Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

You may read and post, but some features are restricted to registered members. Please consider registering to gain full access! Registration is free and only takes a few moments to complete.
De-Commissioned Forum
March 29, 2024, 06:39:55 am *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
  Home   Forum   Help Search Login Register  
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Interesting C.S. Lewis quote  (Read 13243 times)
araignee19
Veteran (100-299 Posts)
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 284



« on: April 03, 2013, 08:24:02 pm »

Came across this while reading "Mere Christianity" tonight (in the chapter "Making and Begetting"). Thought it was good, and relevant to a lot of the discussions on this forum, especially relating to the fact that so many GCx pastors and elders have not been through seminary or other formal theological training.

"In other words, Theology is practical: especially now. In the old days, where there was less education and discussion, perhaps it was possible to get on with a very few simple ideas about God. But it is not so now. Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed. Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones - bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas. For a great many of the ideas about God which are trotted out as novelties today, are simply the ones which real Theologians tried centuries ago and rejected."
Logged
Linda
Household Name (300+ Posts)
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2520



« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2013, 07:09:28 am »

Quote
For a great many of the ideas about God which are trotted out as novelties today, are simply the ones which real Theologians tried centuries ago and rejected.
How true! Thanks for the quote.
Logged

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Linda
Household Name (300+ Posts)
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2520



« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2018, 12:25:15 pm »

Quote from: araignee19
Came across this while reading "Mere Christianity" tonight (in the chapter "Making and Begetting"). Thought it was good, and relevant to a lot of the discussions on this forum, especially relating to the fact that so many GCx pastors and elders have not been through seminary or other formal theological training.

"In other words, Theology is practical: especially now. In the old days, where there was less education and discussion, perhaps it was possible to get on with a very few simple ideas about God. But it is not so now. Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed. Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones - bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas. For a great many of the ideas about God which are trotted out as novelties today, are simply the ones which real Theologians tried centuries ago and rejected."

This is a really good quote that araignee19 posted 5 years ago. Thanks, araignee19!
Logged

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Mapleleaf
Regular (15-99 Posts)
**
Offline Offline

Posts: 24



« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2018, 12:47:53 pm »

I very much like the quote.  The trouble I have with it is that today, in the social media, twitter level society, it seems like Christianity has taken a step away from it.  I see pockets where real Christianity wants to dig deep and understand something for themself, so it is their true belief.  However, the great majority of Christians I interact with view themselves as sheep, they don't want to be challenged or think outside their comfort area.  They want their pastors to give them nice simple messages on Sunday morning that already align with their worldview.  They want to only consume media that already agrees with their Conservative narrative worldview. Even though we live in a modern time with the majority having a high education level, the ability to have discussion has been lost.  We want our "theology" to be able to be boiled down to a 140 character tweet, and that just doesn't leave much room for real discussion.  We live in a society that views thought out logical reasoning as TLDR!  And it seems like the majority of the sheeple that make up modern American Christianity are just fine with that.
Logged
Linda
Household Name (300+ Posts)
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2520



« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2018, 01:22:33 pm »

TLDR. How had I never heard of this acronym before?! It's a good one!

I think the quote does speak to the need for theological training for sure on the part of pastors so leaders are familiar with basic theological beliefs and heresies. Often GC leaders suggest you only listen to teaching from other GC leaders and this can be dangerous ground.

Discouraging congregants from learning more about theology and telling them to only listen to their "shepherds" is a very unwise thing.
Logged

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Digital Lynch Mob
Veteran (100-299 Posts)
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 238



« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2018, 01:27:39 pm »


Often GC leaders suggest you only listen to teaching from other GC leaders and this can be dangerous ground. Discouraging congregants from learning more about theology and telling them to only listen to their "shepherds" is a very unwise thing.

I am going to surprise you and tell you that I agree with this. I have found great wells of knowledge and wisdom from some teachers outside of GC.
Logged
Linda
Household Name (300+ Posts)
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 2520



« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2018, 01:31:49 pm »

Yay! Common ground!
Logged

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  


Powered by SMF 1.1.11 | SMF © 2006-2009, Simple Machines LLC
SimplePortal 2.1.1