Steve I'm still confused

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> 
> 
> > 
> ME:
> 	Standards and other such talk is philosophy. We are discussing
> deferring views, aspects, and relations to out belief.
> ME:
> 	I disagree with you, DR. Seagraves (sp), Dr. Barnard, and others are
> "experts" in theology. They should be respected for their knowledge not
> feared. There are some on this list, that I feel qualify as theologians.
> They have knowledge that is beyond the norm of Christians and even the
> ministry.
 
I have met Dr. Seagraves, but is not on this list, neither is Dr. Barnard.
I agree that a few Apostolics have expertise in theology and perhaps 10
(out of 5,000,000 Apostolics have written some good theology books. If you
are wondering how many these I read? About 10 by Dr. Barnard, 2 by
Seagreaves and 5 by other Apostolic theologians.  All good books.
 
 	I for one have a simple belief, if we stick to the word of God, then
> we will never go wrong. That is the basis of my theology. I dont have high
> and mighty thoughts, but in the simpleness of the gospel I believe.
> 
> 		YOU:
> > 	Once we admit this short coming, how do explain our experience?
> > 
> > 	These are questions that could be answered, but so far have not
> > been answered.  Yet it is very relivant to an possible discourse with
> > seminary trained ministers.
> > 
> > 		Please send your answers,
> > 
> > 		Yeaton Clifton (yhclifto@oakland.edu)
> ME:
> 	We should be able to answer any question that comes out way. We may
> need to study it out, but what is the difference between one that Studied in
> a school and one that studied at home. I have dozens of books about theology
> and the studies thereof. I don't buy into all of it, though there are times
> that I find answers to my questions in those books. 
> 
> 	I feel that there is a general laziness in the church towards
> studying anything other than the bible. It is sad, though I think that I
> understand that fear. I wish we could get over it, and mature as Christians.

> Kirk Moore
> 

That is a legitimate answer, but I would like to relate how I came to the
conclusion.

I was at one an undecided Christian attending Charasmatic and Apostolic
seriveces on different days to the week.  The charasmatic minister present
onenness as form of ignorance (those backward people don't know what they
are talking about.)  So I researched the issues of the Trinity and baptism
in the old works of Aquinas and Augustine, and then I wrote an essay
blasting the classical formulation of the Trinity and defending baptism in
theological language.  The first thing I discovered was Trinitarian
mininisters I was familiar with were suddenly lost (including the one who
had labled me backward) and even apostolic ministers were asking me
questions about the basic history behind what I wrote and the terminology
I was using.  Remember I was just a new convert.

I concluded that formal theology had very little to do with our faith, but
I was glad to discover that in holiness churches (unlike the charasmatic
church) the direct action of the holy Ghost lead people to a lot of
understanding without the discipline called theology. I also discovered
that most theology is very ill suited to describe this power (although
some things that brother Seagraves wrote about the gifts of the spirit may
be an exception.)


If we it would benifit us to overcome this knowledge gap, we have a lot of
work to do. Expect more postings about theology.


	Love and Grace in Jesus Name,


		Yeaton Clifton (yhclifto@oakland.edu)