A New and Popular Theology

The more one reads, the more he or she learns that differing theological perspectives are classified into entirely different theological systems. This is called systematic theology.

For instance, Charles Finney would, at best, be considered holding to Arminian theology, or even Pelagianism; John Wesley would be considered holding to a high, God-centered Arminian theology, while. on the other hand, John Calvin, as well as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, John Newton, John MacArthur, John Piper, and others would hold to Reformed or Calvinistic theology.

Then there is liberal theology, black-liberation theology, neo-orthodox theology, and atheistic theology (yes, atheists do have a theology). There are other theologies, of course, beyond that, such as the theology that drives the Islamic world view.

In recent months, I decided that a new category is needed in our day, that being Stupid Theology, for some views are nothing short of simply being stupid.

The following views fall into such a theology, which was sent to me by a good friend.

Here is a quote by a man that was referring to comments that Barak Obama was sent by God to unite the world and create economic security:

"You cannot put him on a pedestal and wrap him in cellophane so that people will fall down and worship him. It is not fair to expect someone to swoop down and save you," said Lawrence Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta. "I don't think Jesus so much came to save us as much as he came to free us so that we could save ourselves."

Yes, indeed, "save ourselves"-- File it away under stupid theology and be ready to recognize and discern such views, as they are everywhere, every day. The day that the average American had a biblical-based world view or morality, much less an evangelical mind set, is long gone; the above statement by Mr. Carter is what our nation generally now believes- not just wrong theology, not just heretical theology, but stupid theology.

Please note that I did not call Mr. Carter stupid, but rather his theology; very intelligent people can believe imbesilic things, like highly educated people who believe sincerely that life on earth first began by aliens coming here from another galaxy to begin the first forms of life on this planet.

It was the fictional movie character Forrest Gump who said, "Stupid is as stupid does"; but the truth is, stupid does as stupid believes, for "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

So keep your stupid theology file close by, either on your desk or in your mind; you will continue to need it regularly.

- Mack T.