Bible

Bad Theology Hurts People: Why Biblical Theology Matters

CDGobleLeave a comment

How Reading the Bible as One Unified Story Protects the Church and Clarifies the Gospel

Bad theology is not a harmless disagreement. It does not merely create different opinions — it shapes what people believe about God, salvation, Scripture, and the purpose of the church. Over time, bad theology leads to distorted preaching, shallow discipleship, and confusion about the gospel itself.

While theological systems may look different on the surface, many share a common root problem: they mishandle Scripture. Whether it is the Prosperity Gospel, open theism, or any belief system that subtly shifts trust away from Christ, the issue is not preference or tradition — it is theology.

Bad theology always produces bad fruit.

Why Theology Is Not Optional for Christians

Theology simply means the study of God. Every person who has ever thought about God — believer or unbeliever — is already doing theology. The only question is whether that theology is biblical.

Good theology matters because it:

  • Helps Christians interpret the Bible correctly
  • Protects the church from false doctrine
  • Grounds preaching and teaching in the gospel
  • Shapes how believers counsel and disciple one another
  • Forms the foundation for faithful Christian engagement with culture

When theology is weak, every area of Christian life eventually suffers.

Scripture is clear:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Wisdom is not merely intelligence or information. Biblical wisdom is the ability to live rightly before God — and it begins with reverent submission to Him, not cultural pressure or personal opinion.

Why So Many Christians Get Theology Wrong

Many people approach the Bible looking for quick answers rather than lasting understanding. They often jump straight to controversial or emotionally charged topics — end times, predestination, spiritual gifts — without first learning how Scripture is meant to be read.

The issue is often motivation. When the Bible is read primarily to confirm what someone already believes, Scripture stops shaping the reader and instead becomes a tool for self-justification.

The Bible was never meant to be mined for isolated proof texts. It was written to be understood as a unified message.

Everyone Is a Theologian (Whether They Admit It or Not)

You do not need formal theological training to be a theologian. If you have ever asked questions about God, meaning, purpose, or morality, you are already engaging in theology.

The Bible explains why this is universal:

“The heavens declare the glory of God…” (Psalm 19:1)

“Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes… have been clearly seen.” (Romans 1:20)

Creation itself presses the reality of God upon humanity. This is known as general revelation — God revealing His existence to all people, at all times, in all places.

Ecclesiastes describes this reality by saying that God has set eternity in the human heart. Human beings are wired to ask ultimate questions.

The Limits of General Revelation

General revelation points people toward God, but it does not save. It awakens awareness, but it cannot provide redemption.

Because of this, many people respond by distracting themselves, redefining spiritual longing, or explaining God away entirely. Modern culture offers endless substitutes — success, pleasure, identity, information — but none of them satisfy.

Salvation requires something more.

Special Revelation and the Authority of Scripture

The Bible describes a second form of revelation: special revelation. This is God making Himself known in ways that cannot be discovered apart from His direct action.

Special revelation includes God speaking through prophets, revealing Himself through Jesus Christ, and preserving His truth in Scripture.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Scripture is not merely informative — it is transformative.

“The word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12)

God chose written revelation because it can be preserved, examined, studied, and faithfully passed down through generations. The Bible is not a human invention; it is God’s authoritative means of revealing Himself clearly.

What Is Biblical Theology?

Biblical theology is not simply collecting verses or memorizing doctrines. It is learning how to read the Bible the way God intends it to be read.

Biblical theology is the discipline of reading the Bible as one unified story, written by one divine Author, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ — so that every part of Scripture is understood in relation to Him.

This is not a modern invention. It is the way Jesus Himself read Scripture.

After His resurrection, Jesus explained how the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms all pointed to Him (Luke 24:27, 44–47). Scripture, rightly understood, is Christ-centered from beginning to end.

The Central Message (“Headline”) of the Bible

Every story has a central message that brings clarity to everything else. The Bible’s headline is the gospel:

Jesus Christ suffered for sin, was raised from the dead, and offers forgiveness and new life to all who trust Him.

