Everyone Has Theological Biases

Big Idea: "No one has perfect theology." —John Calvin

Scripture to Read:

• 1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 - We know in part; now we see dimly

• Philippians 3:12-15 - Not that I have already obtained perfection

• James 3:1 - Teachers will be judged more strictly

Reflect:

• Do you think your understanding of the Bible is 100% accurate?

• What if you get to heaven and discover some of your theology was wrong?

• Are you open to having your views challenged by Scripture?

The Truth: Every Christian has theological biases—lenses through which we read Scripture. No denomination has perfect theology. The Assemblies of God will be surprised by some things. Baptists will be surprised by tongues. Methodists and Presbyterians will all discover gaps in their understanding.

Theology is part science, part art. We're all trying to work it out.

But we can minimize our biases by being aware of them and doing the hard work to understand God's Word on its own terms.

Five Major Theological Biases

BIAS 1: CULTURE (Where You Grew Up)

What It Is: The culture you grew up in serves as a lens for reading the Bible.

Examples:

• Growing up in Texas (South) vs. California vs. Africa

• Western vs. Eastern cultures

• Urban vs. rural perspectives

How It Affects Your Reading:

• Western bias: Mary and Joseph traveled alone to Bethlehem (individualism)

• Eastern reality: They traveled with a caravan—family, friends, community (collectivism)

Christmas plays in Africa often show the whole family traveling together because that's how their culture works.

Reflect:

• What cultural assumptions do you bring to the Bible?

• Have you ever assumed something was "just the way it was" without questioning if it's culturally shaped?

Action: Next time you read a Bible story, ask: "Am I reading this through my culture's eyes, or through the eyes of the original audience?"

BIAS 2: NURTURE (How You Were Raised)

What It Is: Not where you grew up, but HOW you were raised—your family, your church background, your traditions.

Examples:

• Raised Pentecostal: Speaking in tongues feels normal

• Raised Roman Catholic: Certain prayers and rituals feel right

• Raised Baptist: Baptism by immersion is non-negotiable

How It Affects Your Reading:

• "My mama taught me this, and you're not gonna change my mind!"

• You can spot a non-Pentecostal in a Pentecostal service by:

  1. How they worship

  2. How they respond when hands are laid on them

  3. How they approach the altar

Reflect:

• What did your parents or church teach you that you've never questioned?

• Are you defending Scripture, or are you defending "how I was raised"?

Action: Identify one belief you hold because "that's how I was raised." Now search the Scriptures to see if it's actually biblical or just tradition.

BIAS 3: RELIGIOUS HISTORY (Who You've Listened To)

What It Is: The sermons, teachers, books, and Christian media you've consumed throughout your life.

Examples:

• At 49 years old, the pastor has heard 2,000-3,000 sermons

• Every sermon you've heard has shaped your thinking

• The preachers you listen to on TV or podcasts influence you

The Danger: If a pastor doesn't handle Scripture responsibly, he's giving you bad religious history that will affect how you read the Bible for years.

Religious Trauma: Many people are deconstructing their faith right now because they have religious trauma—bad teaching, manipulation, abuse. That religious history shapes how they see God and Scripture.

Reflect:

• Who has influenced your theology the most? (Parents, pastors, authors, speakers)

• Have you ever believed something just because "Pastor said it"?

• Do you check what you hear against Scripture, or do you just accept it?

Action: Be a Berean (Acts 17:11). When you hear a sermon or read a Christian book, search the Scriptures to see if it's true.

BIAS 4: WORLD EVENTS (What's Happening Around You)

What It Is: Current events, wars, pandemics, and global crises shape how you interpret prophecy and Scripture.

Historical Example: The Birth of Pentecostalism The Assemblies of God was formed in the early 1900s during:

• The Modernist vs. Fundamentalist controversy (1850s-1900s)

• World War I (1914-1918) - millions died in mechanized warfare

• The Spanish Flu (1919) - millions died from pestilence

The Azusa Revival happened right in the middle of all this. People thought: "This is the end times!"

