Wolves and theology

I can't explain the way my mind connects things, or whether or not the connections make any sense to anyone else, but here' goes...



Two nights ago we watched a documentary espousing the environmental decay that has resulted from the removal of large predators from their habitats. One investigation in particular began with biologists noticing sings of decay in Yellowstone National Park - erosion along river banks and the disappearing of Aspen trees. Their investigation led them through many possible factors such as global warming, but each of these was determined not to be responsible. What they eventually found was that the decline in Aspen trees began at the same time that Yellowstone's last wolves were killed, around the 1930's.


How can the removal of wolves cause the disappearance of Aspen trees and the erosion of river banks? Well, wolves hunt elk. But when the wolves disappeared, the elk had free range of all of the plants and trees in the park. Over time, they overgrazed on plants along the banks of streams and rivers, increasing erosion. The elk also freely ate from young Aspen trees, preventing their growth into maturity. It was found that there were nearly no middle aged Aspen trees in the park for this very reason.


Why were the wolves removed? Because they made people feel unsafe and uncomfortable. People visiting the park didn't want to feel that their lives were in danger. And those living close to the park wanted their livestock to be protected.


Now here's the dubious connection: in the same way that the removal of large carnivores resulted in the decay of the ecosystem, a removal of emphasis on key doctrinal positions results in the decay and ultimate destruction of a church. I read this quote yesterday, in Tom Nettles' first volume on Baptist History:

The decline and extinction of some Baptist churches, which Ivimey had the
sad duty of narrating, came when they 'departed from the orthodox doctrines of the Trinity, the proper divinity of the Son of God, and of the Holy Spirit, &c'.

Everyone has heard someone make a comment such as, "Doctrine is all that important, what matters is that church members love each other and tell other people about God." I've heard similar statements about the Trinity, grace, & salvation by faith.


When a church minimizes right theology it is officially on the path to dissolution. This is different from liberalization, where false doctrines are celebrated as truth (though that may come in the next generation of a doctrinally-minimized church). Rather, in a church where right theology and doctrine are minimized, any member of the church would likely agree with orthodox confessional statements. The difference is that these doctrinal truths are not championed from the pulpit, learned in Bible studies, talked about at church functions, or included in membership classes. They are given lip service as being important, but are pratically treated as trivial.


Just as wolves were removed from Yellowstone out of fear and out of ignorance of their vital importance to the ecosystem, key doctrines are de-emphasized because they have potential for making people feel uncomfortable, and because their great importance is not understood.


Here's once example:
First, the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone is de-emphasized. Why? Because, it minimizes humans and stresses their sinful nature, which makes some people feel bad about themselves or have a negative self-image/low self-esteem.
Then, over time, human obedience receives an unhealthy focus over and above God's grace. In short, the gospel becomes more and more man-centered, and less Christ-centered.
Finally, and this process may happen over many years, every facet of true biblical doctrine falls apart in the church, (i.e., Christ didn't die for our sins, he died only to show us the love and character of God), because the centrality of Christ in the gospel is the lynchpin which holds all doctrine together.

Wisdom calls for we Christians to be prudent in considering the long term effects of theological positions in our churches. In nearly every case, history can show what the long term affects will likely be of choosing or rejecting any given theological position.