Theologians in Dirty Diapers

Knowledge of theology does not equal maturity

Having a thorough knowledge of theology and philosophy and a sharp logical mind should not be equated with biblical maturity. A person can be philosophically sophisticated and theologically precise but still be a big baby. The Corinthians thought they were sophisticated. They lived in a cosmopolitan city. They were Greeks, not barbarians. They were urbane, polished, citified intellectuals. They styled themselves philosophers like their forbears, but Paul said they were babes.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

The Bible is clear, if our lives together are marked by envy, strife and division, we are carnal. If we do not love the brethren, we are still babes in Christ, for the first mark of true discipleship is a love for one another (Mt. 13:35).

The danger of skipping your potty training class

Now little babies will not grow unless they eat. However, one of the by-products of eating is…well…stinky. So we put diapers on children to handle this unpleasant effect until they are potty-trained. Imagine if someone skipped the potty-training lesson. He would have the appearance of a mature man, but would really be a big baby. Of course his immaturity would only become apparent when he began to stink up the place. The same is true of the theologians in diapers. They appear mature because they know so much theology, but when their path is filled with envy, strife, and division it gives them away. They are still carnal, mere babes in Christ.

Theology without love profits nothing

Some men want to skip this fundamental lesson of loving one another and move on to the meatier theological lessons, but in doing so they become a hazard to the church. They can debate eschatology, have an astute understanding of the doctrines of grace, and even have determined the “orthodox position” in the supra and infralapsarian debate. However, their paths are littered with strife and division. Paul would say, “Though I have written profound theological works, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” (1Cor.13:3)

Knowledge puffs up

This lack of love and its accompanying sin of pride were a central part of the problem with the “super-apostles” and their allies at Corinth. These men made great claims to maturity, but they were not yet potty-trained. They were puffed up with their learning and their pride made them want to fight about everything from eating meat to marriage. In 1 Corinthians 8:1 Paul pinpoints their problem, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” Their knowledge was making them proud. This is a danger for believers. Knowledge can make them proud. So what do we do? Remain ignorant?!

Knowledge also helps us grow

The same Apostle who said 'knowledge puffs us' also prayed that the Colossians would be filled with knowledge of God's will, wisdom, and spiritual understanding in order that they might walk worthy of the Lord. (Col.1:9-10) Which is it? Does knowledge puff us up or enable us to walk in a way that pleases the Lord? Apparently, the same theology that makes us grow can have the nasty effect of puffing us up.

So what do we do? We need potty-training. As believers who want to grow, we must heartily eat of the bread of life--growing in knowledge, but then we must learn to flush the pride. For great knowledge accompanied by arrogance is like a grown man wearing a dirty diaper. On the other hand, great knowledge accompanied by humility and a biblical love for the brethren is beautiful and results in the edification of the church. Thus John Owen argued that true spiritual knowledge results in holiness.

Theologians with dirty diapers stinking up the internet

I fear that pride and ambition are behind much of the fighting and bickering that infects the reformed community. Theological super-babies have begun to expound their learning to the church at large, but unfortunately their diapers are full. Much of what they say is accompanied by a stench that causes strife and division. With the authority of self-appointed popes, they convict, renounce, and excommunicate 'heretics,' not noticing they are carnal and behaving like mere men, as they shout, “I am of Clark” and “I am of Van Til.” (1Cor.3:3-4)

A way to civil theological debates: An example from Eusebius

There is a better way. In the early church, Nepos, a bishop of Egypt, taught that Christ was going to return and set up an earthly, sensual millennial kingdom. Nepos was esteemed as a martyr and his error began to find favor in certain portions of the church. So Dionysius of Alexandria graciously sought to correct the error saying: “In many other respects I accord with and greatly love Nepos, both on account of his faith and industry, and his great study in the Scriptures...But the truth is to be loved and honored before all. It is just, indeed, that we should applaud and approve whatever is said aright, but it is also a duty to examine and correct whatever may not appear to be written with sufficient soundness.” (Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 7.24:4)

Dionysius then met face to face with the followers of Nepos, and for three days, from morning till evening, they debated these issues with open Bible and humble hearts. Dionysius described the meeting saying: They didn’t evade objections, nor were they “ashamed, if reason prevailed, to change opinions and acknowledge the truth; but rather received with good conscience and sincerity, and with single hearts, before God, whatever was established by the proofs and doctrines of the holy Scriptures.” (ibid. 7.24:8)

Dionysius’ method is not quite as glamorous as the raging internet debates, but it is more consistent with Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” (2 Tim.2:24-25)

Like Dionysius, we should engage in intense and thorough theological study and debate with those whom we believe are in error. We must meet with them (preferably face to face), truly hearing the objections and always willing to be persuaded. We must not be ashamed to change our opinions but be prepared to acknowledge the truth when it is established from the Scriptures. Above all we must quit biting and devouring one another. We must flush our pride, and instead seek to edify the brethren.