Gauging Theological Worthiness

Paul advised his apprentice Timothy that "while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive" (1 Timothy 4:8–10).

What makes a 'saying'—meaning a teaching or 'doctrine'—faithful and worthy of wide acceptance?

My basic answer uses an analogy from my teaching: it is sound reflection that's consistent with what is 'below' it. Worthy theology serves and builds upon Jesus Christ with integrity: gold, silver, and precious stones rather than wood, hay, or straw (1 Cor 3:10–15). This is a matter of judgment. The Temple Mount's long history demonstrates conflicting judgments about what kind of structure theologically befits its foundation: the Tent of Meeting (1 Sam 6)? Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 8)? the Second Temple (Ezra 3–6)? Herod's reconstruction (John 2:20)? rubble atop a Wailing Wall (Mark 13:1–2)? heaven itself (Heb 8:1–2, 9:11)? the risen Temple of living stones not made with hands (John 2:21, Rev 21:22, 1 Pet 2:4–8)? the Dome of the Rock? Wise, mature, informed theological judgment is a key virtue for disciples to build.

Here's my list of factors that make a given theological claim or church practice mission-worthy. They can be used for a 'stress test' to gauge and even improve faithfulness and worthiness. Some are obviously essential—like truth—while others are accelerators or decelerators. If we treat them all as goals and even essentials, it forces improvements in theological quality, utility, and reach. These make our theology truly fitting for its God-given tasks. As Neil Cole puts it in Search and Rescue (Baker 2008), "If you can package something extremely powerful in something extremely simple, it can have a profound impact on the world" (161). That is how Jesus described the gospel of the Kingdom.

factor	description	supporting or exemplary Bible passage(s) (ESV)
True (v. ungrounded)	The teaching conveys the Lord's voice and trains us to recognize it in holy scripture as well as words of knowledge, the Spirit's promptings, Kingdom witnesses and servants, and elsewhere. It respects the true good news that Jesus entrusted to followers. So it is biblical: a 'second story' of reflection that supports the Bible's broad, foundational witness and embodies the Kingdom of God's 'DNA' rather than silencing, distorting, or subjugating some voices in favor of others—especially noncanonical ones. It's clear and accurate, not obscure or ambiguous, so it resists equivocation, distortion, abuse, and misunderstanding, even in translation. Sustainable teaching is robust and even anti-fragile: it survives challenges from opponents and from new circumstances and contexts, and even emerges stronger than before.	"The testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple" (Ps 19:7). "Teach what accords with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut 6:4–5).
Powerful (v. merely informative)	It's useful as guidance and discipline, fruitful for accomplishing Christ's purpose/mission among his followers, and attractive in drawing us into closer fellowship and alignment with God and God's purposes. It has profound implications that transform followers who internalize it (Cole 164), expressing Kingdom DNA. Rather than being overly specialized and only narrowly applicable, its lessons are rapidly deployable in a wide variety of situations, circumstances, and contexts, including among people far from God. So it connects, empowers, matures, equips, and strengthens Christ's body, as God's gifts are meant to do.	Scripture is "profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, that the person of God may be complete, equipped" (2 Tim 3:16–17; see also Eph 4:11–17).
Viral (v. inert)	It's simple and easy to learn, grasp, and pass on. (Ryan Snow: "Memorable, accessible, and transferable.") Its meaning may even be discoverable without formal instruction, so ordinary people can learn and apply it without experts. And it's persuasive, even compelling: engaging and reshaping imaginations, behaviors, habits, relationships, and even cultures. It is easily repeated and passed on (Cole 164), so it multiplies 'Kingdom DNA' and the counsel of God without requiring extensive knowledge, expertise, work, teaching overhead, or even literacy. This makes it movemental: Like yeast in dough, it can travel through relationships, across cultures, and down generations, leavening even in 'dark' places far from God. True but dry formulas and overly long or complicated statements cannot compete with dank memes.	Jesus’ parables and pithy teachings set the standard: John 3:16 of course, as well as Matt 7:12's Golden Rule. And Luke's classic parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37) got through to the lawyer without the need for an explanation. You already know these verses, don't you? See what I mean?
Universal (v. factional)	It applies to the whole people of God, rather than only a share. It communicates 'Kingdom DNA' universally, globally, across shifting circumstances, diverse cultural contexts, and the nations' languages (Cole 164). For instance, every Christian tradition resonates deeply with the following passage, even if our camps interpret it differently:	"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people" (1 Pet 2:9–12).

Take a particular teaching, and gauge the factors on a scale of 0 = poor, 1 = passable, 2 = strong, 3 = excellent. Then multiply them. So any factor that scores a zero yields an overall score of zero: it may be solid in many respects, but it still fails as a true, powerful, viral, and universal 'second story' atop the faith's foundation and ground floor. On the other hand, improving the weak factors turns it into a treasure.

Then, can you improve upon it? Can you turn those scores into 3's with something even truer (more accurate), more powerful (fruitful, compelling), more viral (memorable, accessible, transferable), and more universal (conveying God's message for people anywhere)? Do that and you're a real movement servant.

It can be useful to test some of these factors by examining both their historical impacts and how fruitful they prove to be among fresh audiences in new situations. Though a solid track record does not guarantee a successful future (see Jesus on wineskins and garments in Luke 5:36–39), it makes a good first-pass fruits-test (Luke 6:43–44, James 2:18).