The Old Testament anticipates this reality.

The New Testament proclaims and explains it.

When Christians read Scripture rightly, they ask: How does this passage relate to Christ and the gospel?

Without this framework, the Bible can be reduced to moral instruction, self-help advice, or religious tradition.

Why Biblical Theology Matters Today

Jesus issued a sobering warning:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me.” (John 5:39)

It is possible to read the Bible and still miss its purpose.

Biblical theology protects the church from that error. It keeps Christ at the center. It guards against legalism, moralism, and cultural Christianity. And it ensures that Scripture leads not merely to knowledge, but to saving faith.

Final Thought: Theology Shapes Lives

Bad theology hurts people — but good theology anchors them.

It shapes how Christians read Scripture, understand salvation, live the Christian life, and engage the world. Most importantly, it keeps the focus where it belongs: on Jesus Christ.

If Scripture is read in a way that does not lead to deeper trust in Christ, deeper dependence on His grace, and deeper submission to His Word, something has gone wrong.

The goal of biblical theology is not to win arguments — it is to know God rightly and worship Him faithfully.

Mini Book Review of “Ever Reforming: Dispensational Theology and the Completion of the Protestant Reformation” by Dr. Andy Woods

CDGoble3 Comments

Quite frankly, this book blew me away and cemented Dr. Andy Woods in my mind as one of the premier Biblical teachers and scholars working today. Much is made these days of reformed theology. Of those I follow on X (formerly Twitter) reformed Christians seem quick to label other Christians as heretical. One of their favorite targets are Dispensationalists. It should be noted I consider myself a Dispensationalist and attended a Grad School that taught from that perspective, but I’ve always strived to place the Reformers in their proper and important historical perspective. I’ve never actually seen the two at odds.

In this book, Dr. Woods gives a generous account of the reformers (Luther, Calvin, etc.) and clearly demonstrates the importance of their recapturing proper hermeneutical methods from the Catholic Church. To do so, Woods retraces the early church Fathers from Antioch to Alexandria. In doing so, he demonstrates the allegorical drift the Church underwent, and how the Reformation marked a return to a responsible literal method of interpretation.

Woods then fits Dispensationalism into this context (thus the title – Ever Reforming). As Woods demonstrates, Dispensationalists take the literal hermeneutics of the Reformers and applies it to all Scripture, including prophecy. As such, it doesn’t stand opposed to Reformed Theology, but rather compliments it and takes it full circle.

This is certainly the most informative and well-written book I’ve read in all of 2024 and I am sure I will return to it time and time again. I highly recommend it.

Mini Book Review of “The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure or Physical Rapture? A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3” by Dr. Andy Woods

CDGobleLeave a comment

This short read from Dr. Andy Woods is essentially a long research paper that examines 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The verse reads, “3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (NASB). Dr. Woods makes the argument that the “apostasy” referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 refers to a physical departure (rapture) rather than a spiritual falling away that is argues by some. I will admit that I am somewhat befuddled by any hermeneutic that denies a rapture and am even more puzzled by those who seem offended by the notion. This little book will gently challenge those who have been taught the rapture is a work of imagination and will do so in a manner that is responsible in light of Scripture. At just 43 pages, it is well worth the time for any student of Scripture.

Mini Book Review of “The Coming Golden Age: 31 Ways to Kingdom Ready” by Dr. David Jeremiah

CDGoble1 Comment

I much enjoyed this book from David Jeremiah. It is essentially a systematic study of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. It is astounding how much can be learned about the Kingdom from a careful study of Scripture and Jeremiah presents it in a manner that is easy to digest and comprehend. Obviously, Jeremiah presents this study from the vantage point of premillennialism. Premillennialism is the natural conclusion from a common sense reading of Scripture and this book helps solidify that interpretation. Scripture culminates in the Millennial Kingdom and that Kingdom serves as a bridge to eternity. Other eschatological interpretations (ex: amillennialism or post-millennialism) robs God’s Word of its depth and grandeur. As such, a proper understanding of the Kingdom is essential for understanding God’s Word. This book brings the Kingdom to life. As I read it, I found myself looking forward to Christ’s return more so than I ever have. I can not recommend this book enough for those who are seeking a better understanding of Scripture. In addition to the book, I also purchased the accompanying study guide and have watched several of Jeremiah’s sermons covering the topic. I highly recommend you do the same.

