For the most part, humanity has a hard time dealing with understanding the truths of God. Humanity wrestles with the friction of what God has said and commanded to the point that one actually justifies all actions as they see fit regardless of whether or not it violates the Holiness of God. Is that what God has intended? Biblically, a lot of questions can be raised, which in my mind sends up huge red flags. In no way is my list of ‘Why Theology is Important’ exhaustive. I think that would fill massive pages of books that would have a lot of footnotes and would fill a small library. This blog is nothing more than an attempt to solidify a foundation in which to jump from as you plumb the depths of Jesus and the Word of God!
Theology Properly Informs Us About God & Ourselves
I would be remiss in thinking we can start this proper understanding of God by not accounting for sin. All of humanity has fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 1) and because of this humanity can’t help but have a hypocritical bend towards the things of God. A right view of God gives us a right view of ourselves, in turn; a right view of ourselves gives us a proper view of God. John Calvin says this:
“Again, it is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself. For we always seem to ourselves righteous and upright and wise and holy. This Pride is innate in all of us; unless by clear proofs we stand convinced of our own unrighteousness, foulness, folly, and impurity.” (Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion)
Calvin points out that humanity has a distorted view of holiness and righteousness because sin distorts and perverts. This, in and of itself, can either inform or misinform humanity about what holiness and righteousness actually are.
Theology Helps to Establish a Biblical Worldview
EVERYBODY ascribes to a worldview. The issue is the lens in which one sees the world. This point takes on a totally different trajectory if the first point, sin, is not realized. If humanity thinks it’s generally good and holy, the problems of pain and suffering aren’t sin issues; they are nothing more than poor decision problems. The Biblical Worldview is not religious behavior, but a life transformed by Jesus. This thinking is exemplified by Paul in the Book of Acts on Mars Hill in Athens. (Acts 17:22-32) Paul goes to Athens, observes a sense of spirituality and can’t help but see where their “spirituality” was misinformed and perverted. In addition to that, Paul would go on to affirm their sense of spirituality but correct it by bending it back towards the Biblical understanding of God. If our theology is not established how could one decipher or discern the things Paul did? Would humanity get caught up in crazy religious behavior or blatant pagan activity? What would be the difference?
Theology Builds Maturity
Growing in our knowledge of God and the things about him can’t help but inform our behavior. Both Paul and Peter use analogy and symbolism in the form of infants and adults. (1 Cor 3, 1 Peter 2) Obviously there seems to be an inference to growing in truth and knowledge here. If that is the case than there seems to be a reflection of this with human behavior. Paul talks about feeding his followers milk and yet they don’t seem to show themselves to be ready for meat. If your Theology of God, Jesus, Scripture doesn’t inform your thinking and action, it may be faulty and ultimately infantile. There is a reason the New Testament is filled with epistles written by Godly men that dealt with the hard, laborious task of seeing Christ formed in people in light of bad, misinformed behavior. (Galatians 4:19)
Theology Creates and Strengthens Conviction
If a life lived in servitude is to be established and branded it has to be rooted in a solid, Biblical conviction. What cultivates or hardens conviction? Is it feeling or emotion? Is it right behavior? It is a Calling that doesn’t waver in times of trouble or hardship. Paul would use military language in addressing Timothy. He consistently labors to affirm Timothy to stand firm. Not on his own will but on what has been established by Jesus and the Cross. Paul would urge people to root themselves in the solid foundation that is the Gospel and not be blown away like chaff from wheat. (1 Tim 4:6, 6:3) Paul would go on to appeal to Timothy that deception is immanent and will increase. Paul urges Timothy to root himself in Scripture and Truth as to not be blown away by what would cause a person to stray. (2 Tim 3:1-9) All of this to say that conviction doesn’t come through human knowledge, but by the work of the Holy Spirit in which gives comfort, guidance, conviction and ultimately stability in the gospel.
What Does This Mean?
It would seem that the Christian life could so easily be reduced to nothing more than moral activity. Things in life can be measured by what’s done more than by what’s known and the same can be said the other way. But honestly, the things in life become more about the “who” than they do about “what.” Our lives as Christ followers are to reflect the glory of God in all things. I would think that the greatest way to reflect the Glory of God in all things would be to actually live, breath, believe, preach, proclaim, and champion for God and the Gospel as He has revealed it. This means ALL we do, know, feel and believe should come under the authority of Scripture. The great part about this is God uses us as His vessels to reflect and inform the world about Him and his Glory. I urge you to know Him in the hope to be known by Him.
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