Christians, does our theology have to be mature and totally accurate in every detail before God will use us?

Question

What do you think? Does our understanding of the gospel have to be totally mature and complete and correct before God will use us?

Answer 1

i would say so

Answer 2

No, as I believe the Lord is able to meet each of us at our individual level of Christian growth and use us accordingly, as long as we have a willing heart.

A case in point: My former girlfriend is a Christian who didn't know much about theology, yet she played a key role in leading me to decide to accept Christ in 2002.

If it weren't for her, I might still be wandering in the wilderness as a lost sheep. :)

Praise the Lord for His wonderful grace to each of us brothers and sisters!

Answer 3

No, I believe you can share the good news of Christ as soon as you accept and receive it.  As we grow in Christ we develop the tools needed to better explain the Gospel message (as we become more attune to the Holy Spirit).

Paul correctly put it in Romans 1:16  "for the Gospel is the power unto salvation..."  the message of Christs sacrifice and death and Resurrection is and should be enough for those hearts that are drawn to it.  I recommend you keep the message simple and in Christ alone, there is nothing else that needs to be added.  And as you grow in His grace he will help you to know how to present His word from the simple to the intellectual.  I love Gods message as it is for everyone.... Grace and peace be unto you.   all for now B

Answer 4

What do you mean by "God will use us"?

Answer 5

If you preach and teach Scripture as is, then there shouldn't be any problem with your theology being mature or totally accurate.  Guessing at what Scripture is teaching isn't sound theology.  God will use His children in varying capacities. The more mature in the Word can teach, preach, etc but the ones not as versed in Scripture He will use in a lesser capacity until they mature. What you have to remember is a teacher is held much more responsible for what they teach so you better make sure what you say is correct.

  2Timothy 2:14-16   "Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness."

The above is especially important when you preach the Gospel of Christ because there is only one Gospel that is to be preached and you better hope you get it right because if any other gospel is preached you will be accursed.

Answer 6

First, because theology means the study of God, and God is not small enough to put in a box, we should be always studying and growing in our understanding of God.

Second, God can use and often does use even those who do not know anything about God.  That's the really cool thing about it.  Check out Mark 9:38-40

Third, If we are not willing to be used, God will not use us.  God will use someone who is willing.  The choice to be used is ours.

Answer 7

If God waited for His servants to be "totally mature, complete and correct" before He used them, nothing would ever get done.

Cases in point: Abraham lied about his marriage and even allowed the king to take Sarah off to the harem, just to save his own neck.

Aaron made the golden calf just after Moses had gone up to Mt Sinai. He knew what was going on, but he caved to peer pressure.

David moved the Ark of God on a cart, knowing full well it should be carried on poles by the Kohathites. When Uzzah died because he touched the Ark (his intentions were good, but he did the wrong thing, like touching a high-tension cable), "David was angry and was afraid of the Lord that day." Without stopping to think HE had messed up.  Then there's the whole Bathsheba-and-Uriah incident. And yet God called David "a shepherd after my own heart."

Peter denied Jesus and doubted in the sea after Jesus told him to walk on the water. And yet he became a great leader.

Gideon started out as a coward, grinding his meal in secret, hiding it from the enemy. He became a great general.

God could use the dog next door for His service if He needed to.

Answer 8

Any Christian can share Christ.  Just share that God is good and whatever basic things you know and/or a testimony of how God answered your prayer.  In order to have a ministry, the Holy Spirit must lead you into it.  But if you just witness, you already have a ministry.  God starts to build you up if you will do this.

Answer 9

For God to use us, you only need to be obedient to what He tells you.  To be one who "bears fruit in its season" and to prosper in whatever you do, the Bible says we need to separate ourselves from the world, and saturate ourselves with the Word.  Read and study Psalms 1:1-3:

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

Answer 10

God uses those He wishes to use in whatever way He wishes to use them... do not try to place restrictions on God.

Answer 11

Well that depends. When I first got saved years ago I could not wait to serve God and I am glad that I got that opportunity because being a part  of ministry really helped me to grow in the word and in my relationship with God. That being said we also need to be careful. Paul wrote in his letters to Timothy about elders of the church or leaders of the church. He makes it clear that some positions need mature people in order to lead others in the church. He says do not put people in high positions in haste because some men's sin proceeds them and some men's sin comes slowly behind. That does not mean people have to wait to serve God to further his kingdom until they are mature it just means they should be put in positions where they can serve under someones leadership who will help them grow. I do believe however that as soon as you hear the good news of the gospel you should go out and share it no matter how long you have been a Christian. God will use the foolish things to confound the wise and I am glad of that because that means I am a useful vessel. I am glad that God did not wait to use me until I was mature because I will not be complete until the day I stand before him.  

Answer 12

No.  We continue to grow in our theology, as does the church.  The important thing is to obey God on baptism, faith, self-renunciation, repentance, obedience to God, being charitable, living up to God's standards, adopting the humility of a child, eating the bread of life, and enduring to the end.

Origen

Answer 13

While it doesn't hurt if you are mature, God can use anyone of His children to be a witness. I think it is important to be lead by the Spirit to speak when it is appropriate and then sometimes, and especially for a new Christian, to let your actions or character be evident. This in itself is a witness. But let us never forget to be ready to give an answer for the faith we have.

With the above said, we should be accurate as much as we can and if we don't know the answer, we shouldn't fake it. Just say; that's a good question, let me see if I can find the answer.

