missions
The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Theology
By Jacob Percy at The Gospel Coalition
· June 27, 2026
· 6 min read
The early church didn’t develop doctrine because Christians enjoyed abstraction. It did so because silence proved costly. As the early church grew and spread, the baptismal confession that Jesus is Lord raised unavoidable questions: Who is he? How does he save? What does faith require? When the chur
Key takeaway It did so because silence proved costly.
Why this matters
The pressure to minimize theology in churches today echoes the challenges faced by the early church, where silence on doctrine led to confusion and instability. By deferring theological clarity, churches risk quietly transferring authority from Scripture to intuition, personality, and circumstance. This can have far-reaching consequences, as seen in the example of Gnostic teachers in the late second century who used Christian vocabulary to convey foreign meanings. The experience of Irenaeus, who wrote Against Heresies to counter this threat, highlights the importance of theological clarity in protecting the integrity of the faith. In the current context, where short statements of faith may seem appealing for practical reasons, churches must be aware of the hidden costs of avoiding theology, including the potential for deception and the erosion of biblical authority. As churches navigate the complexities of growth and unity, they must prioritize theological clarity to ensure that their message remains faithful to Scripture.
About this story
Original reporting by The Gospel Coalition . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit The Gospel Coalition . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: June 27, 2026 ·
Source: The Gospel Coalition ·
Reading time: 6 min
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering missions and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The early church didn’t develop doctrine because Christians enjoyed abstraction. It did so because silence proved costly. As the early church grew and spread, the baptismal confession that Jesus is Lord raised unavoidable questions: Who is he? How does he save? What does faith require? When the chur
When was this published? This article was first published on June 27, 2026 by The Gospel Coalition and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jacob Percy at The Gospel Coalition. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .