6. Must We Be So Dogmatic?

It is hard for us strong-minded, committed, Bible-believing Christians to ever change. But if we have been wrong, that is what we must do. Once we get set in our ways and in our theology, we almost never change. Without making some changes we can often become spiritually stuck and ineffective, often out of contact with the younger generation. Without change the vision and ministry won’t be passed along to the next generation.

We are greatly influenced by the particular denomination, theological lens, or Bible college where we grew the most. We graduates might feel we have all our doctrine in cement. We sometimes think we have the answer to everything, even the hardest questions of life and theology. This to me is a great mistake. We must keep learning and growing, which often means admitting we are wrong. On the very basics of the Christian faith we must remain unmoveable, but on many issues in which there are a variety of interpretations, I believe it is better to not be so dogmatic. If we are to, as the Bible says, “Esteem others better than ourselves,” then I think we must become more open to listening to others and be willing to change.

I have met so many people who are not interested that I am a believer in Jesus and saved by His grace. They seem to be more interested in whether I am Reformed, or charismatic, or Arminian, or Baptist, and the list goes on. Others want to know what I believe about the end times or the Jews or what translation of the Bible I use. I am not saying all this is irrelevant, but does it really please the Lord? Does this kind of mentality bring glory to God, which should always be what we want the most? Is there any hope for old guys like me who, after almost sixty years of studying biblical doctrine and theology, are still not sure exactly what the truth is on some controversial issues? Many of these issues are dividing lines between great leaders who I respect on both sides.

All my life I have struggled with the fact that so many who study theology lose their way and no longer believe the Bible is the Word of God. Sometimes referred to as “liberal theology,” it became dominant going way back to the 1920s and 30s in so many seminaries and colleges. Can we even begin to understand the impact of that in places like Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and even Sri Lanka and India, and of course the United States? In light of this, should not those of us who believe the Bible stand in unity and not let so many smaller issues divide us? Embracing messiology will help us do that for sure.

If there is more humility and less hyper-dogmatism on minor and controversial issues, then there would be fewer people reacting to it and falling into the deep pond of unbelief. In the end, people who are too dogmatic sometimes lose their faith altogether. History proves this, and I could have been one of them.

So, what’s the answer? Change of attitude? Yes. More humility? Yes. And a different view of what God wants from us and our minds. Surely more fruit of the Holy Spirit and fewer unkind dogmatic remarks. Will we ever face the clear truth that without love we are nothing? Can there be more listening and higher esteem for those who believe differently, especially if they are people who believe the Bible is the Word of God?

The Pentecostal and charismatic movements, which are some of the largest movements in the entire two-thousand-year history of the church, have long been polarizing. I have always written against extremes and so have many Pentecostals, such as Lee Grady of Charisma magazine. This part of the body of Christ seems vulnerable, to say the least. But in my view they are one of the most faithful movements (with an incredible variety of denominations and churches) to believe the Bible is God’s Word and with it faithfully preaching the gospel. That is why tens of millions have come to Jesus through their efforts and in answer to prayer.

Yes, they often add other teachings, some of which I believe are wrong. But that is true of most churches and movements in history. Surely God in His mercy still saves people in the midst of it all, and I think saving people is what really is on the heart of God. In order to drive forward our other teachings, and Pentecostals are very good at it, we underestimate the importance of so great a salvation. I do find it a struggle that when my Pentecostal and charismatic friends are under attack they fall into the same pit of being too dogmatic about things that are not that clear in the Bible and on which great men and women of faith have not agreed for centuries.

One group often attacks another group by telling horror stories about certain people in their tradition who have failed and sinned in major ways. But like I said before, you cannot prove that your view is right, or that someone else’s is wrong, by cherry picking horror stories of people on the opposing side who have erred. At the same time, these stories of failure and sin must not be ignored. God commands us to think more on that which is “right and good and of good report” (Philippians 4:8). A leading conservative mission society has had workers convicted and imprisoned for pedophilia, which breaks our hearts, but that does not prove anything about the mission and the rest of the people. Just this morning I was studying about David, Saul, and Solomon. If you read Gordon MacDonald’s brilliant book Rebuilding Your Broken World, you will see that most Old Testament saints had what he calls “broken world experiences.” Yes, there are many areas where we need to be strong and unmovable (some like the word “dogmatic”) but let’s always stay humble, teachable and ready to change and become more like Christ.

Do we only care for people when it’s part of our job or do we really care for people because of the revolutionary work of grace in our hearts? This leads me to another question. Do we mainly care for people when they are part of our organization, so that after they leave us in a few years we hardly remember their names, or do we make a commitment to love and care no matter where they may go? My surveys show that after leaving a ministry or organization, many people soon feel forgotten. Oh, how the devil knows how to exploit that! He tries to get them to believe the organization only used them. Most people say they don’t have time to keep in touch with so many, but when I study people’s lives and see how they waste time, it blows my mind. It’s hard for us to face our own self-centeredness and lack of real dynamic, forgiving, and practical love. I write this also for myself as I am a pilgrim, failure, and learner!