Knowing this and the call that is set before us, we should be eager to want to mature for the glory of God.

Answer 14

..."Christians" ?   who taught you that the Gospel was for "Christians"...?   Read Matthew chapter 10 vs. 5 & 6 (Jesus explicitly warns about going out among the Gentiles)...  then read Romans, chapter 1 vs. 16 and see exactly who Jesus was trying to minister to "first"

You'll quickly see that "Christians" are never mentioned.

Jesus is not a "Christian" !   never was... never will be...

His message is for "those" who will "follow Him"; not thru the "spun up "religions" that attempt to identify themselves as "Christians"...

Answer 15

No, but we have to be open to being used by the Holy Spirit

Answer 16

Obviously not !

God said that He uses the FOOLISH things !

I more than Qualify !

I am Foolish and yet I am Blessed to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus !

He puts the words in my mouth anyway !

Answer 17

Absolutely not. We can never attain that kind of perfection. He uses us just as we are, frail and human, imperfect in all ways. Our humanity is all that's necessary and a love of the Word. A Christian looks for the "little Christ" in others. We know they can't be completely Christlike, but when we look we can find certain characteristics that speak to us as God would and remind us that God is indeed in the world.  

Answer 18

No.  However, we are commanded to know His Word.  The best teacher of the word is the Holy Spirit.

Answer 19

There was a woman of ill repute who did something that Jesus' disciples were annoyed at. She slipped into the house where Jesus was reclining for a meal, cracked open an exquisitely expensive alabaster jar of rare perfume and poured it over his head. Jesus rebuked his disciples for criticizing her, saying, "She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Mat 26:6-13)

Did that woman have any grasp of the theology of anointing Christ for his burial? Did she even know he was going to die? Did she understand anything except that she loved Jesus and wanted to show her reverence in a special way? Did not the Holy Spirit move her to do this? God used her in a dramatic, artistic way, without her uttering a word, without her grasp of theology having any bearing on the matter.  And didn't Jesus prophetic words come true about her witness coming down through the centuries? How many theologians have had such a lasting impact?

Answer 20

Your god already "uses" you, all it takes is a Bible.

Answer 21

I didn't even consider that to be a viable option. You are going to need one h**l or a press rep if you want to remarket Christianity as something close to accurate and mature.

Answer 22

One of my favorite stories in the bible is of the older woman who gave her penny.  The pharisee gave lots...but God saw her action here as well as her heart .  She is forever in the bible due to what she did.  She demonstrated much to me.. a humble spirit that gave her all to God.  Her story is a testimonial of how even one simple act can touch millions of lives over thousands of years...she didn't use one word of theology to convince anyone...and was so honoured by the Lord that we still she her...God used her then and throughout the ages for his work.  I bet she didn't even write or read!  She was just an open vessel to the Lord with a heart and spirit full of love and God's goodness.  

So no, God can use children, or anything to glorify his name and message, ("out of the mouth of babes, the lowly, widows, donkeys.)  The greatest gift we have is a heart that is open to God, this is the essential ingredient. God can and will magnify himself through  anyone who is humble enough do his will with love as a servant and those who are like her will touch and minister to many lives.  

Answer 23

Not at all.  We will be made perfect when we are with our Lord - not before.

I believe we cannot possibly have total understanding of the gospel in this life.

God sometimes uses us in such subtle ways that we don't even see it until long after.

Answer 24

nope...the bible says.....that the gifts and calling are without repentance

Answer 25

"Absolutely."

"I have studied intently, 'to show myself approved'."

Answer 26

Mature theology just means it's usefull.  I can't picture a God that expects us all to be Albert Einstein.  A good attitude doesn't reguire a Masters degree.  It just requires good attitude.

Answer 27

We just need to be called.

John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

You can use yourself without being called but you will actually be working against God then.

Answer 28

That would help. But to many people believe that they don't have to even read a Bible. My own mother always claimed that once one is baptized they will go to heaven. I don't know that she has even read a Bible, even once.

Yet in the Bible Jesus told sinners they were there for him to help then.

But we need to really study and study ALL of the Bible!

Answer 29

You should have knowledge of what you talk about. However,there is nothing at all wrong with answering someone with I need to study that more and get back to you. Also, you will be surprised when God uses you often you will just know what to say . Half the time I am like woah where did that just come from. Hang in there when God puts someone in your life he will give you words to speak

Answer 30

Definitely not. But I do think that we are *greatly* changed by good theology --- which is really just knowing the truth.

It's always important to keep in mind that we are transformed by the *renewing of our minds*.

It seems that there has been a real trend in the past few years to pooh-pooh theology, and act like studying it somehow quenches the Spirit. I feel that we've lost a lot with this attitude and also feel that this is a *large* part of the reason that people are so *anchorless*.

I feel like especially in Charismatic churches (and I'm a charismatic!) you see a real attitude almost looking down on theology (again, that it will quench the Spirit somehow), and so you have a lot of people who end up being swept this way and that by whatever theological wind sweeps their way. It's almost like the theological/mind part of the church has been separated from the charismatic/heart part of the church. In the end, that means that you've got a lot of people with tons of head knowledge but no life, and a lot of people who have had very real experiences with God but don't have enough knowledge of the Bible to be able to have any discernment whatsoever!

Answer 31

For ourself benefit its a must.

But God can use most uneducated, common or even ignorant people. I mean He even used donkey to talk to prophet.