<quote from Real Faith & Reason>

We can trust the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture, but we can’t trust the fallen human nature, the demonic entities, or the minds of ungodly “intellectuals.” . . . Some oppose this truth by saying, “We must keep our theological conceptions as a blueprint or lens to interpret Scripture.” They say, “We should read the Bible to support our theological conceptions.” It’s true that each of us has a theological conception, and our theological conceptions are parts of our worldviews. Since millions of theological conceptions exist, whose theological conception can we trust? Of course, those who say that we need our theological conceptions also promote their own conceptions as the “correct conceptions” and claim that all others are wrong. Even post-modern relativists claim that their conceptions are right and others are wrong, which is strange since they feel that nothing is either right or wrong. We wouldn’t expect it, but relativists are also exclusivists since they think relativism is right and consider all conflicting opinions wrong.

We trust the Holy Spirit since He knows. If we’re humble, we want the Holy Spirit to continue to correct our theological conceptions. However, He won’t force us when we make our theological conceptions into our foundation rather than having Christ as our Foundation. May we ever long to go beyond theological conception to know Jesus Christ as He knows us.

Merriam Webster says theology is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience, the study of God and God’s relation to the world, a system of religious beliefs or ideas. However, knowing about God and God’s relation to the world is different from knowing God. And a system of religious beliefs or ideas isn’t the same as knowing God.

Therefore, we won’t use the word “theology” to refer to getting to know God through Jesus Christ and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Instead, we’ll use the word “theology” to mean learned concepts about God and all the topics mentioned by Merriam Webster. We’ll contrast theology with knowing Christ and allowing Him to lead, teach, and correct while we yield ourselves to Him.

Theology often goes beyond what God has revealed. That’s a problem. Speculative theology appears in creeds, books, individual felt needs, individual perspectives, certain groups of expert scholars who agree, or organizations. Then each religious organization teaches that its official theology is the one true theology. We just mentioned post-modern relativists. Even the organizations that say doctrine isn’t any issue at all are promoting the doctrine of relativism as the correct doctrine. That doctrine of unity in diversity becomes their claim to fame. Theological disagreements cause divisions. There may be exceptions to that rule, and the competitive human spirit, money, power, and prestige can also cause divisions, but theological disagreements is a huge factor. Speculation drives theological disagreements. Only the Holy Spirit can solve this. And He will.

Oddly, it’s common for theologians to think that their personal theologies are exact restatements of Scripture even when those theologies add to Scripture, omit some Scripture, or require just-so stories to explain away certain Scripture passages. For example, one end-times expert expounded on many supposed coming events but never mentioned a single verse of Scripture. We would have to admit his claims weren’t impossible, but they added to Scripture. Then he said, “Well I’m just quoting Scripture.” This theologian had lost the distinction between his theology and Scripture. A theologian who claims that Jesus isn’t God simply brushes away verses that say Jesus is God. We could go on with endless theologies that claim to follow Scripture exactly.

It’s common for two theologians with opposing theologies to both claim to be following Scripture exactly without adding anything to or diminishing anything in Scripture. And yet their theologies conflict with each other. If they were both following Scripture without creative interpretation, there wouldn’t be any conflict or division. So what do they do? Each accuses the other of adding to Scripture and diminishing Scripture, but the real problem is that both of them confuse Scripture with theological worldview.

As Christ-followers, we stand against speculative theology. We stand against any speculative theology, including our own, and we pray that the Holy Spirit reveals those hidden assumptions and speculations that seem so real to us but go beyond Scripture. Hopefully, there’s no speculative theology in this journey, but it may have crept in unawares. So, if there is any, we pray that the Holy Spirit exposes it and doesn’t allow it to do damage. And we pray that the Holy Spirit continues to teach and correct us. We also pray that our hearts are soft toward Him. Now if we, with this attitude, are likely to venture into fantasy land, what about a Christ-follower who believes that assumptions are the basis of sound reasoning?

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:2-3 New International Version)

We have to ask the questions. Whose theology should we trust? And which denomination is best? And which books should we trust? And which theological experts can we trust?

The answer is that we know we can trust God, and we know the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Therefore, the Holy Spirit will direct us to fellowship with others, and He’ll direct each of us to a fellowship where we can grow. At some time, He may move us again if necessary for our continued growth providing that we’re still open to spiritual growth beyond the maturity we’ve attained at that time.

Part of our spiritual growth is recognizing the body of Christ. We recognize the ministry in each member, and we see that the ministry is Christ in us, the hope of glory. God has provided the Church, and the Church is part of God’s method for understanding Scripture. In other words, the Church is an important part of His way and an important part of His method. God designed the Church to work in the order and pattern written in Scripture, and the early Church largely followed this pattern when the Church was walking well. Then they abandoned the pattern. But God has been restoring various parts of the scriptural pattern over the past several centuries.

Of course, it makes no sense for me to presume that I can initiate God’s order or pattern since God’s order is as much a part of Himself as His righteousness, love, peace, or joy. Therefore, only God can initiate His order, and the Holy Spirit will put the Church into order, precept on precept, with power and authority. And precept on precept, the Holy Spirit will bring the Church into unity. Yes, Christ will return for a bride without spot or wrinkle, so as God’s plan unfolds, we’ll see God using the Church to correctly understand Scripture when the Church follows the pattern of Scripture. But God will fulfill His plan in His timing by His effort, not by human effort. Our part is paying attention to Him and submitting to Him. Meanwhile, we know God provides a pattern that’s safer than human ideas, innovations, patterns, and precepts. And God doesn’t need our ideas. He has a plan.

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