A Long Overdue Systematic Theology

Although I am not a Christian, my theology, if I could rightly call it that, is quite orthodox--even literal, in fact. By literal I do not mean fundamentalist, these are people who take themselves too literally. For me it boils down to this, my abridged systematic theology. In order for me to be a Christian, I must believe in Christ but not simply as the demons do, as the Scripture warns us, but as one who trusts that Christ's work is salvific (Christology). What do I mean by salvific? That He has saved me from some undesirable state--the state of sin (Soteriology). However, in order to believe this, I must first believe that this state is truly undesirable (Hamartiology). What would make it so? Eternal damnation, perhaps, or for postmodernist, separation from God. In order to accept this answer, I must also believe in an afterlife where at least two paths exist (Eschatology). Who then determines my fate? Of course, the Arminist would argue that only I can do that, but in reality, it is ultimately God who determines my final destiny for He has determined both the penalty and required the payment (Theology Proper). Of course, none of this could I construct on my own, I must also believe in the reliability of the record and its divine origins (Bibliology). Thus when one is saved, it is by no means a simple declaration of faith but an fundamental altering of a world view with the assistance of the Holy Spirit who brings all things eternal into the mind of the finite.

Now having laid out my abbreviated theology, I must admit that in the past I have hidden behind it, used it as a barrier to keep others away rather than a bridge to bring them closer. Although to me Christianity will always be best when it is firmly rooted in Scripture, steeped in the profundity of eternal truths, how one gives voice to the Gospel is another matter. We are told that they will hate us because of Christ, and every committed member of the faith should accept, no, embrace this. But if they hate Christ because of one of us--who then will stand with us on the final day? It is a careful balance, one that is arrived at with much prayer and intentionality, that one must strike between openness and aloofness, acceptance and rejection. Thus, one must always endeavor to speak the truth in love, one is no value without the other.