. Along the way, you may find you don't agree anymore. It's a healthy thing.

Good post, Aspen!

BA

I am Pre-mill but see some errors in classic or current Pre-mill.
I am a Trinitarian but see 1 error in the definition of the Trinity.

Doctrines are generally taken from the scriptures but man is imperfect and often makes mistakes or makes changes or additions which makes part of a doctrine incorrect.

This is my principal "theology", and there are no weak points

(Mar 12:32) And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
(Mar 12:33) And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.


(Mar 12:34) And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

Aspen

Isn’t theology nothing more than interpretation? Isn’t it of men? The true interpretation is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Since He is the fulfillment according to God the Father. Theology is by men and for men who don’t know. But the Life received from Christ is for those who do know.

　
Think about it, if it disagrees with the King of the Kingdom who is correct on all matters. It’s not in the Kingdom anymore is it? I do believe that is what happen to Satan, correct? Cling to the Life in Christ and you cling to what is in the Kingdom of Heaven already, cling to the theologies of men, and your on your own. And the truth is the Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t need your defense. It’s quite the apposite isn’t it, you need the Power that is in the Kingdom of Heaven to deliver you.

You can explain or give reason for what your faith is, (which is what Peter was realy talking about) for the sake of the none believer, but you already believe, correct? You can point to the Lord Jesus Christ and scripture on matters within the group of believers for the sake of the believers. But your not defending anything only giving in what the Lord has given you already. But if you insist on justifying theologies that is where the misuse of what God has given us to feed His, begins.

I dont have a theological system I have Jesus. Who needs mens ideas when you have the truth that is in Christ.

In all His Love

mjrhealth said:

I dont have a theological system I have Jesus. Who needs mens ideas when you have the truth that is in Christ.

In all His Love

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Amen, brother!! Thank God Jesus Christ is not a theological system, rites, ritual, religion, creed, belief-systems or book-religion.

Jesus Christ is active, dynamic and spontaneous LIFE.

What part of this (below) is theology?

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Amen, Axehead and mjrhealth.
Jesus is reality, not a religion, nor is He far, far away somewhere up there only. He is right by our sides or facing us, or WE have our backs to Him. So many many Christians seem to ignore the fact/Truth that He is Resurrected, and He most certainly has had much more to say, than what He spoke while here on earth. As He said to His own disciples in John 16:12 :" I still have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now (yet)." Please keep reading from there and you shall find that He explains that we can all be taught by The Holy Spirit, if indeed you have believed and received The Promise from our Father, so that you yourself is capable of hearing Him, hearing the one and only Truth, and He IS the Truth.
Once He showed me religion in this manner. It was a human body all cut up into many pieces and spread all about, turning that body into a useless being, making me understand that all these various religions / theologies / doctrines etc. ONLY separate . Only The Truth is able to make us ONE IN HIM.
Please, you who say you are believers, understand this ! All that The Lord says is for 'whosoever will ', NOT just His disciples/Apostles, and recall what He says in John 10:27 :" MY sheep heareth My voice, and I know them and they follow Me."
Any person whosoever in doubt about anything, don't go to man or to the written letter from thousands of years ago only. Go to Him and be 100% assured of getting The Truth, The whole Truth and nothing but the Truth. He can explain The Bible to you and much much more.
In His Glorious Love Pia

I was dead in my sins and ignorance and powerless against it, until Christ delivered me from man's theology and it's associated myriad assortment of sectarian pamphlets written by theologians, each from their own school of "theology".... I gave up all that for the Word of God and a top end Strong's based cross reference system. It was then I discovered who Jesus was, who I was, and who the Beautiful Israel Bride of Christ redeemed by the Gospel is...I now intimately Know and am One with our Father in Heaven, And I'll never look back Thank you Jesus!

Christianity is NOT Religion

Good read. Enjoy.

Christian forums do not need a statement of faith since obviously, not every member in the forum is speaking the same thing nor holding to the same judgment on matters of faith. Christian forums should just stick to the simplicity of the gospel and serve as an outreach ministry for growth in the Lord by leaving room for His prunings in every member's walk with Him so that fruitful disciples may bear even more fruit. ( John 15:1-3 )

Christianity is not about what we are in what we believe, but Whom He is and why we place our trust in Him as our Good Shepherd as well as our Saviour for the reasons why the just shall live by faith in the Son of God & all His promises to us which is to His glory. ( John 7:18 )

The moment we talk about ourselves in where we stand, the foot of pride could come in and prevent us from being pruned by Him. We are not perfect and I doubt any one can say that there is no more to be learned of Him in our walk with Him to say we are in no need of His prunings. Complacency in our walk with the Lord is not a luxury that His disciples can afford to enjoy in these latter days where faith had been prophesied as being hard to find.