They weren't necessarily wrong, but their theology was being written during apocalyptic-scale events.

Modern Examples: Since 1975, people have labeled the following as the Antichrist:

• Gorbachev

• Saddam Hussein

• Bill Clinton

• Hillary Clinton

• Obama

• Trump

• [Insert current world leader here]

The Gulf War (1991): Christians went crazy—war in the Middle East, Israel involved! "This must be it!"

Iran lobbing rockets at Israel (recently): "This must be it!"

Seminary Rule: Never study prophecy with your newspaper open.

Why? Because your newspaper will always influence how you interpret Scripture.

Reflect:

• How have current events shaped your view of the end times?

• Do you find yourself trying to match Revelation to today's headlines?

Action: Read Revelation without thinking about current events. Ask: "What is the theological principle here?" (Answer: God wins.)

BIAS 5: AGE (How Old You Are)

What It Is: Your age and stage of life affect how you read Scripture.

Examples:

• Young people: "I have so much time left!"

• Older people: "Maybe the Rapture will happen before I die..."

• The older you get, the more you think about Jesus' return

The Truth: Nobody wants to die. At 85 in a rocking chair, if you hear a trumpet from a marching band, you'll think, "Maybe that's it!"

Reflect:

• How does your age affect your urgency about spiritual things?

• Are you hoping Jesus returns soon so you don't have to suffer?

Dogma, Doctrine, and Opinion (The Three Circles)

Big Idea: Major on the majors, minor on the minors. Close-handed on dogma, open-handed on opinions.

THE FENCE: DOGMA (Non-Negotiable)

What It Is: The outer boundary—the fence that keeps everything orthodox (right teaching). These are the essentials of the faith that cannot be compromised.

Characteristics of Dogma:

• Non-negotiable

• Evident in the Word of God

• Bound by God, found by God

Examples of Dogma:

• Jesus is God (fully divine)

• Jesus is the Son of God

• Jesus will return

• We are all sinners

• Salvation is by grace through faith

• The Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

• The resurrection of Jesus

If you step outside the fence, you're no longer orthodox—you're outside the faith.

Example: Mormons believe Jesus is a created being. They've violated the fence. They're outside of orthodox Christianity.

Reflect:

• Can you articulate the core dogmas of the Christian faith?

• Are there any beliefs you hold that might actually be outside the fence?

Action: Memorize the Apostles' Creed or Nicene Creed. These summarize the dogma of the faith.

INSIDE THE FENCE: DOCTRINE (Denominational Interpretations)

What It Is: Conclusions based on interpretation of dogma. Doctrine stays within the fence but leans toward different aspects of it.

Characteristics of Doctrine:

• Important but not essential for salvation

• Bound by the church (not individual opinion)

• Creates denominations

How Denominations Form: They take doctrine and lean toward one side of the fence.

Example: Pentecostals

• Dogma (the fence): The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (He is God)

• Doctrine (our lean): We have a high view of the Holy Spirit—tongues, gifts, prophecy, the move of the Spirit

We lean toward the dogma of the Holy Spirit, but we don't violate the fence.

Other Examples of Doctrine:

• Baptism mode (immersion, sprinkling, pouring)

• Church government (elder-led, congregational, episcopal)

• Spiritual gifts (cessationist vs. continuationist)

• Worship style (liturgical, contemporary, traditional)

The Assemblies of God:

• 16 Fundamental Truths

• 4 Cardinal Doctrines

These are our doctrines—they stay within the fence of dogma.

Reflect:

• What doctrines does your church hold?

• Can you fellowship with believers who have different doctrines but the same dogma?

Action: Find a believer from a different denomination (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian). Ask them about their doctrines. See how much you have in common.

THE CENTER: OPINION (Personal Beliefs Based on Biases)

What It Is: Thoughts and opinions about doctrine based on your biases and lenses.

