Are our churches failing at properly teaching Christology?

[Matthew13:9]

Given the recent spate of Christological threads which have challenged, and indeed outright attacked, the orthodox Christological teaching, it seems like it is worth asking if the reason for so much confusion is because people are being improperly catechized in our churches.

Or is this less of a failure of churches properly teaching the faith, and more representative of rogue theology?

Or both?

And how do we address these problems in our church communities?

-CryptoLutheran

You will never know the truth unless God gives you ears to hear the word of God.

 

[Not David]

Then they face difficulties in life where that spiritual buzz just ain't there, and a hard-nosed skeptic comes along and smashes their fragile worldview.

"my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." - Hosea 4:6

Yet there are people who say that explaining the doctrine of the Trinity is philosophical non-sense.

 

[GingerBeer]

Given the recent spate of Christological threads which have challenged, and indeed outright attacked, the orthodox Christological teaching, it seems like it is worth asking if the reason for so much confusion is because people are being improperly catechized in our churches.

Yes, many are failing.

 

[NW82]

Given the recent spate of Christological threads which have challenged, and indeed outright attacked, the orthodox Christological teaching, it seems like it is worth asking if the reason for so much confusion is because people are being improperly catechized in our churches.

Or is this less of a failure of churches properly teaching the faith, and more representative of rogue theology?

Or both?

And how do we address these problems in our church communities?

-CryptoLutheran

This presumes that following the Catholic or Orthodox is correct. The reformation took place for a reason, because of non biblical teaching and corruption. So to answer your question we would all need to approach this from a specific foundation prior to any discourse on the subject.

 

[FatalHeart]

Given the recent spate of Christological threads which have challenged, and indeed outright attacked, the orthodox Christological teaching, it seems like it is worth asking if the reason for so much confusion is because people are being improperly catechized in our churches.

Or is this less of a failure of churches properly teaching the faith, and more representative of rogue theology?

Or both?

And how do we address these problems in our church communities?

-CryptoLutheran

Actually following the Holy Spirit instead of the wisdom of man would be a great place to start.

 

[Philip_B]

I believe that many shy away from teaching the Nicene Creed, assuming that it's recitation on a regular of semi regular basis is sufficient. We have allowed theology to become very undisciplined, many seeming to prefer i-theology rather than the ancient wisdom.

 

[zippy2006]

Not poor taste, the word is slander.

No, not slander. It would be claiming that certain threads espouse unorthodox Christology. "Slander" means something very different.

I don't know what the OP is referring to. I don't really see Christologically problematic thread titles in the first few pages of General Theology. The only candidates are actually yours, but they all belong to a single user. Maybe I have to read further into the OP's or threads? It's sort of hard to have a fruitful conversation if you don't know what you're actually talking about. Given the SOP such a clarification would be not only helpful, but welcome.

 

[Tigger45]

The simple reason is that many (most?) unaffiliated and non-denominational churches just do not address it at all, and many denominational do not either. They leave it at Jesus is God and that is about as deep as any Sunday sermon gets as their focus is on the love of God, the love of Jesus. If they have a membership class it is a hour or two long and does not delve into those matters. Some churches still have a longer catechism or membership class that does delve into these matters more, but they are more common in mainline, mainstream denominational, and more liturgical churches. That is not to say that unaffiliated and non-Denom churches do not have classes that talk about this, but I see it as less common.

So, to directly answer: yes, it is a problem that people are not being properly catechized in the churches.

Many forms of evangelicalism and pentecostalism in the US are less driven by doctrine, and more by experience or community values, and are very much prone to falling back on the opinio legis as the core of Christian identity. If you're an Arian or Sabellian, that's less important than what your stance is on abortion, gay marriage, or Christian cultural symbols in the public square.

Right I think it’s that ‘seeker friendly’ mentality not only being pandered by many congregations but is what many people are looking for. IRL when I ask them about their particular church they proclaim loud and proud it is a bible preaching church but when questioning them on Christian doctrines 101 their contributions to the conversation tends to run short and I typically see a glazed look in their eyes when I continue the subject.

 

[PaulCyp1]

Or, is it due to the doctrinal chaos of Protestantism? Over 6,000 registered denominations, plus 20,000+ so-called "non-denominational" churches, each claiming to be teaching Christological truth "right out of the Bible", yet the teaching of each one conflicting with the teaching of the others? Truth cannot conflict with truth, so what's going on here? No wonder the plainly stated will of Jesus Christ was, and still is, "that they all may be ONE, even as I and my heavenly Father are ONE".

 

[ViaCrucis]

.

 

[ViaCrucis]

.

 

[GodsGrace101]

What is Christology?

@ViaCrucis

Are you going to answer the above or did I miss the answer??

 

[ViaCrucis]

Not poor taste, the word is slander.

The Creeds say what they say, and to deny the Creeds is to preach heresy.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

@ViaCrucis

Are you going to answer the above or did I miss the answer??

Christology is the branch of theology that deals with the nature and person of Jesus Christ.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Not David]

This presumes that following the Catholic or Orthodox is correct. The reformation took place for a reason, because of non biblical teaching and corruption. So to answer your question we would all need to approach this from a specific foundation prior to any discourse on the subject.

We base our knowledge on their interpretation.

 

[GodsGrace101]

In broad terms, it concerns the nature and purpose of Christ. Many heresies of old were related to it, yet they persist and seem to be growing again. Some of the big ones were Arianism, Adoptionism, Modalism/Sabellianism, and Nestorianism.

I don't think I got an alert for this.

I know two of the above heresies, but not all.
If it regards the nature and purpose of Christ, I was going to ask what is being taught in churches that is not correct.

I don't live in the states anymore and am feeling out of touch.
Arianism is on the rise? And Modalism?

 

[Paidiske]

Short answer - and I say this as a member of the clergy whose responsibility it is to get this right - yes, our churches are failing to properly teach Christology.

I don't think I got any robust teaching on Christology prior to theological college.

My guess as to why this is actually relates to @dzheremi's point. Time. Most of my congregation are very time-poor and not willing to put much time into study groups or the like. My teenagers - who should be being thoroughly catechised! - I hardly ever see.

So I have to make decisions about what is the most urgent thing to address in my preaching or teaching, for whichever proportion of people will turn up on that day... and in a church with significant issues which need to be worked on, seldom is Christology the most urgent. I think many parishes would be in the same sort of boat.

 

[Not David]

I propose that Churches offer History of Christianity classes with emphasis on theology.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Christology is the branch of theology that deals with the nature and person of Jesus Christ.

-CryptoLutheran

I do see on these threads the problem some have in accepting Jesus is God - they understand Him to be the Son of God or the Messiah, etc. Not anything else I can think of.

What I DO see is too much personal doctrine that some come to all on their very own. I do find this disturbing.

I'll follow along, I probably won't have anything to add.

 

[Not David]

No, not slander. It would be claiming that certain threads espouse unorthodox Christology. "Slander" means something very different.

I don't know what the OP is referring to. I don't really see Christologically problematic thread titles in the first few pages of General Theology. The only candidates are actually yours, but they all belong to a single user. Maybe I have to read further into the OP's or threads? It's sort of hard to have a fruitful conversation if you don't know what you're actually talking about. Given the SOP such a clarification would be not only helpful, but welcome.

It would be better if OP would clarify what Christology issue is he talking about. However, I can say that I read some comments denying that Mary gave birth to God because "God has always existed".