Theology is NOT optional

I have quite a few friends who groan and moan whenever they hear the word theology. Often times I hear comments like "theology is boring", or "i am a simple person and i don't think it's important to think that deep", or "I don't want to go to seminary, so what is the point of knowing about theology?". We have done a poor job in America of teaching what theology is. We have left thousands with a vague understanding, but even worse, we have given the impression that theology is optional.

So what is theology anyway? Theology simply means, the study of God, or thoughts about God. The English word theology has its roots in the Greek words, theo, meaning God, and logos, meaning word. So when I say I want to grow theologically, what I am saying is, I want to grow in my knowledge and understanding of who God is. Theology is just a big word to label the act of growing in our knowledge of God through His living Word.


Now, with this understanding of theology, I want to be very, very clear. Regardless of your occupation or how simple a thinker you think you are, if you profess to follow Jesus Christ, then theology is not optional. God's people are called to
"rightly handle the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15. We are to know God, who He is, who we are, what He has done, and what will be. This is theology.

Often times, when people talk about their dislike of theology, they mean systematic theology. What systematic theology does, is it condenses all the information in the Bible about a given topic into one section. For example, since the Bible does not spell out all there is to know about angels in one book, men have collected all the verses about angles and put them into a system called angelology.

Calling all "Simple Thinkers"
I can somewhat understand where you are coming from. I never used to care about theology, probably because I didn't know what it is. But what I want to submit to you is this: God calls us to love Him with all of our mind. That does not mean you need to go to seminary and attempt learn all that you can possibly learn in that setting. But what I think it does mean, is, you are a steward of your mind. God has enabled you to learn about Him, study Him, imitate Him, and KNOW Him. To love Him fully with your mind is to do those things to your fullest capacity. And that means asking hard questions that may make you feel uncomfortable. For if there is no struggle, there is no progress. FD If you have felt like you haven't grown spiritually in a while, I challenge you to seriously ask yourself if it is because you haven't grown in your understanding and knowledge of God. For "thinking is one of the most important ways we put the fuel of knowledge on the fires of worship and service to the world." John Piper in Think


In Conclusion
I implore you to ask the Lord to grow in your understanding and knowledge of Him. For I know the words of truth will fuel your love for Him and compel you to worship, filling you with joy in Him that will overflow in love to meet the needs of others. This is the ends of theology: to grow in our knowledge of Him so we are able to grow in our love for Him and others. Theology is for all Christians. Deep and simple thinkers alike.





JN