A Rant on Theological Ignorance

I want to begin this Rant by way of illustration:

One Sunday morning, a preacher takes his position behind the lectern. He opens his Bible, reads a passage, and then he prays. Then for the next 30 minutes he passionately expounds upon what his dog did yesterday, how his last fishing trip went, how good his mama's sweet tea is, and how wonderful the dogs were barking on his last coon hunting trip. He finishes the "sermon" with a heart wrenching appeal for people to come to Jesus for Salvation in which he follows it with the standard "heads bowed, eyes closed, and nobody looking around" type altar call. After that the pastor dismisses the service and everyone leaves out at 12:00 pm shaking his hand and telling him what a "wonderful message" he preached.

Same Sunday, but this time in a different church...

Another preacher takes the pulpit. The congregation still swaying and praising as a result of 45 minutes of their favorite 7 praise choruses being played about 11 times each. The preacher opens his Bible, reads a passage, and says a prayer. Before he can finish praying, people are back to shouting and running around the church house again! He closes his Bible and they continue for at least an hour and a half praying, singing, and praising. After everything finally calms down, the pastor says a few words, says another prayer, and closes the service. The people leave the service all excited about the wonderful time they had and boast "the service was so good the preacher didn't even get to preach!"

The first scenario was what my friend would experience almost every Sunday at his Southern Baptist church. The second scenario is what I occasionally experienced, and what happens often in a number of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches around here.

These are two vastly different scenarios but the common denominator in them both is that I have personally witnessed that neither produces spiritually mature, theologically sound Christians! Neither scenario emphasises the exposition of the Bible, the teaching of systematic theology, nor practical discipleship. Both patterns were failing in their commission to teach God's Word and make disciples of all nations.

Honestly folks, I am very tired of not being able to have a basic Biblical discussion with the average church goer!!! I believe there is no excuse for a person going to church for decades and not even being able to articulate the most basic truths of the Christian faith! I have had to deal with this ignorance with the most Spirit filled Pentecostals, as well as with some of the most hardcore Southern Baptists. It never ceases to amaze me at the ignorant things that come out of the mouths of professing Christians. (Some even follow in the footsteps of Joel Osteen and will not even take a firm stance on Jesus being the ONLY way to Heaven!!)

I was watching Ravi Zacharias this evening and he too affirms that one of the greatest problems in the American church is the fact that people are too lazy to THINK when it comes to the things of God. It's like people want to put their minds in neutral as soon as they get to church or something! All too often American Christians are happy to listen to vain jangling from the pulpit and formulate their theology more from silly clichés than from the Bible.

I am also quite disturbed by the fact that many Christians think we have nothing to learn from those spiritual giants who have gone before us. I am often ridiculed by a good friend for "reading those theologians." He thinks it is a waste of time. While it is certain that the theologians of yesterday may have not been correct in every point of doctrine, it does not excuse us for ignoring what God taught them in their day. It delights me to meet another Christian who reads Spurgeon or some other "old school" teacher. Unfortunately, I have found those people are few and far between.

I've also observed that many Christians think that only the clergy are to be educated in the things of God! We are now in a day where the "preaching" and writings of Joel Osteen (and many other heretics) are considered profound by many American Evangelicals. These things ought to alert us that something is terribly wrong!

On page 18 of his Systematic Theology, Dr. Wayne Grudem has summed up my feelings quite well:

"I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth - the whole church does as well. One day by God's grace we may have churches full of Christians who can discuss, apply, and live the doctrinal teachings of the Bible as readily as they can discuss the details of their own jobs or hobbies - or the fortunes of their favorite sports team or television program. It is not that Christians lack the ability to understand doctrine; it is just that they must have access to it in an understandable form. Once that happens, I think that many Christians will find that understanding (and living) the doctrines of Scripture is one of their greatest joys."

So... What must we do to reverse this problem?

I think the best thing we can do is pray... Pray that God would birth a great awakening in the American church. Pray that God would regenerate the large number of false converts that sit upon our pews. Pray that God might see fit to ignite a hunger for truth in our pews and in our pulpits. We must demand more than shallow preaching and meetings where the Bible is replaced with emotionalism and chaos. We need the truth of God's Word to unashamedly sound forth from the pulpits of America!

It's time for the American church to repent of its apathy! It's time to restore the preaching of God's Word to a place of prominence in the churches! Its time for our people to get off the milk and move onto the meat! It's time for a Reformation in the United States of America!

"I dream of a new Reformation, a Reformation that is not simply a renewal of life but a new vision of life: a vision that yields new forms and structures in society and culture. As long as Christians restrict their Christianity to a religion, a faith that is compartmentalized and isolated from life, they can have revival but never, ever Reformation." --Dr. R.C Sproul

Soli Deo Gloria!


Please Note: I am not implying that all Baptist or all Pentecostal churches are guilty of what I have described above. I have used these two examples because I have been in and around both movements and I have personal experience dealing with the fruits of both extremes. I grant that there are many pastors in both camps who are faithful to preach and teach God's Word. I am "painting with a broad brush" in this Rant.