Mini Book Review of “The Antichrist: What You Can Know. What You Need to Know.” by Dr. Randy White

CDGobleLeave a comment

I am fond of Dr. Randy White and his ministry even though I find myself disagreeing with him quite often. There are times I think he is being unnecessarily cantankerous in his response to traditional hermeneutics and I quite often disagree with his conclusions, but for some reason I still appreciate him. Many times, his skeptical approach to the evangelical church forces me to dig a little deeper to determine where I stand on a particular issue and I appreciate that challenge. I found his online presence and then his books while doing some research for a series I was teaching on dispensationalism which Dr. White has a wonderful grasp on.

In this book, Dr. White examines the Antichrist from all angles taking all relevant Scripture, both Old and New Testament, into account. He practices sound methods and avoids the error of taking verses on an island and out of context that so many others have fallen into.

As is true of most of his work, I cannot say I agree with all of his conclusions. My biggest quibble was his argument that the antichrist will be Jewish. White is certainly not alone in this conclusion as many other scholars would agree with him. White references Daniel 11:37 as the proof text for his conclusion, “Neither shall [the antichrist] regard the God of his fathers … (KJV)” however, I am not sold on this interpretation. While the KJV does translate the word “Elohim” in this verse as God, both Thomas Ice and Dr. Thomas Constable argue the word can be translated as ‘God’ or ‘Gods’ which is why the NASB translates the same word differently. A singular translation may be possible, but it isn’t certain … and it surely isn’t certain enough to support an adamant theology upon. Meanwhile, there is multiple passages in Scripture that suggest the antichrist will be a gentile (Luke 21:24, Revelation 13:1, 17:15, Daniel 9:27).

I have long thought that many scholars that insist on a Jewish nationality for the antichrist are forcing a poor interpretation of Scripture to justify their antisemitism. I do not believe at all this is the case in this instance. There is no hint of that in this book … I just think Dr. White is wrong on this one. At the very least, he should be a little less dogmatic on the subject.

I will say that Dr. White does a good job of making complex concepts simple and I appreciate that. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Dr. White’s cantankerous nature, I would probably put this book on my recommended reading list … but he says things at times that would unnecessarily confuse and offend some Christians. For this reason, I am only giving this one four stars.

Mini Book Review of ‘The Last Hour: An Israeli Insider Looks at the End Times’ by Amir Tsarfati

CDGobleLeave a comment

A friend gifted me this book and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Amir Tsarfati is a Jewish Christian with a unique story. Orphaned and raised by a foster family in Israel, Tsarfati’s adoptive family kicked him out when he came to faith in Christ. He managed to overcome this obstacle and served his mandatory military service in the IDF rising to the rank of Major with a fair amount of responsibility.

All of this life history gives him a unique perspective as he approaches Scripture and Bible scholarship. This particular work is eschatological in nature examining Biblical prophecy as it pertains to modern day Israel – both in recent history and in the future. I appreciated Tsarfati’s take on end-times theology. I have long argued that good eschatology should not be sensational. Unfortunately, many teachers, pastors, and authors worry more about clicks and views than they do fidelity to Scripture. My dispensational professors is grad school often reminded us that when common sense makes good sense, seek no other sense … and Tsarfati’s approach to Biblical prophecy is chock full of good, common sense. He has the ability to take passages that may seem complicated and present them in a manner that that is easy to grasp.

I especially appreciated Tsarfati’s take on Ezekiel and will be diving in to my Bible to dig a little deeper on that text myself. I highly recommend this work for anyone who is interested in Biblical prophecy.

