Herd Theology

John 21

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.

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Thesis: A broadly held belief (Herd Theology) doesn’t mean it’s correct and therefore may have unexpected consequences.

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I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse but, I’ve always been the type that questions commonly accepted assumptions. Majority acceptance of, or belief in, something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s correct. However, it doesn’t mean it isn’t correct either.

My Christian life-experience has been one in which, when it comes to the Bible, I have sought to constantly challenge my thoughts, conclusions, beliefs. I don’t mind admitting when I’m wrong, or not quite accurate, in my understanding or interpretation about something in the Bible.

When I read the Bible, this is how I usually proceed:

*I read the Scripture for myself. What I mean by that is I try to come up with my own assumptions first. I do my own groundwork. But I can’t stop there because I need to see if my assumptions will withstand scrutiny: my own and others’.

*Once I’ve zeroed in on my own assumptions, I check some of my study Bibles and commentators I trust.

*Then, after all of that, hopefully I’ve arrived at my own working conclusions and then do one more sweeping check:

**Sometimes that means I find out I’m way off in my thinking by an accumulation of all the notes and commentaries I’ve consulted.

**Sometimes that means I find out there’s no clear cut agreement as to what is being said in the passage. I must admit, I find it refreshing that even the best of minds sometimes don’t know what to conclude either.

**Sometimes, after all is said and done, I go it alone and settle upon what I think it all means, my conclusions.

So why do I go through all of that?

I go through that because, ultimately, I am personally responsible to God for what I believe. It’s not acceptable for me to claim I believed and acted based upon what others thought. And, God’s not going to excuse me and say: “Oh, that’s OK then. You’re off the hook.”

If we blindly choose to adhere to what we’ve been taught, i.e., what others believe, we may find ourselves on a ship in precarious waters. And if that happens, when faced with the storms of life and the tests of our faith, we will run the risk of going under.

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As believers, we are in an ongoing state of growth, development and change. And that’s a good thing. We’re expected to advance in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

II Peter 3

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. ——

It’s our responsibility to make sure we don’t entrust our pilgrim voyage to a ship loaded with the accumulated barnacles of faulty doctrine and wrong interpretations that make shipwreck our faith.

II Timothy 1

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

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Let me close with these instructive words of Paul to Timothy and, by way of extension, to us.

II Timothy 2

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. ——

Going along with your group’s herd theology might give you the warm fuzzies but …

It won’t protect you against the flaming darts, sent out with deadly precision, by your adversary the Devil. As a matter of fact, you might be singled out as being an easy target.

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Observation: If the words Jesus Himself spoke to Peter got broadly turned inside out and upside down among the brethren so quickly, we need to give all the more heed to whatever theology, whatever body of teaching, we give our acceptance and allegiance to.

Summation: A broadly held belief (Herd Theology) doesn’t mean it’s correct and therefore may have unexpected consequences.