Is Theology Important?

Posted on by

Do you think the Church of Jesus Christ ought to talk about and do theology? Or do you think having a simple relationship with Jesus is more virtuous? Or do you think this presents a false dilemma? Or?

5 thoughts on “Is Theology Important?”

  1. Theology has its place for sure. However i have found in my life that growing closer to the Lord in prayer and reading and meditating on the Word has helped me more then theology, or trying to work out theology.

    Working out theology has done me no good personally and in the quest to figure out my “core beliefs” i lost focus of Christ along the way. I refer to Romans and Galatians fully as to what im trying to convey.

    So no, i think the Church should no focus on theology because there is a danger to get so caught up in “deeper topics” that you could in theory not be helping anyone by not pointing them back to Christ, instead of talking about Christ and his Word and the deeper truths. If that makes any sense.

    Jesus is the end all. Without Jesus you have nothing. You don’t have salvation, you don’t have forgiveness of sins. Without Jesus you have Law and we all know no one can ever keep the Law, that is why God gave us Jesus. For me keeping it simple and focusing on Jesus and submitting to his Word and listening to his spirit is challenging enough.

    Interesting thought Bobby, I remember you from my Multnomah days, not sure if you remember me much but i do you. We had some interactions here and there, but not a lot.

  2. What is theology anyway? Isn’t it the probing of questions, searching for answers, restating and collecting the revelation from scripture. Who doesn’t have questions when they read their bible? Or when they pray? Or when they look around and wonder about so many things in this world that God has made and sustains?

    We can’t not do theology. Everyone does. Some just do it more consistently with more resources to draw from.

    Simple faith in Jesus is wonderful, but as you read the bible over the years it becomes less simple and more and more we want to know God more deeply, more fully, more intimately, and think more of his thoughts after Him. That is what theology helps us do.

  3. Hey Zak,

    How are you doing these days? Its been awhile since our Multnomah days; time flies!

    I understand what you’re saying, but I think theology (like the kind Paul did in Romans 9—11 for example) should result in doxology. All theology is is thinking about God. There are certainly models for doing theology that can be draining to spirituality; especially ones that, philosophically don’t emphasize the triune/love nature of God. But there are other “ways” (like Evangelical Calvinism appeals to, see our 1st thesis for our book– the post prior to this one) to do theology that do indeed emphasize who God is as love vs. law for example.

    My favorite thing to do, though, Zak; is to simply read read read Scripture. I totally get what you’re saying! Great to hear from you, brother!

    @Jon,

    I agree, we are all theologians; of course there are vocational and lay theologians, but all Christians “should” be theologians. I am afraid that apathy is one of the greatest vices the enemy of our souls has used against Christ’s church in America in this regard. People simply don’t prioritize thinking about God on a regular basis. This has nothing to do with whether or not someone is a “deep” thinker; I think all somebody has to do is ask the Lord to give them a thirst for his righteousness, and an unsatiable desire to know Him — and He will (I ask the Lord this all the time!). Great points, Jon.

  4. Peter j. Leithart has a nice little essay on this topic in his book “Against Christianity.” I thought it was an interesting perspective.

Comments are closed.