The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology (Part 3)

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

Having a sound theological understanding helps an individual face some of the questions the culture will bring. One of those challenges as stated by Wade is, “All religions really teach the same thing…Ours teaches that Jesus is God in flesh; other religions say that He isn’t. A logical principle called the law of non-contradiction says that Jesus can’t both be God and not be God” (Wade, 3). Another challenge is stated this way, “I can’t believe in Christ. Look at all the terrible things Christians have done through the centuries…If part of the gospel message was that once a person becomes a Christian that person absolutely will never sin again, the objector would have grounds for questioning the truth of the faith. But the Bible doesn’t say that. We can agree that Christians shouldn’t do terrible things to other people, but what people did in fourteenth-century Europe or in twentieth-century America in the name of Jesus can’t change the reality of the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.” (Wade, 3).

There are many other challenges that come from the present day culture; like Christians are elitists or the belief in things being relative and the God of the Bible is the same god of the Muslims. Whatever the culture brings, theology can help the believer present a sound, well thought out answer to those challenges first for their own lives and then to help others. “In making a case for the faith we seek to present a sound argument which will be persuasive for a particular listener. On the one hand, this consideration frees us from the responsibility of having an argument which will convince everyone; on the other hand, it means that we must not depend upon ‘one-size’fits-all’ arguments” (Wade, 5). Theology also has the duty of making sure that individuals understand that we serve an active God at work in the lives of people. “Christianity is not just a system of beliefs, but rather the message of the One who is truth. This is an especially pertinent point today, given the mentality of the younger generations” (Wade 5).


The last challenge to be examined is unbelief in the Bible as the accurate word of God. Some believe that the Bible is a book like any other book and not the true word of God. This belief leads individuals not only to discount the accuracy of the Bible but also to discount the importance of God and who he shows himself to be through the word. In the book, Understanding the Trinity, the author Alister E. McGrath states, “Anyhow, it’s important to realize that there’s a difference between constructing a totally watertight argument for the existence of God and being convinced that God exists. Many of the world’s greatest philosophers think that God’s existence can be proved without any real difficulty, but ultimately God’s existence doesn’t depend upon these agreements. Being convinced that God exists may come about through a variety of factors – such as personal religious experience, reading Scripture, or reflection upon the resurrection – of which rational argument is only one” (19). While one cannot make another believe in the Bible as the divine revelation of God, theology can help an individual present the evidence needed for another to make a choice based on fact. “We might only be able to convince the non-believer that Christianity is plausible or believable. But that’s a good start; often it takes many steps for a person to come to faith. Our job is to provide a solid intellectual foundation to make those steps sure.” (Wade, 5). While theology will help present the information needed for a person to make a well thought out decision, it still all rests on God’s intervention into their heart. “God will outlive his morticians, Freudian and Marxist alike. God then, has taken something of a battering, in the last two centuries or so. But, in the words of William Cullen Bryant ‘Truth crushed to earth will rise again.’…Christian doesn’t believe in God because someone has argued him into believing that he’s there, but because he has experienced, has encountered, the reality of the living God” (McGrath, 27).


Theology then has the enormous task of helping believers today to see the relevance of truth. It is more than learning the facts, but using them to live according to what these principles teach us about God. Theology faces challenges not only in our time, but also throughout history. Even Paul, as he taught in the book of Romans, addressed the different beliefs of his time, to show the Jewish people it was not by their name (because they were a people chosen by God), or their work (being circumcised) but by their faith in Jesus that they would be saved. Paul taught that all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The one point that seems to be an overarching theme in each of the writings is that one must tailor the teaching (or in this case theology) to the understanding of the times without changing the truth of the message. If theology is a discourse (conversation or discussion) about God, then it’s purpose is to affirm the biblical account of God as he revealed it to mankind. I think William M. Greathouse and H. Ray Dunning put it best in their book, An Introduction To Wesleyan Theology, where they state, “The theologians of the church have worked at this task from the very beginning of the Christian era. The results of their work constitute the history of Christian thought. Each age has attempted to express the biblical truth in terms of its own day and age, to bring the resources in the Scripture to bear on its particular problems. This is still the work of the theologians today; and in doing this, he draws not only on scripture as his authoritative Source but also upon the work of his predecessors for guidance, although he is constantly bringing their conclusions to the scripture for final validation” (15).

Work Cited

Foster, Charles R. (1994). The Future of Christian Education – Educating Congregations. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.


