There's a song from a Christian group, Petra, that tells us to "Lift Him up higher and higher" and assures us "It doesn't take much theology. Just lift Him up so the world can see." No offense to Petra, but there's a problem here. The word, "theology," essentially refers to the study of God. The dictionary alco includes "religious belief," but theology proper is best understood as the study of God. So, if we are to "lift Him up ... so the world can see" without having theology -- knowledge of God -- isn't that going to be difficult?
It has been (rightly) pointed out that the believer's aim is not to know about God, but to know God. We call it a "personal relationship." Knowing about your spouse is not the same thing as knowing your spouse. I know about George Washington, but I've never met the man and have no relationship with him. In that sense, then, it would seem that theology is knowing more about God than knowing God. But, like the old dichotomy, "Quality time is more important than quantity," it seems tacitly obvious that the more you know about God, the more you can know God. Quality time is important, but you never know when that will happen, so quantity is the best way to get quality. In the same way, knowing God is the aim, but you can't really know Him if you don't know about Him. So theology is important.
In truth, we are all theologians. Some are diligent and some are haphazard. Some make stuff up and some have good sources. Some are purely academic and some are passionate. But all of us form views of God, and that makes us all theologians. Therefore, if we are indeed to "lift Him up" for the world to see (and we are supposed to do that), I would think it would be of particular urgency to us to know Him, and part of that must include knowing about Him. No, we don't all need to go to seminary for formal theology classes, but we all should be digging into God's Word to learn what God says ... about God. Because the more we love Him, the more we will want to know Him, and the more we know Him, the more we will love Him. And, look around. There is nothing our world needs right now more than a clear image of the God we serve.
4 comments:
"No creed but Christ" is another of those half hearted attempts at reducing the need for theology but still begs the question for theology. When you say it, you then need to ask, what Christ, who, what did He do, etc., at which point you necessarily dive into theology.
Many people think of “theology” primarily as an academic field of study to be pursued at universities or seminaries by potential college professors or church staff professionals. However, if “theology” is the study of God, it should be a favorite subject for all believers, for it is the actual foundation--i.e. the basis--of our faith. Since man’s basic knowledge of God stems from the Bible, the better you know and love your Bible, the better you can know and love God. Theology can sometimes be only “head knowledge” for career theologians, but possessing proper theology--i.e. one based on biblical truth--can help any of us avoid fashioning a “God” of our own design (which is idolatry). “In truth, we are all theologians,” indeed. May we treasure the indescribable privilege we have to know God.
It seems like part of the problem is that too many don't know what theology is, and that it doesn't have any role in their faith.
I'm beginning to think that we need a term for those who's theology is focused around themselves and their feelings, instead of focused on YHWH. But then I realize that they do have a theology, it's just they have the wrong god.
Hebrews 6:1 would also refute the idea that greater theology isn't a good thing.
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