I am re-posting a post from 2010 as I prepare new ones. I have always liked to use this quote as a disclaimer to any who have heard or read any of my previous postings or thoughts.
Before we continue on our journey of The Word I would like to
interject some thoughts from a wise man. One may not agree with all of
Rev. Finney's thoughts but I believe that he was on the mark with the
following.
From The Rev. CHARLES G. FINNEY ,SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 1851
"You
were made to think. It will do you good to think; to develop your
powers by study. God designed that religion should require thought,
intense thought, and should thoroughly develop our powers of thought.
(2)
If my brother is
inquiring after truth, I will, by the grace of God, “hear with both
ears, and then judge.” But I will not promise to attend to all that cavilers may say, nor to notice what those impertinent talkers and
writers may say or write who must have controversy. But to all honest
inquirers after truth I would say, Hail, my brother! Let us be thorough.
Truth shall do us good. (3)
I have not yet been
able to stereotype my theological views, and have ceased to expect ever
to do so. The idea is preposterous. None but an omniscient mind can
continue to maintain a precise identity of views and opinions. Finite
minds, unless they are asleep or stultified by prejudice, must advance
in knowledge.… True Christian
consistency does not consist in stereotyping our opinions and views, and
in refusing to make any improvement lest we should be guilty of change,
but it consists in holding our minds open to receive the rays of truth
from every quarter and in changing our views and language and practice
as often and as fast as we can obtain further information. I call
this Christian consistency, because this course alone accords with a
Christian profession. A Christian profession implies the profession of
candor and of a disposition to know and obey all truth. It must follow
that Christian consistency implies continued investigation and change of
views and practice in conformity with increasing knowledge. No
Christian, therefore, and no theologian should be afraid to change his
views, his language, or his practices in conformity with increasing
light."
In the true spirit of the previous thoughts, I
reserve the right to change my position on any previous postings as
study and facts lead. Remember, we were made to think.
Sholom
No comments:
Post a Comment