Comments on: Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/ Making Theology Accessible Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:55:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John T III http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20580 John T III Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:48:13 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20580 CMP, You say in point 7 never take a definite stance, be perpetualy non-committal. You list is about how to loose influence correct? CMP,

You say in point 7 never take a definite stance, be perpetualy non-committal. You list is about how to loose influence correct?

]]> By: C Michael Patton http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20579 C Michael Patton Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:33:04 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20579 John 3, I don't understand. I would say that they took a definite stand. Obviously, they have had influence! John 3,

I don’t understand. I would say that they took a definite stand. Obviously, they have had influence!

]]> By: John T III http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20578 John T III Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:37:49 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20578 CMP In regards to your point 7: "7. Be perpetually non-committal: ...., but don’t ever take any definite stand.........” How do the Apostles and Paul fit into this category? How about those who have been martyed over the ages for their faith and refusing to renounce it? Or even the book fo 1 John which puts things as you are or your are not? I am currious as to how that works. CMP

In regards to your point 7:
“7. Be perpetually non-committal: …., but don’t ever take any definite stand………”

How do the Apostles and Paul fit into this category? How about those who have been martyed over the ages for their faith and refusing to renounce it? Or even the book fo 1 John which puts things as you are or your are not?

I am currious as to how that works.

]]> By: Michael http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20577 Michael Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:02:47 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20577 Funny, you've done number 9 a few times recently and now you're losing influence with me. Funny, you’ve done number 9 a few times recently and now you’re losing influence with me.

]]> By: Charles Williams http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20576 Charles Williams Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:03:14 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20576 I just thought of something. If KJVO had any real validity just think how much cheaper Logos would be! Sorry, end of the semester and I'm fried. I just thought of something. If KJVO had any real validity just think how much cheaper Logos would be! Sorry, end of the semester and I’m fried.

]]> By: Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology « Pettus’ Blog http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20575 Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology « Pettus’ Blog Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:00:48 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20575 [...] Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology Posted on November 10, 2009 by pettus Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology [...] [...] Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology Posted on November 10, 2009 by pettus Eight Ways to Lose Your Influence in Theology [...]

]]> By: Brian http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20574 Brian Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:20:28 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20574 No problem, Michael. I know you are busy and have a lot on your plate. No problem, Michael. I know you are busy and have a lot on your plate.

]]> By: C Michael Patton http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20573 C Michael Patton Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:13:31 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20573 Brian, I can't keep at this for any longer, but I do appreciate the conversation. What you are referring to is the regula fide or the canon veritas. You are right that they did have much nailed down. Holding to a development of doctrine theory (as most people do) does not assume that everything was up in the air in the early church, including eschatology. The basic DNA of doctrine is there. To say that the DNA developed is not to contradict or go against the regula fide of the early church, but to see it mature. The best place to go and see my thoughts on this is here: http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/06/an-emerging-understanding-of-orthodox-2/. In fact, I was going to repost this and change the name since "emerging" has connotations that are no longer as relavent. I will post it as a fresh post and we can pick up the conversation there if you wish, my friend. Thanks for being cordial in your disagreements. I have had quite a day dealing with its opposite! Brian, I can’t keep at this for any longer, but I do appreciate the conversation.

What you are referring to is the regula fide or the canon veritas. You are right that they did have much nailed down. Holding to a development of doctrine theory (as most people do) does not assume that everything was up in the air in the early church, including eschatology. The basic DNA of doctrine is there. To say that the DNA developed is not to contradict or go against the regula fide of the early church, but to see it mature.

The best place to go and see my thoughts on this is here: http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2008/06/an-emerging-understanding-of-orthodox-2/. In fact, I was going to repost this and change the name since “emerging” has connotations that are no longer as relavent. I will post it as a fresh post and we can pick up the conversation there if you wish, my friend.

Thanks for being cordial in your disagreements. I have had quite a day dealing with its opposite!

]]> By: Brian http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20572 Brian Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:02:22 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20572 Michael, IMO certain aspects of eschatology would not have been considered an obscure area. Regarding the early church, there is good evidence to believe that they had a lot of doctrine pinned down and that they didn't have the development mindset so common today (the faith once delivered). Notice the chapter headings from Tertullian's Prescription Against the Heretics (Chapters 25-28) THE APOSTLES DID NOT KEEP BACK ANY OF THE DEPOSIT OF DOCTRINE WHICH CHRIST HAD ENTRUSTED TO THEM. ST. PAUL OPENLY COMMITTED HIS WHOLE DOCTRINE TO TIMOTHY THE APOSTLES DID IN ALL CASES TEACH THE WHOLE TRUTH TO THE WHOLE CHURCH. NO RESERVATION, NOR PARTIAL COMMUNICATION TO FAVORITE FRIENDS GRANTED THAT THE APOSTLES TRANSMITTED THE WHOLE DOCTRINE OF TRUTH, MAY NOT THE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN UNFAITHFUL IN HANDING IT ON? INCONCEIVABLE THAT THIS CAN HAVE BEEN THE CASE THE ONE TRADITION OF THE FAITH, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY ALIKE IN THE CHURCHES EVERYWHERE, A GOOD PROOF THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN TRUE AND HONEST IN THE MAIN Michael, IMO certain aspects of eschatology would not have been considered an obscure area.

Regarding the early church, there is good evidence to believe that they had a lot of doctrine pinned down and that they didn’t have the development mindset so common today (the faith once delivered).

Notice the chapter headings from Tertullian’s Prescription Against the Heretics (Chapters 25-28)

THE APOSTLES DID NOT KEEP BACK ANY OF THE DEPOSIT OF DOCTRINE WHICH CHRIST HAD ENTRUSTED TO THEM. ST. PAUL OPENLY COMMITTED HIS WHOLE DOCTRINE TO TIMOTHY

THE APOSTLES DID IN ALL CASES TEACH THE WHOLE TRUTH TO THE WHOLE CHURCH. NO RESERVATION, NOR PARTIAL COMMUNICATION TO FAVORITE FRIENDS

GRANTED THAT THE APOSTLES TRANSMITTED THE WHOLE DOCTRINE OF TRUTH, MAY NOT THE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN UNFAITHFUL IN HANDING IT ON? INCONCEIVABLE THAT THIS CAN HAVE BEEN THE CASE

THE ONE TRADITION OF THE FAITH, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY ALIKE IN THE CHURCHES EVERYWHERE, A GOOD PROOF THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN TRUE AND HONEST IN THE MAIN

]]> By: C Michael Patton http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/11/seven-ways-to-lose-your-influence-in-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-20571 C Michael Patton Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:26:36 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=3341#comment-20571 Brian, we have direct access to the Apostles teaching as well through the New Testament. That does not gaurantee that it is understood perfectly. The early church had a concept called the regula fide, which was an early form of an essentials/non-essentials dichotomy. The early church understood not only this, but that there were obscure areas upon which we should never build our theology with. So even if you go with a paleo-theology (which I don't), these principles are still relavent. Then there is the kyrugma in the NT... Brian, we have direct access to the Apostles teaching as well through the New Testament. That does not gaurantee that it is understood perfectly. The early church had a concept called the regula fide, which was an early form of an essentials/non-essentials dichotomy. The early church understood not only this, but that there were obscure areas upon which we should never build our theology with.

So even if you go with a paleo-theology (which I don’t), these principles are still relavent.

Then there is the kyrugma in the NT…

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