Characteristics of Opinion:

• Valid as long as it stays within dogma

• Often influenced by culture, nurture, religious history, world events, age

• Should be held with an open hand

The Problem: Most people confuse dogma with opinion. They think their opinion IS dogma.

Why? Because they haven't worked hard to remove their lenses. They haven't studied the ancient context. They're reading the Bible through their own biases.

Examples of Opinion:

• End times views (pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib rapture)

• Young earth vs. old earth

• Specific prophetic interpretations

• Minor cultural applications

Reflect:

• What opinions do you hold that you've been treating as dogma?

• Are you willing to hold your opinions with an open hand?

Action: Make a list:

• Dogma (non-negotiable)

• Doctrine (important but not essential)

• Opinion (interesting but not divisive)

Where do your beliefs fall?

Finding the Theological Principle

Big Idea: The goal of Scripture is finding the theological principle—the timeless truth that applies to all people in all cultures at all times.

Six Tests for a Theological Principle:

1. Should NOT Be Culturally Bound

Bad Example: A Word of Faith preacher's daughter says, "If you pray, God will give you a Gulf Stream jet. For people in Africa, their airplane is a bicycle."

The Problem: That theology is culturally bound to Western consumerism. It doesn't work in Africa—and how is that fair?

The Principle Must Work Across All Cultures.

2. Should Correspond with the Rest of Scripture

If you're going to find a theological principle, it can't reside outside the pages of Scripture.

Bad Example: "Saul was head and shoulders above everyone else, so God will make me tall if I pray hard enough."

That's not found anywhere else in the Bible. It's not a principle.

3. Should Be Relevant to BOTH the Biblical Audience AND the Contemporary Audience

It can't mean something for you that it didn't mean for them.

Example: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you."

What we think: I'm going to have a 5,000 sq ft home, servants, and a private jet!

What it meant to them: Prosperity meant peace, safety, Shalom (harmony with God and community). Sometimes material wealth, but not always.

David wrote Psalm 37:25 ("I've never seen the righteous forsaken") while hiding in a cave being chased by enemies.

Prosperity in the Bible is NOT the same as the American Dream.

4. Should Be Reflected in the TEXT

Many preachers subtly twist God's Word to make it mean something that's not there.

We'll address this next.

5. Should Be TIMELESS, Not Tied to a Specific Situation

It spans across borders, history, and cultures.

If the meaning changes based on where or when you live, it's not a timeless principle.

6. God is IMMUTABLE (Unchanging)

If God's Word can change meaning, then God isn't true. But God cannot change (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8).

Example: Proverbs 23:7 (Misused Verse)

The Verse (KJV): "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

How It's Misused: Joel Osteen and prosperity preachers build entire sermons on this: "If you think positive thoughts, you'll be prosperous! Speak it into existence!"

The Problem: That's NOT what the text says.

Read the Context (Proverbs 23:1-8): "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you, but his heart is not with you."

What It Actually Means: This isn't about positive confession. It's about a stingy person—the way he thinks about you in his heart is what he really is. He says "Eat and drink!" but he doesn't mean it. His heart isn't with you.

It has NOTHING to do with positive confession.

Reflect:

• Have you ever used this verse for positive thinking?

• How does knowing the context change your understanding?

Action: The next time you hear a prosperity message, ask: "Is that what the text actually says in context?"

Questions to Ask Every Passage

To find the theological principle, ask:

1. What does this tell me about GOD?

   • His character, attributes, actions, promises

2. What does this tell me about HIS CHARACTER?

   • Is He loving, just, merciful, sovereign, holy?

3. What does this tell me about the way He INTERACTS with people?

   • Does He meet needs? Heal? Discipline? Restore?

4. What does this tell me about the NATURE OF SIN?

   • What does sin do? How does it affect us?

5. What does this tell me about GRACE AND FORGIVENESS?

   • How does God respond to repentance?

6. WHY is this passage here?

   • What's the point? What's the author trying to communicate?

If you ask these questions, you'll find meaning and application.