I’ve got no argument against the sentiments expressed on "religion" but James says:
Jms:1:27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

And mankind, like it or not, needs a system of belief. Now through out history those who were given charge in such matters in most cases corrupted the understanding of the system of belief. Also even those who claim their belief in scientific theories, whether they deny it or not, it is a system of belief for them.

If we didn’t need a system of belief, which in this case, is an agreement between man a his Maker, how can one develop a relationship with the other? Or how do you know without God revealing it to you directly, that He always was, always is, always will be, as in He inhabits eternity. Or about Abraham’s Faith. And there has to be something that all true believers agree on, and the Lord our God agrees on. Though yes Jesus is that new covenant (agreement) it’s based on what? Or how was the Israelites to know He was the true Christ? Granted it would seem obvious, but we have the benefit of understanding and knowledge in the Spirit.

Problem is the correct system of belief, and the correct understanding there of. Which comes from, in this case, a true relationship with God the Father in the Son ship given in and through Christ Jesus.

Also, what did Jesus say God’s work is?
Jn:6:29: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Which is the whole reason ever since the statement:
Gen:3:14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

　
For 10 generations and then Noah finds Grace in God’s sight. Oh look grace unto man by God as far back as Noah 10 more Generations and Abram is call and in his belief of God’s Word to him God counts Abram’s Faith as Righteous. 20 generations and by Grace (all who received the life Noah had) through Faith (all who received the life Abraham had, that are chosen by God.)
Hence now that Jesus has come, through the receiving of the Life Christ has, we get to share in the same.

2Co_11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2Co_1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Many theological systems are anything but simple. Abiding in His love is more simple than we make it out to be.

Man doesnt need a system of beliefs, mans simply needs God,We have a system of beliefs called christianty look at what it has done.

In all His Love

mjrhealth said:

We have a system of beliefs called christianty look at what it has done.

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Christianity came from God and Christ and they gave us many things we have to and need to believe in. Churchianity is the one man has created.

Axehead said:

Christianity is NOT Religion

Good read. Enjoy.

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Haven't you read James 1:26-27 (ESV) lately?

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

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JesusIsFaithful said:

Christian forums do not need a statement of faith since obviously, not every member in the forum is speaking the same thing nor holding to the same judgment on matters of faith.

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1. If CyB does not need a Statement of Faith (SoF), then it's OK for JWs to come here and promote their view of Jesus not being God and we have no reason to refute them???
2. You don't want a SoF, but then you give us part of your SoF: 'Christianity is not about what we are in what we believe, but Whom He is and why we place our trust in Him as our Good Shepherd as well as our Saviour for the reasons why the just shall live by faith in the Son of God & all His promises to us which is to His glory. ( John 7:18 )'. I find your position to be contradictory.

Christian forums should just stick to the simplicity of the gospel and serve as an outreach ministry for growth in the Lord by leaving room for His prunings in every member's walk with Him so that fruitful disciples may bear even more fruit. ( John 15:1-3 )

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So here again we have part of your SoF, 'Stick to the simplicity of the gospel'. What is that? you want it to 'serve as an outreach ministry for growth in the Lord' - this is more of your SoF. Your discussion of 'His prunings' and 'fruitful disciples' also comes under your SoF.

The moment we talk about ourselves in where we stand, the foot of pride could come in and prevent us from being pruned by Him. We are not perfect and I doubt any one can say that there is no more to be learned of Him in our walk with Him to say we are in no need of His prunings. Complacency in our walk with the Lord is not a luxury that His disciples can afford to enjoy in these latter days where faith had been prophesied as being hard to find.

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Again there is more of your SoF here with:

• 'The moment we talk about ourselves ... the foot of pride';
• 'Prevent us from being pruned by Him';
• 'We are not perfect';
• 'His prunings';
• 'Complacency in our walk with the Lord';
• 'These latter days where faith has been prophesied as being hard to find'.

Your post demonstrates, in my understanding, that you say you are against a SoF but you really do have your own SoF.

My experience tells me that those who deny the need of a SoF do in fact establish their own SoF in their denial of somebody else's SoF.

Oz