By the Time the Book Comes Out, It's Too Late
Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 11:21AM 
It keeps happening: a controversial new book comes out, and we start scrambling to respond. It's like playing whack-a-mole: we're always hitting at the latest heresy. Yes, it's important to whack moles, but is there a better way?
Yes. It's far better to cover issues before they become issues. I wrote about this last year:
Maybe we don't need more reviews. Maybe we just need a better grip on theology clearly communicated from our pulpits on a regular basis.
If you're a preacher, like me, we'd better take this seriously. Let's not wait until a book comes out before we give our people an understanding of important issues like the doctrine of Scripture and the nature of God...As we stick to the text and allow it to speak to our culture, many of the important issues will be covered.
Maybe we don't need more book reviews. Maybe we just need better preaching.
Reader Comments (11)
Maybe we should be less certain we have the monopoly on truth, then the books wouldn't be a big deal.
But what if Christianity does have monopoly on the truth? Then these books are a big deal; they're heresy.
Or, Rob, maybe we should preach the truth so clearly and with more certainty so that error is recognized immediately and discarded for what it is.
Rob, this phrase "monopoly on truth" is a worn out cliche. It's becoming meaningless because it ultimately represents skepticism even about ourselves. Everyone believes they have a monopoly on truth, or else they don't really believe what they're saying. Yes, Rob, even you in your above quote. Just for effect, let me throw in a little Chesterton:
"At any street corner we may meet a man who utters the frantic and blasphemous statement that he may be wrong. Every day one comes across somebody who says that of course his view may not be the right one. Of course his view must be the right one, or it is not his view. We are on the road to producing a race of men too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table. We are in danger of seeing philosophers who doubt the law of gravity as being a mere fancy of their own. Scoffers of old time were too proud to be convinced; but these are too humble to be convinced. The meek do inherit the earth; but the modern sceptics are too meek even to claim their inheritance. It is exactly this intellectual helplessness which is our second problem."
And let me suggest that this same intellectual helplessness is endemic in modern Protestant Christianity today, as well. We've made a virtue out of being able to sentimentally say, "I don't really know, and that make me humble." But we're too skeptical to know whether humility is really virtuous. Either own your beliefs, Rob, or don't. But if you don't think it's true, then don't waste someone's time by saying it out loud.
"What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. We are on the
road to producing a race of men too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table."
I can really see this on two fronts. 1) There is no way for Christians to address an error that doesn't exist yet. Granted, there is nothing new under the sun and most false teaching today is just old heresy that creeps back in, but there is an element to which addressing certain issues is reactionary—like whack-a-mole. 2) To me this reemphasizes the need for the Pastor-Theologian, which is why I appreciate what you said: "Maybe we just need a better grip on theology clearly communicated from our pulpits on a regular basis."
Here are a list of core doctrines that are rarely spoken about in churches I have attended: The Trinity, the incarnation (once a year, if that), the Holy Spirit (who he is and what he does), and the resurrection (specifically of the redeemed).
Now that is just the short list so should I be surprised when I encounter people who are modalists? They don't seem to know any better and it breaks my heart.
In summary I appreciate what you have said here and I agree with you. We had better take this seriously
Yes we should preach truth so people will know error, but when error comes up, we should expose it. "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." - The apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:11 ESV)
You would have a long way to go to convince mr that Christianity has a monopoly on truth. That's laughable. What version? Calvinism, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran?
The wiggle word here is "convince." By saying this, you make truth contingent on your believing it, and I don't make Rob Auld the measure of truth, nor should I. I would like to know, Rob, if you believe that these complaints you have are truthful or have a factual basis. If you think so, then I will respond (with outrage), "How dare you, Rob Auld, think you have a monopoly on truth? How dare you!?"
And if you don't think that these complaints you have been sharing are truthful, then I will kindly ignore you since even you are not convinced of the truthfulness of your own words.
I think my point of view is one of many. I have some truth I believe, but there are other thoughts with equal validity. Only by understanding with respect others views can we approach truth.
I have heard it said - "You can't have your truth and I have my truth because one of them is not the truth." The very existence of truth means that something else is untrue or a lie.
In regards to Christianity, Truth is found in Jesus Christ and Him alone. In His own words He stated - "“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Jesus did not say I am one of many ways to God, He said that His is the ONLY way to God - "No one comes to the Father except through me". Jesus Christ is the only truth.
“"You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'" (John 18:37) Jesus states that the very reason for Him being born is "to testify to the truth". He then says that "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me". We can't listen to all of the opinions of the world, we have to listen to Jesus.
In the world of the church, truth is not spoken through denominations, it is spoken through Jesus alone. Denominations are man-made entities in the church world. Most denominations agree on foundational truths that are key to the Christian life but then disagree on some secondary things. The problem comes when people within the denominations make a big deal out of the secondary things and turn them into life or death issues. Salvation is found in Christ alone and him crucified for the sins of the world. All we have to do is accept the free gift of salvation that He offers every one of us and live our lives for Him according to the principles communicated to us through the Scriptures. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with Jesus Christ and the truth found only in Him.