How to Discover Theological Principles: Slow Down and Observe

Big Idea: Most people move too fast through Scripture. Slow down. Observe. Let the text speak.

What to Look For:

1. VERBS (Actions)

• Is the action a command or passive?

• Who is doing the action?

2. ADJECTIVES (Descriptions)

• How is God described?

• How are people described?

3. COMMANDS

• Is this prescriptive (what we should do) or descriptive (what happened)?

4. CHANGES IN LOCATION

• Where does the story take place? Why does it matter?

5. REPEATING WORDS

• If a word appears multiple times, it's significant

Example: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (Comfort and Affliction) Count how many times "comfort" and "affliction" appear. What's Paul's point?

Answer: God comforts us in our affliction so we can comfort others with the same comfort.

Lab Exercise: Mark 5:22-43 (Jairus's Daughter and the Woman with the Issue of Blood)

Read Mark 5:22-43 slowly. Observe:

What Do You See?

Similarities:

• Both involve healing

• Both involve faith

• Both involve the number 12 (woman suffered 12 years; girl was 12 years old)

• Both involve desperation

Differences:

• Jairus: Public, wealthy, named, ruler of synagogue, approaches Jesus openly

• Woman: Anonymous, poor, ceremonially unclean, approaches Jesus secretly

Key Observations:

• Jairus comes to the front with an entourage

• The woman crawls through the dirt to avoid being seen (she's unclean—she should have announced herself)

The Deeper Meaning

The Woman's Statement: "If only I touch the hem of his garment..."

Isaiah's Prophecy: "He will rise with healing in his wings."

What's a "wing"? The fringe of an outer garment.

She's making a Messianic confession. She's saying: "You are the Messiah—the one with healing in His wings."

Why does Jesus stop and publicly identify her? She didn't just need healing—she needed to be restored to the community. For 12 years, she was ostracized. Jesus publicly declares her clean so she can hug her family again.

It's a picture of what Jesus does with our sin—He takes our infirmity and restores us.

Why Does Jesus Heal Jairus's Daughter Privately?

Jairus's Mindset: "I'm righteous. I'm a ruler of the synagogue. God will bless me because of who I am."

Jesus' Lesson: "You can't buy a miracle. You can't manipulate God. I am sovereign."

By healing the woman publicly and Jairus's daughter privately, Jesus is saying:

• It doesn't matter how significant or insignificant you are

• God will meet you where you're at

• God's healing is not based on your status—it's based on His character

After raising the girl, Jesus says: "Get her something to eat."

Why? She's been sick for days—she's starving. Jesus cares about every small need.

The Theological Principle

God heals, but He doesn't heal the same way every time.

God knows our needs before we do.

God is not impressed by human status—He cares about the heart.

Reflect:

• What did you see in this passage that you've never seen before?

• How does slowing down and observing change your understanding?

Action: This week, pick one passage and spend 3-5 days on it. Observe, ask questions, and let God speak.

Final Encouragement

We don't live in 1983 anymore.

Back then, you couldn't Google a sermon to check if your pastor was right. Now, people can fact-check you in real time.

Accuracy is an apologetic (a defense of God and Scripture).

If we get it wrong, we defame Christ. We make a mockery of Him. We cause people to walk away.

The faith of positive confession doesn't work. But the God who saves us from our sinfulness still does.

Do the hard work. Take off your lenses. Let God's Word speak for itself.

Action Steps:

Today:

• Identify one theological bias you have

• Ask: "Is this actually biblical, or is it just my culture/upbringing/religious history?"

This Week:

• Slow down and observe one passage (use Mark 5:22-43 or choose your own)

• Ask the six questions to find the theological principle

This Month:

• Read one book of the Bible slowly (Philippians, James, 1 John)

• Check everything you hear against Scripture

• Be a Berean

"No one has perfect theology." — John Calvin

"Never study prophecy with your newspaper open." — Seminary wisdom

"You can't buy a miracle. God is sovereign." — The lesson of Jairus