Greathouse, William M & H. Ray Dunning. (1989). An Introduction to Wesleyan Theology. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

Lunginbill, Dr. Robert D. (2004). Read Your Bible: Protection against Cults – A Basic Christian Right and Responsibility. 18 October 2006. http://www.ichthys.com/readbible.htm.

McGrath, Alister E. (2001). Christian Theology – An Introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.


McGrath, Alister E. Understanding the Trinity. (1988). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

Pollard, Nick. Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult. (1997). Downers Grove, IL: InterVasity Press.



Wade, Rick. (1997). Probe Ministries: Christian Apologetics An Introduction. 18 October 2006. http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/apologet.html.

Words of Encouragement

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." - Matthew 21:21-22

Are you ready for the asking? I have heard many people quote this scripture, however I'm sorry to say that they have been incorrect in their understanding. I have heard people asking for "things" and have belief that simply because they asked for it, they will receive it regardless of their stand with God.

The danger of taking a piece of scripture and not placing it back into the "whole of the Bible" is misunderstanding or misapplying the truth within. The first part of this scripture talks about the one who is praying.

Jesus says "If you have faith". This is more than just saying I know God can give me what I want, but it also speaks to you and I being willing to have faith in the entire truth of God's word. In other words, when I go to prayer and ask God for something I need to be in the place where my faith is trusting in God's word to be true for my entire life.

Also we have to be careful in believing this scripture is saying that we can ask for "anything, even if it is contrary to God's will". For example, I've had individuals tell me they were praying for a better job but they weren't grateful for the current one they had. You could tell because they weren't going to work, making up excuses not to go, taking things from their job, etc. Or I've heard people talk about asking for more money but they were faithful in their giving or a good steward with what God had allowed them to have.

If we are asking for something through prayer and we want it to be answered we have to make sure we are lining up with the requirements of scripture. It may not say it all in this scripture but we must remember scripture does not contradict itself. So while this scripture to some may seem to be saying I can have whatever I want, we have to read other scripture regarding prayer and we will learn it is not saying so. Scripture tells us that we have to pray in the will of God so with that understanding, when I stand to ask for something, I must first understand what the will of God is so that I can be praying in the right way.

And if I am in a right standing with God, then I come ready for the asking. I come ready as Jesus asked, "if I have faith". When we come ready for the asking we can have the boldness to ask God to move in our lives. Those mountains that stand against us and others, can be moved.

Do we really understand the power we have through our relationship with Christ? When you and I come ready for the asking, Christ has already provided for us the power, the authority and the provisions so that those things we ask for are granted to us. They are granted because they are first and foremost inline with God's will.

I pray for us today to prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to line up with what God's will is so that we can ask in faith and not doubting, knowing God will grant the petition of our hearts.

The Week in Review

Are you a Coat Maker (part 5)?

South Suburban Church of God

May 17, 2009

John 19:23 reads, “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.”

Christ was crucified for you and I. He stood in my place, and your place. He paid for our sins. First they took Christ and exposed him. His took on the shame of nakedness for our sakes. Adam and Eve were naked and God covered them. They were always naked in the garden, but when sin entered, it brought shame. It was there sin that made them ashamed of their nakedness. God covered their shame, their sin. Christ did more than simply cover our shame he took it away. Christ’s sacrifice became the coat, the covering of all mankind’s nakedness before God. He was shamed so that we no longer have to stand before God ashamed, but now we can stand clothed in white raiment’s (Rev. 3:18). His garment was seamless, no beginning or end could be found. That reminds me that Christ has no beginning and there is no end to him, he is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. The sinful thoughts of men took Christ coat and Christ’s redemption gave us new garments. Our filthy rages, which is our self-righteousness is replaced with clothes of righteousness, which is the righteousness of God that he gives to us because of his son’s sacrifice.



This is the only reason why we can be coat makers. Christ was shamed for our sins so that we can stand before God clothed in his righteousness, for we have no righteousness in ourselves and if we say we are without sin Scripture says we are liars and the truth is not in us. We were all sinners and we all fell short of the glory of God. In doing so, we all stood in need of being saved by grace alone unless any of us should boast. Either we believe this truth from the word of God or we reject it but we cannot add to it nor can we take away from it. We either stand redeemed or we stand condemned, the choice is ours. John 3:3 states, In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” If we are to be godly coat makers, we must be born again. And this comes only through the Son of God, Christ Jesus.I ask, are you a coat maker? Are you providing for the needs of the family? Are you providing for the needs of the lost that are not covered by the garment of righteousness that only comes through Christ? Are you nurturing others or are you showing favoritism in your love? Are you giving out of your abilities to all so they can become what God has purposes, or are you a destiny-determining coat maker? Or what if you aren’t making coats for anyone? Has God quickened your heart today that there someone you know right now that he wants you to walk with, to witness to, to encourage or teach? Are your fabrics lying unused?



