By: Ricardo Barber
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
We need to study theology for several reasons. First because everyone is a theologian, everyone thinks about God, his existence, his work, his purposes, his will. Since everyone is a theologian, why not be a good one? Studying theology removes subjectivity from our thoughts about God and provides the opportunity of understanding God truthfully. It moves us from feelings to rational truth, not what just seems right or our own opinions. It can help us critically evaluate popular displays of religion and be able to discuss and present the truth of God to counter them. It helps us defend against new presentations of spiritual life. New religions and new expressions of old religions are constantly appearing on the religious landscape. We are called upon to defend our faith, this defense is known as the study of apologetics. Historical theology is particularly helpful here. The study of theology allows us to satisfy our intellectual cravings. Even though our culture has worked hard to subdue intellectual pursuits through TV, video games, over-busy lives, sloth, we have been created to desire intellectual pursuits and critical thoughts.(See blog titled "Are we raising Anti-Intellectual Kids?) “An unexamined truth is not worth believing.”
Studying theology also provides absolute truth in our relativistic culture. This culture denies absolute truth and Christianity claims there is truth and there is an absolute standard of truth- God and his revelation. The study of theology produces Biblically informed truth that grounds us and protects us from swaying in the wind with the whims of our culture and our own minds. It grounds our Christian life of worship in truth. It also produces a life transformed according to the truth of God’s word. Studying theology grounds our teaching/preaching in truth; and it protects our congregations from falsehood. Lastly it grounds our worldview in a biblical/theological culture rather than in the world’s culture.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
i really agree that we all think about God. even the atheists think about God, but theyre thinking about how they can cover him up. those of them who are scientists, and have done research on the conception of the universe know that the universe came about in some way, but they do NOT want to admit that it was God.
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