Underwear Theology: Why We Should All Be Spandex Wearing Superheroes When it Comes to Doctrine

I've been thinking a lot lately about a saying I have heard used quite a bit in evangelical circles. The saying, often quoted by those wanting to be winsome in the presentation of their faith (read: cool and chic), goes something along the lines of this: "Yes. I believe in that doctrine. But I don't make a big deal about it. Basically, it's kind of like underwear. I believe it, but I don't want others to necessarily see it."

As absurd as this may sound, this expression is really quite revealing when it comes to the popular evangelical opinion about doctrine. Doctrine, like underwear, is something your mom told you to never leave home without, but at the end of the day, does it really matter what KIND of underwear it is? I mean, after all, who is going to see it (that is, unless you are in the proverbial car accident)?

The problem with this kind of thinking, of course, is that it assumes that doctrine is simply a matter of preference. The reason we have Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans and Episcopalians is not so much because of truth but because of taste. In our pluralistic society, who is to say one particular denomination, one particular doctrine, or one particular intepretation is any more right than the other?

But back to underwear. Wanting to wear theology or doctrine like underwear also communicates something about the relationship theology has to Christian living. We were all told (all but the most liberal of professing Christians that is) that we should hold some kind of doctrine, but we don't necessarily want to wave it out for everyone to see. Like underwear, we should should the leave the house wearing it, but not on our heads. This is both because (we are told) doctrine divides and because, when it gets down to it, we do not really believe it matters for everyday living. Thus, most of us keep our underwear, and our theology, out of sight. That is, unless you are one of these guys:

Doctrine...anyone?

That's right. The Man O' Steel, baby. When it comes to our theology, we all should be more like one of these superheroes. No I'm not suggesting we should go out and buy spandex costumes (though for the TR PCA guy, a robe should suffice). What I am saying is that we should not be ashamed of our doctrine because, frankly, doctrine matters. Consider the words of Paul to Timothy:

"11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:11-16, ESV)"

As we can see, for Paul, there was a direct relationship between doctrine, or teaching, and a believer's practice. Theology immediately gave way to piety for the apostle (v.12). There was no dichotomy between the two. To live godly in Christ Jesus, a believer must devote himself to "the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (v.13)." In other words, to doctrine. Further, Paul insisted that doctrine was not some secondary matter of preference but a primary matter with salvific consequences (v.16). Thus, friends, while we may not save anyone out of a burning building with our doctrine, we may save them out of the burning lake.

And that, dear readers, is what it is to be a real superhero.