Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Summary: Instruction is important, but the bigger question is what kind of instruction are we getting? Wisdom calls us to choose her instruction. Now, if we can only find the right classroom…
My friend, Pastor Rich, summarized my approach to theology well when he said, “Jeff, I finally get you. You’re not against theology, you’re just against bad theology.” Amen!
So what is “good” theology and what is “bad” theology?
To my way of thinking, “good theology” is the study of God. A secular theologian will say that theology is the study of the nature of God (or gods) but I contend such a study is impossible. Therefore, I categorize all such attempts at theology as “bad” theology.
To study the nature of something requires that we are able to comprehend what we are studying. The nature of God is well outside the realm of human comprehension. We have no tools with which to measure God. He does not exist as a physical being, so there is no basis for physical interaction unless God wills it. Add to this the fact that if all we know was created by God, then all of our knowledge is a subset of the greater reality. We live in a bubble constrained by the laws of physics. How can mankind even imagine what lies beyond this reality of ours?
Good theology approaches God as God. We are attentive to his Spirit and attentive to his Word. By studying God’s Word, we learn about him and ourselves. This is true theology.
Bad theology rests on a human framework. We construct a rationale to give the impression we “know” something we cannot possibly know. We place limits on the Creator and say, “According to our theology, God must do this or that.” Really? Do you think a human can put God in a box and force him to do your bidding? How did that work out for the Pharisees?
The wisdom of Solomon points us to is the fear of the Lord. The wisdom of the world points us to the fear of theologians. Worldly theologians argue back and forth. Those who study God draw together in love and fellowship. Worldly theologians make rules and claim God must follow them. Good theology follows God and learns his rules for us.
The challenge we have as modern Christians is this: How do we separate our thoughts from the centuries of bad theology that have become the world we live in? All I can offer is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12: 30). If we come before God in love and with complete devotion, there is no room left for the world’s false constructs.
Application: Double check your spiritual tastebuds against God’s Word in everything.
Food for Thought: In today’s passage, Wisdom says, “Choose my instruction.” If we were to take a theology class at any school, how would we know what kind of instruction we were getting?
When I was a preteen, I remember being worried about falling prey to a cult. To be fair, at the time, the church leaders of the church I attended felt it was an huge issue in America and regularly talked about it. I wondered “how would I know?” My grandfather told me this: the key is to understand what “platform” eternal salvation rests on. Is it completely dependent on Christ, or is there any measure of works involved? Is salvation something you have to get, or is it something that is given?
Seems like in my life it always comes down to just that. All the theories about creation and God come down to salvation and how it comes about. Some theories are that we don’t need salvation, others are that we do need it but we have a hand in it. I think if you extrapolate that point from any conversation you can determine the type of theories or instruction are being given.
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Romans 10:3 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
Chris,
Thank you! Excellent summation. The challenge is in spotting those teachings where we “have a hand in it.” Whenever anyone says I have to believe a certain thing that is not in the Bible, I get very suspicious.
To choose true wisdom’s instruction, then we have to have a source of true wisdom. The Scriptures are clearly the wisdom and words of God given to us through His special revelation. 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17.
To evaluate what any class or instructor says, we need to persist in evaluating all that is taught through the standard of Scripture. Acts 17: 11.
Rich,
Thank you! The Bereans are a great example!
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)
03-24-2022, Proverbs 8:10-11, Wisdom says, “Choose my instruction.” If we were to take a theology class at any school, how would we know what kind of instruction we were getting?
1.) Is the teaching consistent with the wisdom of God as recorded in His Word?
2.) Are we preparing ourselves to receive Gods wisdom through prayer?
2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
John 14:26, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
John 16:13, When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Ron,
Thank you! Well said!
I appreciate your two points. The second one is perhaps the more important of the two. Without having our heart right before the Lord, I don’t know how we can be confident of discerning teachings that are consistent with God’s Word.
Very True!!!
Nice topic. Great comments. Last night I was talking with someone about something similar asking them if they believed in parts of the bible that are questioned by some “modern” Christians ( whatever that’s supposed to be ). To my delight they do believe that everything in the bible is God’s word exactly how He wanted us to receive it. We went on about why would people try to put limits on what God can do and other things in the bible. But it was a great conversation.
Oh how would we know what kind of instruction we were getting?
If it’s from a person or if it’s from the bible. And what everyone else said about knowing the bible and testing it with what’s written in the bible, the Holy Spirit and having the bible written on your heart.
Thank you, Tim!
Your story is encouraging. Those are the kind of conversations I love to hear about. 🙂