Mini Book Review of “A Comparison if Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology” by Richard P. Belcher Jr.

CDGobleLeave a comment

This book is a primer that compares and contrasts Dispensationalism with Covenant Theology. The author does an admiral job of presenting the material without overly favoring either side of the debate. While I suspect he is dispensational as his explanations of that system seemed more in depth, it is actually not readily apparent in the material (heck, I may even be wrong in my suspicions). This short book will provide the reader with an introduction to the two systems and does a fine job doing so. I did find myself wishing he had gone slightly more in depth, however, that may have been outside the goal of this little work.

For all those interested in the debate and may be striving to formulate their own theological lens, this book should aid in the process.

Mini Book Review of ‘The Method of Christian Theology: A Basic Introduction’ by Rhyne R. Putman

CDGobleLeave a comment

The Method of Christian Theology: A Basic Introduction, Rhyne R. Putman, 2021, B&H Academic: Intended as an introduction to Christian theology, this book provides an excellent overview of the ins and outs of theology. Putman covers a wide array of subjects that will help the Christian understand the practical application of theology and why it’s important to the student of Scripture. This work will help the reader put religious experience in the right perspective in relation to Scriptural truth. Additionally, the reader will begin to associate right belief with right practice. I especially enjoyed Putman’s treatment of expository preaching as well as sections dedicated to writing theological papers and sermons. Honestly, I wish this little book had existed when I was in school as it serves as a great primer for writing academic papers.

For a student of God’s Word, I highly recommend this book. It is accessible for the average reader and will greatly enhance an honest study of Scripture.

They Will Know You by Your Love: A Study of John 13:24

CDGobleLeave a comment

As He prepared His disciples for the cross, Jesus instructed them on how to honor God with their lives. In Chapter 13 of John’s Gospel, Jesus commands them to love another, just as I have loved you … [in fact] by this everyone will know you are that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:31-35 31 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.” 33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so now I tell you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’” 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

In Bible study this week, I asked the group to describe how Jesus had demonstrated love to His disciples and there were several responses … but they all boiled down to one thing: Jesus loved His disciples sacrificially. That is, He continually put their needs ahead of His own in humility … even to the point of giving His life on the cross.

And then He tells them in verse 34 to love one another in the same way.

Can you imagine loving your fellow Christians in the same way Jesus loves you? This verse makes me wonder if Jesus is speaking metaphorically. Certainly He doesn’t actually mean we are supposed to give our lives for one another does He?

Jesus repeats this command in John Chapter 15,  “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13). In all honesty, there are not too many people I would willingly, without question, lay down my life for. My wife, kids, or grandkids? I sure hope so. My dogs? Probably. But beyond that I’m not so sure. I’ve often said that this is one of the reasons we need to honor our military, law enforcement, and first responders as they willingly lay down their lives for others. This kind of sacrificial love takes courage … maybe this is why I’m going Jesus is speaking metaphorically in these passages. But then it occurred to me who the immediate audience was for these words. Jesus is speaking to all believers, but He speaking first to His disciples …. and these men He spoke to would all, with the exception of John, sacrifice their lives for their faith in Jesus. Jesus wasn’t just speaking in hyperbole, He was preparing the Apostles for not only His death but also for their own.

I certainly hope and pray I am never asked to lay down my life in brutal manner. But I find it remarkable what Jesus does here. He tells the Apostles, “By this they will know you are mine, but your love for one another”. And in turn, they gave their lives for their faith. Apologist and author Lee Strobel says, “People will not die for their religious beliefs if they know that their religious beliefs are false.” His argument is that the apostles were all in a position to know if they resurrection was true or not and, based on their martyrdom, we know they each one of them expressed their belief in and their love for Jesus in the manner of their deaths. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

The kind of love modeled by Jesus and mimicked by the Apostles is rare. So rare that the Apostle Paul wrote, “6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

This all might leave you wondering …. why would Peter die for the Church? Why would Phillip or Thomas or Paul die for the Church?

