Helmut Thielicke:

“[Theology] can be sacred theology or diabolical theology.  That depends on the hands and hearts which further it.  But which of the two it is cannot necessarily be seen by the fact that in one case it is orthodox and in the other heretical.  I don’t believe that God is a fussy faultfinder in dealing with theological ideas.  He who provides forgiveness for a sinful life will also surely be a generous judge of theological reflection.  Even an orthodox theologian can be spiritually dead, while perhaps a heretic crawls on forbidden bypaths to the sources of life.”

A, b, c…

1. The Church (or church) is NOT more important than individual Christians.  God will not judge the Church (or church) for its deeds; he will, however, judge individuals.  The Church is nothing more than a collaboration of individuals.  To talk about “the Church” as a single entity is poor thinking.

2. Big churches get big, then spend TONS of time and energy and money trying to make themselves feel small again.  Why go to all that trouble?

3. Everyone uses Acts 2:42-47 as a recipe for church success.  I’m beginning to think that passage might be descriptive, not prescriptive.  I wonder if 1 Corinthians 14:26 isn’t more important.