The Narrow Path Ministries

The idea of a "wrong" theology is at the very heart of almost 90% of the discussions that come up, and maybe even a greater percentage.

I am sure I myself have ideas regarding certain topics that are wrong and yet I am honestly and earnestly searching for truth. The disciples of Christ were told to beware of false teachers, false prophets, false apostles, false christs, and therefore I would assume that we as well should be wary of these wolves in sheeps clothing. What defines a false teaching? Dispensationalism? Calvinism?

When you hear someone teaching something that you believe to be "wrong" theologically, what do you do? What if it is a "pastor" in the local church you attend? Many things about theology we can be wrong about and it won't make a hoot of a difference in the long run I guess. But it is still hard to hear someone teaching something that you believe to be wrong, and furthur more, coming from the pulpit of your local church.

For example the many docterines regarding hell, eschatology, & calvinism can be found on this forum with many different opinions. And some people are determined to "prove" that they are right. I love hearing someone call in to Steve and they are "sure" that Steve is wrong and they are right and like a bull dog, they don't back down, even to to obvious faults in there theory that Steve may point out. Now I have come to some conclusions regarding these topics, and yet I could be wrong, and am willing to change my understanding if Biblical evidence supports it. Are we not all "trying" to find the truth? I wonder why this has to be? I have come to agree to disagree with some very nice Christian brothers of mine regarding some of the above topics, and for me, that's ok. But what I don't understand is that when discussing certain topics with them, they "shut off" and do not even want to consider that the way that they understand it could be wrong. I am more than willing to admit I may be wrong! I love to be challanged in my beliefs, and that way I learn. Almost ALL my Christian brothers are "set" in what they believe regarding eschatology, hell, and calvinism and many other docterines and they either don't care or don't want to be challanged regarding them.

Why would someone not care to know God better and understand more clearly what the Bible can teach us? It seems that most people I know are more concerned about deffending how they understand certain theological topics than wanting to come to a "better" and more accurate understanding of the truth.

I am an Amillennialist that believes Matt 24 and Revelation are speaking of AD 70 as well as the 2nd coming of Christ. I see 2 Thess 2 as a parallel of Rev 20 (basically from a futurist perspective I guess) I understand the 70th week of Daniel to be the entire church age from the cross to His 2nd coming. I believe that the sinner that dies without Christ will be judged and not obtain eternal life, but I am not clear on the understanding of "hell" as we might try to define it, I do tend towards an annihilationist view I guess. I believe calvinism is wrong and I think that the Archangel Michael spoken about in the Bible could be refering to Christ in some sense. Now many of you reading some of the above might say to yourselves... boy, he is wrong there. And you may very well be right. But I am willing to learn, if it can be shown Biblically that I am not understanding something correctly.

I currently go to a local church here in Corvallis (NW Hills) that say's they believe in premillenialism, which I do not think is correct. But because they don't stress it, like Calvery Chapel did when I visited there, I have no problems attending and contributing to the body of Christ what I can through that local church. Anyway, this is kind of a long ramble, but what do you do with "wrong" theology?

It seems that most people I know are more concerned about deffending how they understand certain theological topics than wanting to come to a "better" and more accurate understanding of the truth



Well you know since God made us all different maybe it's not that surprising that we can look at the same words and have such different understandings.
And the truth is since we are all insecure in varying degrees it makes us feel good to have our views validated to us when others agree with us. But coming to the heart of the truth should be our goal and you need humility and a teachable spirit to find it.

The disciples of Christ were told to beware of false teachers, false prophets, false apostles, false christs, and therefore I would assume that we as well should be wary of these wolves in sheeps clothing. What defines a false teaching? Dispensationalism? Calvinism?

You will find that the false teachings (or "doctrines" as some translations have it) against which Christ and his apostles warned, are false in that they taught wrongly about the way to live. These teachings were not primarily about theological or philosophical beliefs.

Here is an example of a "doctrine" or teaching that Jesus hates:

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Revelation 2:15 NKJV

The following from Eusebius' Church History, chapter 29 perhaps shows what that doctrine was and why Christ hated their teaching:

NICOLAUS AND THE SECT NAMED AFTER HIM.
AT this time the so-called sect of the Nicolaitans made its appearance and lasted for a very short time. Mention is made of it in the Apocalypse of John. They boasted that the author of their sect was Nicolaus, one of the deacons who, with Stephen, were appointed by the apostles for the purpose of ministering to the poor. Clement of Alexandria, in the third book of his Stromata, relates the following things concerning him. “They say that he had a beautiful wife, and after the ascension of the Savior, being accused by the apostles of jealousy, he led her into their midst and gave permission to any one that wished to marry her. For they say that this was in accord with that saying of his, that one ought to abuse the flesh. And those that have followed his heresy, imitating blindly and foolishly that which was done and said, commit fornication without shame..."

This is not to say that our theological beliefs are not important. Our ideas about discipleship/Christian practice are closely related to much of what we believe theologically. If we really are seekers after reality and truth, as you seem to be, then we will continue that pursuit. We may argue on this forum, but that is all in the interests of the pursuit of truth. If we sincerely seek truth, we are likely to learn from others.

True, there are some who post on this forum who tenaciously cling to their beliefs in spite of all evidence. The unspoken position of such people is, "My mind is made up. Don't confuse me with the facts."

As the old proverb goes:

Convince a man against his will; he's of the same opinion still.