Our theology develops as we grow in our understanding of Scriptures, so doctrinal shifts are healthy. Perhaps to be more precise, we could say that a lack of doctrinal shift is unhealthy. Every Christian should dedicate his life to the study of Scriptures, so if his theology is not changing, then something is wrong. This is particularly relevant to the clergyman, whether it be a pastor, a missionary, or a volunteer Sunday School teacher.
There are certain doctrinal shifts that are unhealthy. For example, if a missionary shifts his doctrine out of convenience, then this should be a red flag. Some missionaries travel around to raise support and will change their doctrine to agree with whatever doctrine a potential support partner holds. Before long, their doctrine among Methodist friends contradicts their doctrine among Plymouth Brethren friends. Secret doctrines are a related concern, when a missionary believes something that he knows would cause people to stop supporting him, so he keeps it a secret. A missionary does not necessarily need to pick a fight with everyone over secondary doctrines—none of us are 100% in agreement—but it is unacceptable for someone to misrepresent his theology for personal gain.
The non-changer and convenient changer aside, there is a third theological drifter to be aware of. I have identified three characteristics of doctrinal shifts, which can be healthy when taken individually, but together they form what I call, “The Danger Triangle of Doctrinal Drift.” If a Bible teacher is in The Danger Triangle, then it might be wise for him to withdraw from teaching for a bit and submit to discipleship and study for a time. If a teacher changes his doctrine significantly, quickly, and frequently, then he could be a danger to himself and others. Again, each of these three characteristics can be healthy when they are alone, but together, they could be a red flag.
Significant Changes
Our theology should change significantly. The most significant change to be made is the doctrinal shift from disbelief to belief in Christ for eternal life. This is a significant change that we should want everyone to go through! Especially in a Christian’s earlier days of discipleship, he should be making significant improvements to his theology. Hopefully a new believer will start to grasp the overall biblical narrative. It should not take long for him to understand the distinction between Israel and the Church. By the time he has been around for a few years, we would hope that a Christian could draw a prophecy timeline with some of the big events that are to come: a rapture, a tribulation, a millennial kingdom, an eternal state.
As he grows, the doctrinal changes will hopefully become smaller issues of precision. Perhaps he will end up understanding the Antichrist of 1 John as the false prophet of Revelation, then shift to believing that this is the first beast (I am talking about myself now). This would be an example of a shift that is not significant. At least one of the views must be incorrect, but either view is acceptable; in fact, two theologians would have to be in significant agreement before they could even have this disagreement.
More mature believers can also make significant changes. Sometimes the change is for the worse, but I have seen pastors do long personal studies of an issue and come out for the better. He should not keep it a secret from his congregation, but he should not neglect what he sees in the Bible.
Significant change can be good. But if significant changes happen quickly, then maybe the teacher is not really getting his change from an in-depth study of the Word.
Quick Changes
By “quick changes” I mean that it does not take a long time for the doctrine to shift. Our doctrine should change quickly, but significant doctrines should take more time to adjust.
Many Christians are in this excellent habit of reading the Bible daily, even if for only a few minutes. If you read the Bible aloud for 12 minutes a day, then you will have read the whole thing in a year. If your daily reading is from Ezra 1–5, and you wake up that morning thinking that Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar made one trip to Jerusalem together, but then 12 minutes later, you change your mind and say that it was two trips (or vice versa), then you have made a quick change. It is not a significant change, but it is a quick one.
More significant doctrines tend to have more texts that contribute to the discussion. Sheshbazzar’s name occurs four times in five chapters; it does not take too long to read everything the Bible says about him and form an opinion. On the other hand, if a premillennialist missionary reads Acts 1:6 and decides that he can’t believe in a future kingdom anymore (yes, I’ve heard a missionary say that), then not only is he neglecting Acts 1:6, but he is using a single passage to overthrow a doctrine that is well established from Genesis to Revelation.
But still, we should recognize that a new believer could make a positive change that is significant rather quickly. For this post, we are particularly concerned with teachers in The Danger Triangle. If a teacher makes a significant change quickly, that is concerning, but if he makes several significant doctrinal changes quickly and he does so frequently, then it is time to run!
Frequent Changes
A quick change is one that happens in a short time period. When we say “frequent changes,” we mean that several changes happen often. If a Christian reads his Bible every day, then, relative to most Christians, he reads the Bible frequently. It should be expected that he has frequent growth, which could be called a frequent change.
Frequent changes can be good, but they complete The Danger Triangle when combined with quick and significant changes. If a teacher changes his doctrine significantly, quickly, and frequently, then nobody can really know what he believes at any given moment. So, last month he was opposed to charismatic theology… will he start speaking in tongues next month?
Safeguarding from the Danger Triangle
These three attributes can be dangerous when they are together. That point has already been made, but this article would fall short if it did not offer a preventive measure. So, how do we protect ministries from bringing in a Danger Triangle teacher? By teaching people how to read the Bible.
Paul’s final meeting with the elders of the church in Ephesus is relevant here. He knew that it would be the last time that he spoke with them (Acts 20:25), so this is what he said:
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:28–32 NKJV)
Paul knew that savage wolves would rise up, so he told the elders to “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.” Notice that the elders need to take heed to themselves first. If the elders go adrift, then they are not going to be able to help the flock. Notice also to which tool Paul commends the elders: the word of His grace. God’s Word is able to build people up. We must stay in the Word.
By the way, to dedicate oneself to the study of Scripture means to study Scripture the way that Scripture intends to be studied. A nickname for that is “grammatical-historical hermeneutics.” Want to see more on that? Check out the articles in the “Hermeneutics” category of our Archives page here.
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