Knowing God versus Knowing About God- 4:13, Phil. 1:9—The aim is to increase in knowledge and faith; Paul asks that knowledge may flourish in love. love.
- 1 Cor. 8:1-3 and 1 Cor. 13:2 – Knowledge may elevate us, but it’s not enough on its own. We also need love.
- James 1:22–27, 2:17 – Our faith produces action and obedience; our knowledge of God ought to change the way we think, value, and behave. What is one of the reasons Jesus condemned the Pharisees? (Matt. 23:1-7)
Theological BeliefsDogma: According to Roger Olson in The Mosaic of Christian Belief, p. 23, “a dogma is a needed belief which cannot be challenged without significant implications.” It has obvious scriptural foundations. For Christians, these are “necessary” beliefs. The Trinity, the need for Christians to be baptized, etc.Doctrine: According to Olson, “a very complicated religious belief”—which has a scriptural basis but may not be as unambiguous as dogma—emerged from views that were considered, discussed, and publicly approved by a community of Christians. Consider your denomination’s stance on baptismal practices and who should be baptized, as well as on whether or not women should preach or teach in churches.Adiaphora: personal judgment about a specific issue For instance, what music is played during church services or what the clergy wear.- Although not all beliefs are equally important in Christianity, (Olson, The Christian Belief: A Mosaic, 33)
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