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The study of theology is important!
"All preachers should be theologians, and all theologians preachers." (Emil Brunner)
"The false preacher is one who has to say something; the true preacher has something to say".
(Charles H. Spurgeon)
The study of theology is important because from the dawn of human history, every people group
across the world has been struggling with the great questions of human existence:
“Who am I? Why am I here? What am I doing?
How do I find meaning and happiness?”
Different civilizations and different persons have formulated different answers to these questions,
ranging from the ultra-hedonistic principles of Cyrenaicism to the ultra-ascetic principles
of the Hindu Jainists.
However, both of these extremes, and every other human philosophy that lies somewhere in between,
is insufficient to answer these questions.
The great underlying supposition of theology is that it is only the God who created mankind
that can reveal what mankind's purpose is, and show how we may obtain meaning and happiness.
If we look for the answers to life's deepest questions within ourselves,
we will never find satisfactory answers; but if we look to the One who made us,
and conform our lives to his words and commandments, then we will find certain answers to all of our questions.
Riches, fame, power, knowledge, and all the other things that humans pursue will never finally satisfy;
but as God declared through the prophet Jeremiah, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom
and let not the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches,
but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me,
that I am the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Therefore, theology is not just an interest or hobby that we can add to our list
of favorite activities and diversions.
It pertains to the whole of our lives, and must shape and inform our thoughts and activities
in every sphere of our existence.
Without the knowledge of God, the knowledge of ourselves becomes distorted and futile,
and any meaning and ultimate satisfaction becomes utterly impossible.
(Much of above is from an article by Nathan Pitchford & John Hendryx.)
Theology makes all practical things really practical because its primary concern is not with theory or speculation.
"The two terms, "spiritual" and "theology," keep good company with one another.
"Theology" is the attention that we give to God, the effort we give to knowing God as revealed
in the Holy Scriptures and in Jesus Christ.
"Spiritual" is the insistence that everything that God reveals of Himself and His works is capable
of being lived by ordinary men and women in their homes and workplaces.
"Spiritual" keeps "theology" from degenerating into merely thinking and talking and writing
about God at a distance. "
Theology" keeps "spiritual" from becoming merely thinking and talking and writing about the feelings
and thoughts one has about God.
The two words need each other, for we know how easy it is for us to let our study of God (theology)
get separated from the way we live; we also know how easy it is to let our desires
to live whole and satisfying lives (spiritual lives) get disconnected from who God actually is
and the ways He works among us."
(Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, p.4)
Lessons of Systematic Theology:
Week 1 - Living With God. Click here for Week 1
Week 2 - How We Got Our Bible. Click here for Week 2
Week 3 - Man Click here for Week 3
Week 4 - Jesus Click here for Week 4
Week 5 - Salvation Click here for Week 5
Week 6 - Holy Spirit Click here for Week 6
Week 7 - The Church Click here for Week 7
Week 8 - Christian Living Click here for Week 8
Week 9 - Spiritual Beings Click here for Week 9
Week 10 - Last Things Click here for Week 10
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