Dr. Jeffrey D. Skinner discusses the concept of bounded set theology, which prioritizes clear boundaries and strict adherence to beliefs, and explains its potential negative effects on fostering genuine Christian community, unity, and outreach to others.

Title: Episode Key: Bounded Set Theology and Its Impact on Christian Community
Key Points:
1. Bounded set theology embraces clear boundaries and definitions of inclusion and exclusion within a community based on doctrinal beliefs or behavioral expectations.
2. Denominational affiliation is not a prerequisite for relationship with Jesus, and strict adherence to a specific ideology should not be a boundary.
3. Placing clear boundaries on who is considered a Christian based on self-preservation and national identity is not aligned with biblical teachings.
4. Bounded set theology measures one's relationship with Jesus based on adherence to a set of beliefs rather than true transformation.
5. True discipleship involves serving Jesus, complete obedience, and living according to His teachings, not merely subscribing to ideological principles.
6. Bounded set theology exists in various communities, both conservative and liberal, demanding strict adherence to beliefs before acceptance.
7. Bounded set theology hinders the formation of authentic relationships, fosters exclusion and judgment, and can lead to the loss of individuals within the faith.
8. Christ calls for unity, embracing diversity of thought, and learning from different perspectives.
9. Language shapes culture, and Christians should focus on serving Jesus and others rather than ruling over them.
10. Bounded set theology may result in a sense of superiority, elitism, and hinder genuine dialogue.
11. Bounded set theology can lead to isolation, insularity, and a focus on self-preservation, hindering the mission of spreading the love and message of Jesus Christ to the world.
Note: This summary is based on the provided text and represents the key points discussed by Dr. Jeffrey D. Skinner.


In this conversation, hDr. Skinner talks about bounded set theology, which emphasizes clear boundaries and definitions of who is considered part of a group or community. This mindset often revolves around rigid doctrinal beliefs or behavioral expectations to determine acceptance within the community. Dr. Skinner emphasizes that denominational affiliation should not be a prerequisite for a relationship with Jesus and that setting strict ideological boundaries can hinder genuine Christian community and exclude individuals.
He discusses the importance of true transformation and living in alignment with Jesus’ teachings, rather than simply adhering to a set of beliefs. Dr. Skinner highlights the need to focus on being servants of Jesus, emphasizing obedience and submission to Him, rather than placing excessive importance on ideological principles alone.
Furthermore, he mentions that bounded set theology can be found in both conservative and liberal communities, where strict adherence to a set of beliefs is demanded before one is welcomed into the community. This mindset goes against the way Jesus lived his life and the unity that Christ calls us to pursue. Dr. Skinner argues for embracing diversity of thought and learning from other perspectives, even if we disagree on certain issues. He warns against exclusion, judgment, and the potential for isolation and insularity that can arise from a bounded set theology.

Transcript:
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (00:00.966)
Welcome in to Echoes 3 eternity, I am your host, Dr. Jeffrey D. Skinner. What has God echoing through your life today? Well, I want to continue our conversation from last week. We were talking about centered set theology. And so I wanted to talk about what was an alternative to centered set theology, or bounded set and fuzzy set. Today we'll talk about bounded set theology, also known as exclusivist or boundary focused theology.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (00:30.986)
It's a perspective that embraces clear boundaries and distinct definitions of who's considered in and who's considered out of a particular group or community. This mindset often revolves around a rigid set of doctrinal beliefs or behavioral expectations that determines one's acceptance within the community. Now, let me stop here. So, you're saying, Jeff, are you saying that you can't have a denominational affiliation?
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (01:01.058)
to this and the answer is no, I'm not saying that at all. Uh, what I'm saying is we do not set, uh, adherence to, and one hundred percent agreement to a specific denominational mindset or even ideology, um, before we allow someone to enter into a relationship with us, and especially we don't set that as a boundary.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (01:29.93)
or a prerequisite for relationship with Jesus. A lot of times we like to kind of place clear boundaries on someone, you know, whether or not they're a Christian or not. If you think about it, it's kind of based in self-preservation. We want to know if this person is Christian. They identify more with us, and so we may consider them to be safe. The problem is that Christian in and of itself has become so broad
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (01:57.118)
It's almost become a national identity, which is what we talked about when we talked about Christian nationalism. To be born in America is to be born Christian. And that's not what the Bible advocates. That's empire theology. That's empire religion. Not Yahwehism, not Christianity, not Christ-centered religion there.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (02:24.114)
And so when we start talking about you've got to adhere to this particular ideology before you can be friends with us, before you can enter into Jesus, be in relationship with Jesus. Then that's bounded set theology. And a lot of our churches do that. And that's a lot of times based in self-preservation. And we'll get that in a few minutes there. While bounded set theology may offer a sense of identity and security to someone.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (02:51.826)
It can also have detrimental effects on fostering genuine Christian community. In other words, adherence to a set of beliefs becomes the measure for a relationship with Jesus as opposed to true transformation. Look, I know a lot of ethical atheists. How can one be ethical and be atheist? Well, we have, you know, don't let's just use these little pithy saying here. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't go with people who do.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (03:21.698)
So you could be atheist and still adhere to those principles there, right? That doesn't make you Christian. You can say the three Hail Marys every day when you wake up. It doesn't necessarily make you Christian. It is centering a relationship on Jesus and moving in the direction of Jesus. That's what makes one Christian. A disciple is...
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (03:49.018)
So everybody thinks they know what disciple means, but a true disciple is one who's a servant of Jesus, period. It's not one who reigns, it's one who serves. That is a true and is in complete obedience and seeking complete obedience to Jesus. It's not a set of ideological principles. A lot of times we'll use the...
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (04:17.974)
Apostle's Creed as a measure of what is Christian thought. Well, that may be Christian thought, but it's not just thinking that makes one Christian. Thinking alone does not transform one's life. It's submitting one's life to Jesus. It's what changes one's life. Repentance, which we've kind of turned into this decision. I'm gonna make this decision to repent.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (04:46.642)
Yes, you make a decision, but that decision is not a one-time decision. It's making an everyday decision that every thought I have, I take captive. Every thought I have, I'm going to submit to Jesus. I'm going to live in a way that Jesus taught me to live. I'm going to to advocate for the poor. I'm going to advocate for the least of these. And I'm going to seek to serve as opposed to reign.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (05:12.158)
And that's what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. It's not just a thought that's out there. Whereas a bounded set tends to be more mental adherence to a particular way of thinking. And again, this doesn't just happen within Christian circles. It can be progressives that think some of the liberal and progressive ideology that's out there today, we'll just pull one out of the ether here, climate change. Well, if you don't today,
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (05:41.782)
These days, if you don't believe that gas stoves are evil, you can't be progressive. We'll take another one, abortion. If you don't believe that killing children or that abortion is illegal, I mean, back up, if you don't believe that abortion should be legal, that a woman should be able to choose, you can't be a part of the progressive community there.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (06:11.498)
Now again, I say that because I'm just letting you understand that bounded set theology, bounded set thought is, it goes both ways. It's not just a conservative thought. It's a liberal thought. It's a progressive thought. It's any community that demands strict adherence to a set of beliefs before you're welcomed into that community. And that is the opposite of what the way Jesus chose to live his life. It's the opposite of what Jesus modeled for us.
Dr Jeffery D Skinner (06:40.626)
And it's the opposite of what God's call is in our life. Otherwise, as Gentiles, who we were thought as less than the least of these during Judaism, when Jesus came to earth there, we were we were dogs. We were not the chosen people, but he grafted us in. He chose for us to be here. And then we turned it into this exclusionary faith. If other ideologies wan