Are your gifts and talents lying dormant and you don’t pick up the challenge because it seems like a Goliath of a task? Do you have the beautiful beads to adorn some coats but you leave them for someone else to do? Or do you want to provide for every one that comes you way so they have the tools necessary to win the battles in life? Do you want to be like Hannah and nature someone so they can become the great man or woman of God he has ordained for them to be? Do you want to stop interfering and start interceding for someone? Do you want to provide for the needs of someone that is waiting especially for you to provide for them? Your gifts are not for you, but for them. Do you want to stop holding onto the coats that others are desperately in need of because without them they are chilled, naked and uncovered. Are you a coat maker? I often end with a poem. God gave me a poem, come back next week for the final installment, the poem.

The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology (Part 2)

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

In the book, Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult – How to Interest People Who Aren’t Interested, the author Nick Pollard states, “Suddenly it struck me: different people are different. Of course, it seems obvious now. But somehow I had missed it before. I had been searching for the one universal gospel presentation, that there is none. God doesn’t give us a ‘gospel presentation’ because there is no one presentation that is appropriate for all people at all times. There is one gospel, but the way we communicate it will differ according to the types of individuals we are seeking to help.” (102).

While Pollard is speaking about presenting the Gospel message in different ways so that individuals can understand it and accept it; it is a useful message in regards to theology. Theology has to present the truth of God in a way that individuals will not feel intimidated and shy away from learning the principles of the word. It is important to also note, when individuals have an understanding of truth, they are equipped to stand against the false doctrines that are presented to them as biblical truth. “It is true that taking advantage of accurate Bible teaching is an important part of the believer’s spiritual growth. Furthermore, the provision of Bible teaching is an undisputed ministry of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:11-16). At the same time, however, it is the responsibility of the listener to compare what is being taught with the Bible. To be sure this should be done in a spirit of humility but is should be done…We need to have a broad understanding and feel for the entire canon of scripture, its whole woof and warp” (Luginbill, 1, 2).



Another challenge that must be addressed by theology is cultural influences. This is not a new challenge for theology but one that takes on different characteristics based on the current culture. Probe Ministries addresses this challenge. On the website, http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/apologet.html, the author Rick Wade states, “Throughout the history of the church, Christians have been called upon to explain why we believe what we believe. The apostle Paul spoke of his ministry as ‘the defense and confirmation of the gospel.’ Peter said we need to be ‘ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you’” (1). This challenge also hinges upon the individual believer being equipped in the principles of the word. If one does not have a good grasp of Christian theology, one can begin to believe every whim of doctrine. So theology becomes a defense against the false beliefs of cultural influences. Theology can help individuals make sound decisions based on orderly information that explains different components of the faith. “Good, logical thinking is especially important for an apologist. On the one hand, it can help prevent us from putting together shoddy arguments for what we believe. On the other hand, it helps us evaluate the beliefs of those who challenge Christianity. Too often we stumble at criticisms which sound good, but which really stand on logically shaky legs” (Wade, 2). (COME BACK FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT)

Words of Encouragement

THE SPIRITUAL QUEST

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

What does the word “quest” mean – The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something, it is taking a search.

So to take a Spiritual Quest, we are being called to search ourselves to see where we stand before the Lord. This scripture says to us that for a spiritual quest to take place we must go to God and ask for his help. He is the one that knows what needs to be cleansed, removed, repented of, changed or renewed. Without a spirit life rooted in God we cannot take a place within the church, because we are not truly a part of the body, which is made up of blood washed believers living for the Lord. Nor can we work within our Spiritual gifts, which are given by God through his Spirit, if we are not allowing God’s Spirit full access and control of our lives. So in order to be part of the church or work with our spiritual gifts, we have to first start here, our spirituality. This quest then should lead us to ask some questions about ourselves in our search.