Why? Based on our passage, they answer has got to be love. The Apostles gave their life for their love for the Church and for their love of Christ. Jesus said it is by this love that we would know they were His. And their sacrifice points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. God demonstrates His one love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

As believers, we may not be asked to give our very life, but we will be asked to sacrifice for others. We will be asked to put others needs ahead of our own. We will be asked to give of our time, resources, and talents …. and in a small way, when we show this sacrificial love for others, everyone will know we belong to Jesus. And we point them to the cross.

Glorifying the Father’s Name: A Study of John 12:27-28

CDGobleLeave a comment

The 12th Chapter of John records Jesus saying a prayer that is reminiscent of the prayer He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. A comparison of both passages is as follows:

John 12:27-28 27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”

In Matthew 26:39 we see Jesus pray, “39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

I compare these two passages, because, in both instances, Jesus is deeply troubled as He looks forward to the cross. In the Garden, He says, let this cup pass from Me and in our passage from John, He is recorded as saying Father, save Me from this hour. In both cases, Jesus becomes emotional at the thought of what He’s about to do on the cross. We must remember that Jesus is 100% man and 100% God and His humanity is revealed in these passages. Is He overwhelmed? Doubtful? Is His faith shaken? I don’t think so. Rather, our text says Jesus is deeply troubled in His very soul.

Have you ever been troubled?

I am confident that if you are reading this right now, there have been times in your life when you have found yourself deeply troubled. You may be troubled by something right now. Jesus can identify with our troubles. When Jesus faced the prospect of the cross we need to understand the magnitude of what He was about to do. Jesus was going to bear the cost of the sins for the whole world. We shouldn’t be surprised that He was deeply troubled. The author of Hebrews wrote that Jesus can sympathize and empathize with us because He understands what we’re facing (Hebrews 4:15). He understands because He faced trouble one hundred fold what we will ever face. And in our passage from John, as in the Garden, Jesus is role modeling how we as believers should face trouble.

Notice how in both passages, Jesus immediately surrenders to the will of the Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus says, Not as I will, but as You (the Father) will. And in our passage from John, Jesus says but for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.

In the midst of deep trouble, Jesus is most concerned with His Father’s will and His Father’s glory. Can you say the same?

In sharing His emotions with His disciples, Jesus is teaching them about the cost of commitment to the Father’s will. You see, if we are truly committed to the will of God, eventually we’ll be asked to submit our will to His. Warren Weirsbe says that “In the hour of suffering and surrender, there are only two prayers we can pray, either ‘Father, save me!’ or ‘Father, glorify Thy name!'” Too often, I think we cry out to God to deliver us from our trouble without considering His will. We ask God why He’s allowing unpleasant things to happen to us, but Christ is teaching us that our prayer should be, “Father, through this suffering and through this pain, glorify thyself.”

It should be noted that the Father answered Jesus audibly in verse 28 when “a voice came out of heaven [saying]: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

The Father answered Jesus’ petition out of heaven audibly. The Gospels record three instances of God doing this. The other two were at Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:21-22) and transfiguration (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35). The Synoptics record those events, and only John recorded this one. In the first instance, apparently only John the Baptist and Jesus heard the voice. In the second instance, only three disciples and Jesus heard it. And in the third instance, a multitude and Jesus heard it. In all of these cases the purpose of the voice was to authenticate Jesus as God’s Son in a dramatic way, and in all cases the voice had some connection with Jesus’ death. You see, God had already glorified Himself through the Incarnation and through the ministry of Jesus … and He would glorify Himself again, through Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.

As Jesus submitted His will to the Father’s and voluntarily sacrificed Himself on the cross, God was glorified. Likewise, He is glorified every time we, as Christians, submit our will to His. When we are able to stand in the midst of turmoil and genuinely pray for God to be glorified and for His will to be done, we are following Christ’s example … and the Father is glorified.

Perhaps this is what James was thinking of when he wrote, “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Brothers and sisters, the way we face troubles and trials matters. And I hope you’ll think of these passages the next time you find yourself troubled.