It has always stupefied me how quickly someone can change their theology. Theology on any given matter is one of those things that should never be arrived at hastily and certainly never abandoned hastily.
Over the years, I’ve borne witness to many that have embraced particular theological positions out of a matter of convenience. One man in particular started as a Baptist, became a Charismatic when he assumed the pastorate of a Pentecostal denomination and then reverted back to his Baptist roots just as swiftly when he saw a promising job opportunity on the horizon.
Our positions on God’s Word should only be embraced after much study and reflection. It has always warmed my heart to see someone struggle with Scripture; letting it tear at their heart and minds until they are drawn inexorably to a truth of God. We should always be careful of those that move too fast in the faddist undercurrents that are constantly sweeping American Evangelicalism back and forth like flotsam. The tide will soon turn and we will find ourselves once again in the shallows.
I want people to accept orthodox and exegetically rooted interpretations of Scripture, but there is something so re-assuring about someone who honestly possesses one of those truths after making themselves a slave to God’s author-centered meaning rather than the caprice of their circumstances.
These years among the people of Oikos have been good years. I have seen far more people being careful and heeding Scripture with a measured and thoughtful posture.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Ephesians 4:11-14