Systematic Navigation: Introduction
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)
I am getting myself into some waters with the studying of God’s Word that just might have me going beyond knee deep. “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem is a book that I have decided to spend the rest of this year with considering it is at least 1300 pages thick. Our Tuesday night men’s Bible study went through his much smaller book on the subject titled, “Christian Beliefs; 20 basics every Christian should know”. That book is a glancing look at this bigger book but it raised questions that needed to be looked at further. And since we all should be learning how to be “Navigating Life Biblically” this year, I thought it would be good for me to see how to view it systematically as well.
Professor John Frame’s (Westminster Seminary) definition goes as follows: Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic. So what this definition would entail is to have a topic that needs to be understood and navigate through all of the Bible, collect those passages that are relevant and summarize what they teach so that we know what to believe about each topic. Charles Hodges puts it in this way, “So the Bible contains the truths which the theologian has to collect, authenticate, arrange, and exhibit in their internal relation to each other.” He goes on to add, “This is not an easy task, or one of slight importance.” Either way I do believe the whole of the Bible can speak to every need that the human condition brings up.
The last thing we need is a disorganized theology to apply in our everyday living. We certainly don’t want to speak from the prophetic books of the Bible to address our everyday family living. I made the mistake of rebuking my son with passages from Ezekiel early in my Christian walk and totally lost him…then I lost myself. But if we were to say to someone, “the Bible says that Jesus is coming again” we can go into those prophetic books to bring a systematic point to that statement. And whether we realize it or not most present day Christians are looking at their Bible reading in a systematic way. “The Bible Promise Book” is a fine example of what I am talking about. You can go into the table of contents and look for an issue that you are dealing with and find various Bible passages that are directed specifically for that issue.
In Hodges’ introduction to his book he writes, “It may naturally be asked, why not take the truths as God has seen fit to reveal them, and thus save ourselves the trouble of showing their relation and harmony?” Well one of the four answers he gives is quite simply, “The answer to this question is, in the first place, that it cannot be done. Such is the constitution of the human mind that it cannot help endeavoring to systematize and reconcile the facts which it admits to be true.”
So let’s keep in mind that there may be a large number of topics out there to dive into but, as Grudem puts it, “It is Scripture alone, not “conservative evangelical tradition” or any other human authority, that must function as the normative authority for the definition of what we should believe.” We have to keep the basic reason to a systematic approach to God’s Word as a means of obedience to our Lord’s command.
The benefits to studying the Bible in a systematic theological way can help us in three ways. We overcome those rebellious ideas that, for example, maybe Jesus isn’t coming back. It can help us be able to make better decisions on new questions of doctrine. You never know when someone has come into your church “stealthy” as a wolf in sheep’s clothes. But more importantly it can help us grow as Christians.
The Bible frequently connects sound doctrine with maturity in the lives of Christians. It was with confidence that we find Paul speaking of “the teaching which accords with godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3) or his work as an apostle of Jesus Christ is “to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1). I hope you all keep on navigating as the year goes on. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a Freedom Fighter contributor
Compass Pointers: What does the Bible teach about husband-wife relationships? About raising children? About witnessing to a friend at work? What principles does Scripture give us for studying psychology, or economics, or the natural sciences? How does it guide us in spending money, or in saving, or in tithing? In every area of inquiry certain theological principles will come to bear, and those who have learned well the theological teachings of the Bible will be much better able to make decisions that are pleasing to God.” – Wayne Grudem
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: Before we can pray, ‘Thy kingdom come’, we must be willing to pray, ‘My kingdom go.’ Alan Redpath
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