Is there something hindering my growth? – What gets in the way of me serving God completely? What is delaying or interfering with my growth? Are there some things that I should be doing but I am not and therefore I am not growing, as I should? And let me caution you. Do not say, “I read my Bible and I pray everyday” as if you have said some great thing. Those statements are all about you, and that is your reward. The real question we should ask is, Lord I read your word, but am I receiving a better understanding of you and your ways? Am I allowing you to speak to me through the pages and then am I applying what I have learned? Lord I pray, but do I come just giving you my “to do” list, or do I come to reverence you, honor you and be quiet to hear from you? Am I being what you wanted me to be today? These are the things we need to seek daily. The focus needs to be on God and not simply on us completing some spiritual task or “to do list”.

Am I dedicated to a relationship with God or am I more concerned with simply doing for him? – I do not want us to misunderstand this point. It is important that we are doing the things of God, but we want to be careful not to make what we “do” the goal or the prize of our walk. I may teach Sunday school but if I am not seeking daily to walk with God, to talk with him and to listen to his direction for me, then I become satisfied in what I do and I become stagnant. Have you become stagnant in your walk with God? Have you become satisfied that you sing in the choir, teach Sunday school, serve on a committee or two and therefore do not think there is anything else that needs to be done, as if you have arrived? God wants us to be open to him so that he can show us every area of our lives that he wants changed, to bring him glory. This is the ultimate goal of the believer, to praise God and to allow our lives full access to him so that he can be honored from our lives.

Are their things inside that need to be released so that I can go forward? – This can be hard for some, letting go. Are there past hurts that we are still holding onto that are keeping us from moving forward. Are you saying things like, “I would help with that, but the last time I offered my help, they didn’t want it?” or “I don’t do anything because of what this person or that person said of did to me?” Those are past hurts keeping you from being obedient to God. God calls us to release all those things to him because they hinder us. Or are you holding on to fears, afraid to let go and trust God in every situations and circumstance? Are you afraid to do that which God has already shown you he wants you to do because you think you can’t do it? If God has called you to it, he will see that you through it. We must search our hearts and ask God to show us what we need to release to him, so that he can move us forward.

Am I open to hearing God’s voice? – None of the previous questions will help much, unless we are open to hearing God speaking to us. He can speak to us through the pages of the Bible or in answers to our prayers. He can also speak to us through the encouragements of others, such as the Minister or Pastor’s message for example. But when you hear it, he wants you to become a “doer” of his word and not a hearer only. So ask yourself some really deep questions to find where you are in the Lord. And until we take this quest and begin to question where we stand, we will not find true peace or rest in the Lord.

This is a lesson that I did sometime ago, but I thought it would be worthwhile to present it. Look for the remainder of this lesson in the next few weeks.

The Week in Review

Are you a Coat Maker (part 4)?
South Suburban Church of God
May 17, 2009

Interceding Coat Maker

(Not interfering)Acts 9:36-41

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

What is interesting to me about this scripture is what Tabitha’s works did in the lives of the individual and then how that resulted in her rescue. Tabitha interceded on behalf of the widows. A widow represents a woman without any covering, no protection. The widow did not have her husband to take care of her and if Tabitha was taking care of them, they had no children to provide for them either. They were all alone. Yet, Tabitha provided them with a covering. And when this woman that had provided for others died, they quickly sought help, they turned to Peter one that had walked with Jesus. And he came and spoke life back into this woman, this coat maker, and this woman that intercedes.

What does this tell us today? There are some people that are without family. I’m not talking about physical family, but those that are on the outside of the spiritual family of God. They are uncovered and have no protection. They are in need of help. That is where you and I come in. Are we willing to make some covering and intercede on behalf of those outside the family? What happens when we are willing to give of ourselves and intercede for someone else is God often times use those same individuals that you intercede for, to intercede on your behalf. That is what God calls us all to be, interceding coat makers. Tabitha was willing to give of herself for these woman that found themselves without help. How often are we willing to intercede on behalf of others that we do not expect anything from? Oh we do things for those that we think will be able to pay us back or give us something, but what about those unable to give in return (so we think).

