Timothy Isaiah Cho Profile picture
Sep 22, 2020 11 tweets 2 min read Read on X
In the Bible, idolatry is identified primarily by practice first, not by what one professes. The prophets and Jesus were all too familiar with those who would say the right things while walking in darkness.

A main test of orthodoxy to the first table of the Law was not...
whether someone affirmed accurate understandings of Yahweh, but rather, the health of their practice - both religious and social. To believe rightly and to do rightly was held together. There is no division between a "head theology" and a "hands theology."

Reading the Bible...
with this in mind should shape the way we approach questions of orthodoxy in the midst of heinous heteropraxy.

We should not baptize a post-Enlightenment emphasis of the rational mind above the other faculties to create a novel category of Christians who were "theologically...
orthodox" but had "blind spots" or were "products of their time." Rather, we should see them (and ourselves) as those who indeed have a whole-orbed *theological* problem by the practices they participated in.

Those who practiced, promoted, and defended slavery while...
subscribing to the Westminster Standards or Three Forms of Unity had a serious theological problem, not just an ethical problem.

We find ourselves going against the grain of the narrative of the Bible when we prioritize the mind over practice. We find ourselves missing the...
"punch" of the prophetical witness of the prophets, Christ, and the apostles because they were telling people who thought they were theologically elite that they were theologically lacking. They were shaking up "the pews" of their times and clarifying what it means to know God.
Relatedly, spiritual formation in the Bible often emphasizes practice. While many Christians today may prioritize the mind (e.g. you have to 'remember the gospel' in order to walk aright), the Bible often shows a praxis-led sanctification, where our hearts and heads are changed..
by new practices and habits. We can become convinced in our hearts of God's goodness by partaking in the Supper, not by waiting until our minds can be persuaded enough. By "losing your life" in service for Christ you "find your life" in the good life of the kingdom. "It is...
more blessed to give than to receive" is learned by doing, not by thinking alone.

Finally, recapturing a biblical understanding of idolatry and theological orthodoxy should reshape how our churches discern candidates for leadership. It is not enough to have pastoral...
candidates who are only gifted. Character and practice should count as much if not more for a person who is being considered for gospel ministry. Seminaries and other training institutions should reshape the way in which their students are being formed and reshape what "success"
looks like. Far too often, success looks like writing books, being invited to speak at conferences, and having a high profile name within the theological camp you're a part of.

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More from @tisaiahcho

Sep 5
Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer in A Church Called Tov write: "False narratives are not just 'spin' or even 'brand protection,' though they may be that, too. They are darkness. They are the opposite of light."

Here's an example.

After our former pastor resigned
and caused the destruction of our church because of his grievously sinful actions, he got a new position as senior pastor in New York. He was interviewed by the Long Island Herald and explained the closure of our church as such:

"It was young and small and Covid wrecked us...
There was so much trouble for a small church to handle, and we couldn't afford to continue."

liherald.com/stories/james-…
Read 12 tweets
May 28
A pastor who is held captive to image and whose identity has become enmeshed with their ministry is unable to be honest, vulnerable, and transparent about how their church is actually doing. They will hide financial struggles or take unethical routes to pay the church's bills.
They will avoid difficult conversations that affect the health of the church and will shirk their discipleship responsibilities for outward appearances of churchliness. They will hyperfocus on details that make the church look good (eg the best coffee, the best potlucks) and
neglect the weightier matters of church life and wellness. They will go out of their way to make themselves feel needed by others and even see themselves as the cornerstone holding up the church and keeping it from falling apart. They will flatter those who are gifted in order
Read 6 tweets
Mar 1
This is the game that they love to play - they claim to have some secret set of information that only they know that completely acquits the abuser no matter how guilty they appear to be, but they won't release that secret set of information.

Columbus Metro Presbytery would not release the minutes of our church's session minutes during the time that they had a committee sit in to (purportedly) bring extra accountability after our pastor got caught in his sin. They also refused to release their report and
recommendations. The only way that one of the members of our church was able to even see these was because he kept following up with them for MONTHS until he was granted a time to see them in person while being monitored by a representative of presbytery. In fact, it *should have
Read 9 tweets
Feb 24
I was stopped in my tracks when I read this quote.

“'The unborn' are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike the incarcerated, addicted, or the chronically poor; they don’t resent your condescension or
complain that you are not politically correct; unlike widows, they don’t ask you to question patriarchy; unlike orphans, they don’t need money, education, or childcare; unlike aliens, they don’t bring all that racial, cultural, and religious baggage that you dislike; they allow
you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power,
Read 5 tweets
Feb 18
I've noticed that there are generally three progressive levels of complementarianism. The first is ministerial complementarianism, where women are only barred from ordained offices. The second is familial complementarianism, where, in addition to the constraints of ministerial
complementarianism, women are barred from certain types of roles within their household. The third is societal complementarianism, where, in addition to the constraints of the first two types, women are barred from certain types of roles within society at large.
Even though I disagree with it, very, very rarely have I even seen a church hold strictly to just ministerial complementarianism. It's often a very quick slide from ministerial complementarianism to familial complementarianism and then again to societal complementarianism.
Read 7 tweets
Feb 10
In Christian circles, the expression of anger is often connected to power. There are those who are afforded the right to express their anger freely and to have righteousness be attributed to it. There are others who are never allowed to express anger.

Those who can freely
express their anger also receive a wide range of grace, so that an instance of unrighteous anger is tucked away under righteous intent or ends. Those who are never allowed to express their anger are given no grace, so that anytime they step out of line, they lose all rapport.
Those who can express anger are rewarded for being "passionate" and "living out convictions." Others are rewarded for repressing their anger, being told that it's glorifying to God to be a doormat.

Expressions of anger, as they are connected to power, are necessarily connected
Read 5 tweets

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