Recently I picked up Bruce L. Shelley’s Church History in Plain Language for my leisure reading. In it I came across an interesting quote that has caused me to think deeply about my theology.

Nothing is as fleeting in history as the latest theories that flourish among the enlightened, and nothing can be more quickly dismissed.

What came to my mind after reading this was first of all as usual a critical view of others’ theology. However, as I have been pondering this, I have turned my thoughts inward to consider what doctrines I hold that are rooted in the latest theories. I’m still sorting and sifting, but it has reminded me again of the importance we give to the Word, and the Word alone. Jesus pointed out, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Mt. 24:35 – NASB)

The question comes, am I espousing certain doctrines, trying to put things into practice a certain way, or reading certain materials because it’s fashionable to do so? Which of the things that we’re currently struggling with in the Church arise from such “fashionable theology”? So many of the “doctrines” of the past have fallen by the wayside because they have not measured up to the standard of Scripture and many, many more will do so in the future. My prayer is that each of us will be holding to Truth and not to what is fashionable and so we will be holding to the Ultimate which will not change.