Hi: This is My Theological Hobby Horse

[Rey Reynoso]

Every now and then I like to throw in a smattering of light-hearted discussion posts just so that we don't become bitter old folk in a dark room, cooly lit with the flicker of a computer screen while we stare with furrowed brows, elbows on mahogany desks and reams of theological tomes within an apologetic arms reach.

Therefore I ask: what is your theological hobby horse: the subject you always keep coming back to because you can't help it, or you are sure you're right or Just Because? This isn't a post for starting a flame war, just for fun's sake.

I think I keep coming back to New Testament Church Principles and how the Plymouth Brethren (and everyone) has got it wrong. Heh. What's yours?

[Nick Alander]

I guess I'll be the first post (after Rey's of course). My hobby horse has to be dealing with ethical issues. We can see the slow (some times fast) decay of society and societal groups through their choices in their ethics. For example, and I'm sure this will explode some discussion...homosexuality and abortion. We see homosexual marriage being pushed by almost every developed nation in the world. Romans 1:18-32 speaks to the points of moral decay and how that can be seen in the sexual ethics of the society.

On abortion, if life begins at conception (which is biblical), then to abort a child is committing murder. I will preface this with pregnancies where the baby will not survive and neither will the mother, that would be an exception that I believe that God will not condemn. But abortion as birth control is not biblical and shows the decay of society.

Ok, there's mine. My wife wanted me to add that her hobby horse is inerrancy.

[James Gibbons]

I have two, I think.

1. Unity of the local assembly.

2. Types and shadows of Christ.

Yep. I think that would be it.

C. Oh, and worship over … ah … everything (works, gospel, doctrine, fellowship, potluck dinners, special music by youth, special music by sisters with blue hair and screechy voices, special music by brothers heavily influenced by Southern gospel, special music by the kids who play wind instruments in the local Christian school band, activism … e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g).

I think that would be it. Did you just want one? Sorry.

[James Gibbons]

For example, and I'm sure this will explode some discussion...homosexuality and abortion.

Nick, I respect your passion. But in the words of another, I don’t care if these things are illegal. I want them to be unthinkable!

[Nick Alander]

James - my thoughts exactly! I want them to be unthinkable too!

[Otsukafan]

I guess mine would be "what is the Church?". I think political correctness has gripped todays Christian so tightly, we're scared to death to define the Church for fear of hurting someone's feelings.

[Laura Springer]

Mine is three-fold:
1. Knowing Scripture, both intellectual understanding and experiential demonstration
2. Being the people of God, a community rather than a gathering of individuals
3. Expanding (not set on the term, but it's what I've got right now) the Kingdom of God, both in depth (as each and all become more like Christ) and in breadth (as more become disciples of Jesus)

Biggest overall question (and resulting imperative) to which I keep returning:
What is church?
Be that!

[Barrett Young]

I think mine would have to be our desires - what it is that drives our will. I've gotten past the point of wanting to argue that we don't will. I now am wanting to push people to "why we will".

I know I sin and I love and I eat Fruit Loops for breakfast because I want to. No one outside of me forces me to do these. But why do I want to? This is my hobby horse.

[Gina]

I'm a historical theology wonk. "What influenced this doctrine and how has it been applied in history?" Those whippersnapper fields of philosophy and theology are just the vegetables I have to eat in order to get to the historical steak on the plate.

Lately I have been delving in to the run-up to the Reformation. "Everything Foxe's Book of Martyrs forgot to tell you." A lot of this via Eamon Duffy (The Stripping of the Altars, The Voices of Morebath, Marking the Hours) as well as some CD courses on Tudor history, and a book called The Reformation and the Visual Arts by Sergiusz Michalski about Reformation iconoclasm and its influences from philosophy of being and aesthetics, and how it in turn influenced these things.

[Jeff Wright]

For me I suppose it would be anything to do with the doctrines of grace. It used to be difficult for me to avoid going to battle regarding these doctrines but that was probably because I was still coming out of the baby Calvinist phase back then... and we know that baby Calvinists should be banned from discussing Calvinism during the first 1-3 years of embracing Calvinism. ;)

[James Gibbons]

I guess mine would be "what is the Church?". I think political correctness has gripped todays Christian so tightly, we're scared to death to define the Church for fear of hurting someone's feelings.

Right on Amen, brother. 21st Century Church—committed to doctrine-free living. I would rather know what we believe and agree to disagree than happily go along agreeing not to know what we believe.

[Barrett Young]

Ah yes, the "cage stage". Lock 'em all up in a cage with just their Bibles. "Mine was quite fun", Barrett says sarcastically.

[Char]

Christ and him Crucified. EVEN on Mother's Day.

I hate it when churches give Jesus a holiday on Mother's Day, or any other Sunday. Jesus doesn't need vacations!! Preach Christ and him crucified!!