Why is there a dislike of Traditional Theology?

[Not David]

I see it a lot in these forums and in real life. What do you think is the motive?

 

[Tom 1]

I see it a lot in these forums and in real life. What do you think is the motive?

What do you mean by traditional theology? Do you mean older theology or that of a particular tradition?

 

[Not David]

What do you mean by traditional theology? Do you mean older theology or that of a particular tradition?

Stuff from Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic, and mainline Protestantism.

 

[dzheremi]

Because everyone is an idiot.

That's my theory.

 

[Tom 1]

Stuff from Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic, and mainline Protestantism.

Still pretty general, no? Personally there's a lot about the Orthodox way of thinking that I like. Like many people there are things I like and things I don't about some traditions.

 

[Halbhh]

Stuff from Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic, and mainline Protestantism.

Out there more broadly among people who don't discuss more details, I'd guess because of being unfamiliar with those actual theologies, but having instead only knowing of some certain aspect(s) about those churches or their worship which are thought wrong. That would be akin to disliking a person based on them wearing red shoes, without knowing much about them (hyperbolically), at worst; at best, it might be disapproving of a certain practice that is actually thought wrong (a non-superficial thing). On the other hand, some here in a discussion forum like this will know more about those theologies (though only up to a point of course), and have more substantive objections to something. But very often these in turn I've noticed can be based sometimes on either A) reacting to an individual's representation which isn't actually the exact doctrine of that church, or B) not understanding the intended meaning of a wording in their doctrine, because of using the same word(s) in a different sense of meaning(s) than expected.

 

[mkgal1]

I see it a lot in these forums and in real life. What do you think is the motive?

David - are you referring to, for instance, when church timelines or the writings of early church fathers are used to support arguments in opposition to others and those others often come back with responses like, "I don't trust text outside the biblical text" (or worse - they will demean and attempt to discredit traditional/liturgical churches)?

Because I see that a lot in real life and here - and I think it's a means to dismiss the ONLY other source(s) that comes against their biblical narrative they've bought into (which is typically modern theology like dispensationalism).

That's probably still vague.

 

[tampasteve]

Apathy and the thought process that "it does not matter, just my relationship to Jesus matters". At least that is the opinion of some people I know, my wife being one. She is happy to attend and go along, but she is not going to do any study of other beliefs or Christian History, much less read anything from the Apostolic Fathers.

 

[Daniel9v9]

I think modern individualism has a lot to do with the indifference and opposition to orthodox doctrines. Instead of looking at what the Church has taught for 2000 years, many in our day have a habit of flipping up their Bible and go: "Hmmmm. What does this verse mean to me?" *Ignores the context*

 

[mkgal1]

Apathy and the thought process that "it does not matter, just my relationship to Jesus matters". At least that is the opinion of some people I know, my wife being one. She is happy to attend and go along, but she is not going to do any study of other beliefs or Christian History, much less read anything from the Apostolic Fathers.

I think that's where I was for over 20 years - I really liked the people I attended church with and didn't want to lose the community (not that I had that actual conversation with myself - I didn't even realize it).

Because of that loyalty - I wasn't even aware of the other views outside of our non-denominational church. And - not to sound harsh towards your wife - but that's not really a "relationship to Jesus", that's MORE about a desire for community and conformity. I never had any of those views challenged, because we lived in a theological bubble.

 

[mkgal1]

Instead of looking at what the Church has taught for 2000 years, many in our day have a habit of flipping up their Bible and go: "Hmmmm. What does this verse mean to me?" *Ignores the context*

.....and modern pastors can encourage that way of interpreting the Bible, too (because that's the way they frame their sermons - totally ignoring the context).

 

[mkgal1]

Instead of looking at what the Church has taught for 2000 years

A poster here responded to me the other week that the early church teachings should be ignored - something along the lines that "they were still in the process of working out their theology".....inferring that only recently have theologians "gotten it right".

 

[Tree of Life]

Stuff from Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic, and mainline Protestantism.

Mainline Protestantism has drifted from traditional theology a great deal. The UCC rejects the Trinity.

 

[Not David]

For example, in my thread "How would you greet a bishop?", some users instead of trying to answer in a good manner, they said they say they would ask if they are saved, smack them down, they don't need to respect them, etc.

Or the typical: "Christianity is not a religion" or "Jesus came to break down traditions", etc.

 

[Daniel9v9]

A poster here responded to me the other week that the early church teachings should be ignored - something along the lines that "they were still in the process of working out their theology".....inferring that only recently has theology "gotten it right".

 

[Not David]

Mainline Protestantism has drifted from traditional theology a great deal. The UCC rejects the Trinity.

That's sad.

 

[com7fy8]

Personally there's a lot about the Orthodox way of thinking that I like.

There are groups that on the whole I do not think are correct. But they can have a number of things I agree with. Yet, I am not sure about how they are living what they believe.

For examples, ones can claim Jesus is Lord and the Bible is God's word, but how are they living this? What are they saying to do about this? What are they saying God is doing in us?

Each group which is incorrect as a whole can have certain things right. But it might be known by the company it keeps, of stuff which people consider to be wrong.

What keeps showing up to me is how it seems a number of groups can have a number of correct ideas, but they do not obey the standard of our Apostle Paul, for who qualifies just to be considered to "take care of the church of God" > 1 Timothy 3:1-10. I personally think this means a married man who has matured for decades to have the character of Jesus; so this is not about schooling and if the person talks the talk of a group. But ones seem to be taking major shortcuts in order to fill their pulpits. So, they might have correct traditional and scholarly stuff, but this does not mean much to me if they are not holding themselves to God's standard for whom He approves to "take care of the church of God" > 1 Timothy 3:1-10.

 

[Halbhh]

I see it a lot in these forums and in real life. What do you think is the motive?

As some others have pointed out, many people in other churches don't have anything at all against those churches or their views, and would be happy to welcome them to a visit or glad to know they are Christian if they met them randomly like at a volleyball game. Of these, some correctly realize that the differences between churches do not matter to us as individual believers.

 

[Halbhh]

There are groups that on the whole I do not think are correct. But they can have a number of things I agree with. Yet, I am not sure about how they are living what they believe.

For examples, ones can claim Jesus is Lord and the Bible is God's word, but how are they living this? What are they saying to do about this? What are they saying God is doing in us?

Each group which is incorrect as a whole can have certain things right. But it might be known by the company it keeps, of stuff which people consider to be wrong.

What keeps showing up to me is how it seems a number of groups can have a number of correct ideas, but they do not obey the standard of our Apostle Paul, for who qualifies just to be considered to "take care of the church of God" > 1 Timothy 3:1-10. I personally think this means a married man who has matured for decades to have the character of Jesus; so this is not about schooling and if the person talks the talk of a group. But ones seem to be taking major shortcuts in order to fill their pulpits. So, they might have correct traditional and scholarly stuff, but this does not mean much to me if they are not holding themselves to God's standard for whom He approves to "take care of the church of God" > 1 Timothy 3:1-10.

Here's a helpful passage:

1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

!! Boom. Wow. It doesn't matter what they believe about this and that they think is so important(!)....

Wouldn't this help CF discussions here and there!

6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

“ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ”

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Romans 14 NIV

Hallelujah!

I see it a lot in these forums and in real life. What do you think is the motive?

A bad motive that happens is an urge to judge others. Of course, this isn't the only motive, and some don't have it that do object to some things in other churches.

 

[com7fy8]

!! Boom. Wow. It doesn't matter what they believe about this and that they think is so important(!)....

Wouldn't this help CF discussions here and there!

There are things that do matter, though.