The beauty of this story is when Tabitha had died, the people rallied to present to Peter on her defense of why it was important for him to see about her. Did you know sometimes because you are willing to intercede on behalf of others, that when you find yourself in some situations that seem as if they will take the very “life” from you, others are petitioning on your behalf? They are saying to God, look at what she’s done for me? She’s shown me love when no one else did. He’s taken care of my needs when others turned their back on me, God see about his needs, her needs. And what does God do, he hears and answers and calls you back from that place of darkness that had you engulfed. That is why God is looking for you and I to be interceding coat makers one for the other, both for those within the family of God and those that find themselves outside of the safety, the covering of God.Today, I’ve told you about the wrong kind of coat makers and the right ones. But I cannot end without telling you this vital message. You and I cannot become the right kind of coat makers in ourselves or by our own power. How do we become the right kind of coat makers?(come back next week for the next installment)

The Week in Review

Challenges of Christian Theology
Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

When individuals see the word theology, it may invoke the thought of biblical truths only available to a select group of people, not necessarily something that should concern the average man or women. However, every person has some belief about God, either that he exists and is worthy of ones obedience or that he does not exist, or some belief in between. Theology is relevant for all men as it helps individuals to understand God’s revelation of himself to mankind. Christian theology faces challenges as it tries to express biblical truth in a systematic way. A few challenges facing Christian theology today are ignorance of the word by believers, cultural influences, and unbelief in the accuracy of the Bible. How Christian theology combats these negative effects ensures the stability of the believer’s walk before the Lord.

In order to understand the challenges that theology faces, one must first comprehend the purpose of theology. In the book, Christian Theology: An Introduction, the author, Alister E. McGrath defines theology in this way, “The word ‘theology’ is easily broken down into two Greek words: theos (God) and logos (word). ‘Theology’ is thus discourse about God, in much the same way as ‘biology’ is discourse about life (Greek: bios). If there is only one God, and if that God happens to be the ‘God of the Christians’ (to borrow a phrase from the second-century writer Tertullian), then the nature and scope of theology are relatively well defined: theology is reflection upon the God whom Christians worship and adore.” (137). McGrath makes an observation that Christianity was introduced to a polytheistic world, where the belief in many gods was commonplace.

So theology had to distinguish the God of the Christians from the gods of the world. This is still true for today. Today, theology has to help individuals discern biblical truth against cults, and false doctrines. McGrath states, “Part of the task of the earliest Christian writers appears to have been to distinguish the Christian god from other gods in the religious marketplace…Theology was thus understood as systematic analysis of the nature, purposes, and activity of God. At its heart lay the belief that it was an attempt, however inadequate, to speak about a divine being, distinct from humans” (137-138).

Theology then, must attempt to speak about the truth of God for current generation, so that individuals can be equipped to stand against the detrimental influences of their time. Ignorance of the word of God by believers is one of those challenges that theology must address. Part of this ignorance is in the lack of study by the believer.

On the website, http://www.ichthys.com/readbible.htm, the author Dr. Robert D. Luginbill in an article titled, Read Your Bible: Protection against Cults – A Basic Christian Right and Responsibility states, “If we are to follow Christ and His teachings, we must learn about Him and about them. Our indoctrination or ‘discipleship’ in the truth must thus come from two sources: 1) reading the Bible for ourselves, and 2) accepting the authority of legitimate, prepared Bible teachers. But even (and perhaps especially) in regard to this second source for learning about Christ and His teaching, all correct teaching is ultimately and fundamentally derived from the Bible.
But how are we, as believers, to evaluate the correctness of what we are taught unless we make it a daily habit to go to the source of truth itself, for ourselves?” (3). The individual believer may feel intimidated by such words as doctrine, theology and the like because they seem to indicate one must have a “degree” to be able to understand such things. This may cause individuals to simply wait for others to tell them what is correct, instead of trying to test thoughts, or ideas against biblical truth. Part of this problem is due to poor instruction of both the individual believer and the teachers responsible for teaching the doctrine. This has caused individuals to see the Bible as irrelevant for today’s situations.

In the book, The Future of Christian Education – Educating Congregations, the author Charles R. Foster states, “For many young and older people the Bible has become irrelevant to their quest for meaning and purpose. The problem, however, is not the irrelevance of the Bible. It is the irrelevance of the ways we teach from the Bible…Part of the responsibility for the diminishment of hope must be traced to flaws in the educational ministries of our congregations. Church education no longer provides an adequate structure for communicating hope” (25, 120). Theology must be able to present the truth in a way that the average person can understand and incorporate into every day life. Theology also must be usable for the educating of teachers (Pastors, preachers, ministers, CE workers) who are given the responsibility of teaching the members of the body (come back next week for the next installment).