How dependable and trustworthy is the practice of theology today?

How dependable and trustworthy is the practice of theology today? 

(1) Its basis as a largely empirical science is almost completely missing from current-day preaching.[1]

(2) Its main texts are widely read in highly misleading translations.[2]

(3) Normal preaching is unbiblical, in opposition to God's Word (even the well translated parts of the Bible).[3] 

Other sciences, like biology or physics, have also gone through long periods of confusion: for centuries, people seen as experts made assertions without a basis in empirical-scientific method, and with little or no connection to actual facts. The field of medicine has likely been populated over its history mainly by quacks, who gave advice and performed operations without the proper scientific basis. Even up to our day, physicians (medical doctors) have been causing tremendous injury to others when they lose their grasp of the basic principles of medical science.[4] 

These facts provide powerful reasons not to give up on a science just because of current-day darkness:
(a) The history of natural sciences proves that earnest devotion to good methodology yields progress.
(b) It is immoral to stand by while a science is improperly practiced to the injury of many people.

Another reason to press onward with theology, is that the widespread confusion, even corruption, in theological practice today are predicted and described in the Holy Bible.[5] That means that we should recognize it as false preaching, rather than confusing it with theology rightly practiced. Otherwise we have only ourselves to blame: the Holy Bible gives us fair warning that people will need to discern (i.e. distinguish) between genuine preaching and false preaching. 

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[1] A very brief introduction to the empirical-scientific character of the Bible is provided here. 

[2] Brief treatments of this topics are provided in these articles: "The most important misreadings of the Bible?", and "New solutions for New Testament verses".

[3] See for example "Early warnings of grave misunderstandings of Christianity".

[4] An outstanding example of quackery among elite medical institutions has been widely recognized just this year at Karolinska Institute and Hospital in Sweden: the "invention" of synthetic thoracic transplants, which were essentially untested before they began maiming and killing transplant recipients, a tragedy that in its turn was covered up through false assertions allowed into leading publications like The Lancet.

[5] Matthew 24:10-12, 24; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 3:16-17.

Jesus demands works but prohibits boasting: how?

Jesus's speech recorded in Luke 17 (in the Authorized King James Version):

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.



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AKJV: Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.