Why We Must Flee 'Stranger Theology' in 2024
C.S. Lewis & St. Ignatius of Antioch Warn Us About 'Upside-Down' Theology
“A ‘liberal’ Christianity which considers itself free to alter the Faith whenever the Faith looks perplexing or repellent must be completely stagnant. Progress is made only into a resisting material… In fact, we must at all costs not move with the times. We serve One who said “Heaven and Earth shall move with the times, but my words shall not move with the times” - C.S. Lewis1
What is more dangerous than outright heresy that goes against the Faith of the Apostles?
Stranger theology. It is much more subtle than explicit heresy and can even look ‘clean’ with enough theological distinctions on paper, but it is, at its very heart, a distortion of the Real Thing. Stranger theology is like an invasive species that moves into a forest that isn’t its native habitat. It may look like a plant that belongs, but it soon takes over the forest. In Indiana, this happened with the arrival of bush honey suckle, which has now taken over to the point that native trees such as oak, maple, and walnut cannot easily grow from the forest floor. Some species of honey suckle even release a chemical into the soil that prevents the growth of other plants near it.
Another great example of this took place in Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s. Someone dangerously opened up a portal which led to dark creatures and deadly plants creeping out to strangle an unsuspecting town. Okay, that is just fiction, but the point is obvious for fans of the show “Stranger Things.”
Strange theology is like that. It ultimately does not belong in the eco-system that Christ gave His Church and if tolerated, will actually wreak havoc upon it. The Christian news headlines of 2023 are really just the beginning of this story and so Christians who hold to an orthodox faith must be prepared to not only avoid this world of ‘stranger theology,’ but also prophetically speak against it. Why? Because ‘stranger theology’ is deeply invasive and is something that we all must eventually face for the sake of saving our children, our culture, and our local parishes. Although the Church will last until the end of the ages, there is no guarantee it will thrive in our own region if we compromise on the truth of the Gospel. Actually, Christ warns us that he will remove our influence if we do such a thing.
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” (Revelation 2:4-5).
In 107 AD, St. Ignatius of Antioch also faced off against the stranger theology of his day, and he warned his friend, St. Polycarp of Smyrna, against these dangers.
"Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines, fill you with apprehension. Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten. It is the part of a noble athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer. And especially, we ought to bear all things for the sake of God, that He also may bear with us. Become more zealous than what you are. Weigh carefully the times. Look for Him who is above all time, eternal and invisible…"2
Both of these bishops were students of the Apostles and were certainly aware of the warnings that also came from them. St. Peter writes to his flock in 1 Peter 2:1,
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions.”
C.S. Lewis sounds very much like St. Peter and St. Ignatius when he warns his readers about pastors who preach strange things from the pulpit:
“…there will be progress in Christian knowledge only as long as we accept the challenge of the difficult or repellent doctrines. A “liberal” Christianity which considers itself free to alter the Faith whenever the Faith looks perplexing or repellent must be completely stagnant. Progress is made only into a resisting material.
Our upbringing and the whole atmosphere of the world we live in make it certain that our main temptation will be that of yielding to winds of doctrine, not that of ignoring them. We are not at all likely to be hidebound: we are very likely to be the slaves of fashion. If one has to choose between reading the new books and reading the old, one must chose the old: not because they are necessarily better but because they contain precisely those truths of which our own age is neglectful. The standard of permanent Christianity must be kept clear in our minds and it is against that standard that we must test all contemporary thought. In fact, we must at all costs not move with the times. We serve One who said “Heaven and Earth shall move with the times, but my words shall not move with the times”…
Our business is to present that which is timeless (the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow) in the particular language of our own age. The bad preacher does exactly the opposite…”3
In other words, hold fast to the 'Barrel Aged Faith' which is ever ancient, ever new.
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C.S. Lewis, “Christian Apologetics,” in God in the Dock Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998, 91-94.
Ante-Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers translated by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Philip Schaff (ed.). Originally published 1885-1891. Edited and formatted by Wilson, Luke. “Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to Polycarp.” Patristics.info, 02 Jan 2024, https://patristics.info/ignatius-of-antioch-letter-to-polycarp.html.
C.S. Lewis, “Christian Apologetics,” in God in the Dock Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998, 91-94.
Great thoughts as the sea is really choppy right now. Thanks Kyle