Most heresy and wrong doctrine, I think you will find, is based on man’s undue attempt to make the ineffable, effible (don’t get cute with the puns!).

It is an attempt to find reconciliation in revealed truth with our, often, overly rational mind. The Enlightenment proliferized this, and it continues to today.

We don’t like the “secret things” to belong to anyone but us, so we organize them, leaving something out or putting something new in. We want our theological bookshelf to be in perfect order.

In truth, our approach should be to do everything we can to reconcile, then, when the problem is obvious, we let the secret things remain concealed, safe in the hands of the Lord. We should not only be content with this methodology, but we should celebrate it!

Great is our ineffabile Lord.

Deut 29:29
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

 

balance of knowledge and faith Deuteronomy 29:29 divine mysteries enlightenment philosophy faith and reason historical theology ineffability of God religious contemplation Spiritual Reflection Theology
C Michael Patton
C Michael Patton

C. Michael Patton is the primary contributor to the Parchment and Pen/Credo Blog. He has been in ministry for nearly twenty years as a pastor, author, speaker, and blogger. Find him on Patreon Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary (2001), president of Credo House Ministries and Credo Courses, author of Now that I'm a Christian (Crossway, 2014) Increase My Faith (Credo House, 2011), and The Theology Program (Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, 2001-2006), host of Theology Unplugged, and primary blogger here at Parchment and Pen. But, most importantly, husband to a beautiful wife and father to four awesome children. Michael is available for speaking engagements. Join his Patreon and support his ministry

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