Related to our life’s objectives is the investigation of lay theology. For this there are key words/concepts to consider: Bible, theistic, eclectic, philosophy, culture, language, faith, God. There is only enough space to offer suggested directions for laypersons of limited Bible/theology education to attend. The following merely touch the issues. Christians ought to resort to the underlying presupposition that Scripture offers what we need to know as authoritative background for our present beliefs and actions. Further, that our present beliefs/actions should not violate any of the teachings of Scripture, rightly interpreted, especially in areas which are vital to effective faith. That is a large enough assignment, but after that the details may prove difficult to agree upon for consistency. If it were not so there would not be so many variant church denominations identified as Christian, but contradictory or agreed in some important theological areas. Let us take language as illustration. A Page has already discussed the meaning of Word in Hebrews 4:12. Even deeply committed Biblically oriented groups have prevailed in interpreting Word in the verse as representative of Scripture. This is to say that the passage teaches that whatever the Word does is what Scripture does. Careful reading of the context; attention to the way that Scripture uses the original language symbols (words); and, the logic of the passage make it refer to Jesus Christ. I am unsure about how we will manage a change in the general belief about the passage, even though the popular application seems incorrect. Common belief, even long held, doesn’t make it true. Word in Hebrews 4:12 is Christ.
The Church has a long history of differences over the doctrine of predestination. That too has taken on extra-biblical meaning. Denominations have been founded on the belief (Calvinistic), and on the denial of the belief (Armenian). The issues for this doctrine, as for the text, Hebrews 4:12 have accented since the Reformation. Common interpretation, attributed to Calvin, is that predestination applies to all persons so that some are predestined for heaven and some are predestined for hell. That belief has been used as reason to reject Christianity by some persons, in the belief that God has determined the end for each person without regard to the person, so we have no reason to be serious in that we will be Christian if he says so, and will not be Christian if he does not choose us. The meaning of Scripture doesn’t seem to be that. The Methodist denomination was founded in the free will concept, and for many decades accused the Calvinists of finding a way to live as they wish, even carnally. Once a person has genuinely committed the self to Jesus Christ, accepted his offer of redemption, and sets out to live through the tenets of the Christian life, that person is predestined (by foreknowledge) to immortality in the kingdom of God. In that meaning there is cooperation between God and man – if we commit self, so does God. God, in his foreknowledge predestinated assurance – for the Christian. The use of the word in Scripture is for those who choose to follow Jesus Christ. Pagan evaluation is different than Christian, but is under some direction of a fair and truthful God who loves all persons in the mortal context we know. Biblical hope is set for the Christian.
One feels apologetic to any seeker for God that persons may misrepresent God’s plans to mankind. We are not surprised that there are those who put spin on anything in life, even the gospel of Jesus Christ. The lay Christian should not hesitate, in facing difficult questions, to delay the answer until he/she can search the meaning of the theme – to find out what is Scripture meaning, in comparing Scripture with Scripture, in seeking the opinions of those who work in the context of interest, and following the rules of true biblical scholarship for answers. One may have the highest degree offered by a graduate program of education, may have a long and successful career as a scholar, but even he or she proves that one may have to delay responding to a matter until the process has been followed to gain answers – as far as answers may be available. We are not embarrassed to admit we don’t know some answers. The one thing we do know that is utterly important is that Christ meets the basic need of redemption, an experience that opens a large field of study for those who care about order and meaning for life. Clarity for the Christian is found in Biblical theology, not humanism. So we research Scripture for its truth. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020