Why is Christian Theology Important?

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:15-17)

The word theology comes from two Greek words, theos (God) and logos (word). From them we can see that theology is the study of God which, of course, includes His attributes.  Christian theology is the study of what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe.  Many believers treat Christian theology as something that is dividing, something that should be avoided.  In actuality, Christian theology should be uniting!

The Word of God teaches truth and we are to be united behind that truth. Of course, there are disagreements in Christian theology, and it is okay to disagree on the non-essentials of Christian theology.  At the same time, there is much that Christians should be united over.  A biblically-based Christian theology will enable us to better understand God, salvation, and our mission in this world.

Christian theology declares that God has revealed Himself to people in a general way through creation and in a special (personal) way demonstrated by His divine words and acts contained in the Bible and especially in the person of Jesus Christ.  Millard Erickson defines the two forms of revelation this way, “On the one hand, general revelation is God’s communication of Himself to all persons, at all times, and in all places.  Special revelation on the other hand, involves God’s particular communications and manifestations which are available now only by consultation of certain sacred writings.

When it comes to Christian theology then, special revelation is the cornerstone, while general revelation serves as a nudge that encourages us to recognize the ultimate truths set down in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ.  Although God’s revelation through nature fails to bring us to a saving knowledge of God, it is capable of bringing us to a general knowledge of God.  A great many theologian agree that the concepts of purpose and design, for example, have validity in regard to the question of the existence of God.  

To study theology is to get to know God in order that we may glorify Him through our love and obedience.  Notice the progression here, we must get to know Him before we can love Him, and we must love Him before we can desire to obey Him.  As a consequence, our lives are greatly enhanced by the comfort and hope He conveys to those who know, love, and obey Him.  Poor theology and a shallow, inaccurate understanding of God will only make our lives worse instead of bringing the comfort and hope we long for.  

Knowing about God is critically important.  We fail ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about God.  The world is a painful place, and life in it is disappointing and unpleasant. Reject theology and you doom yourself to life with no sense of direction.  

Christian theology points to what Christians believe—that a personal God has revealed Himself through a created world, and that He has a plan and ultimate destiny for that world.  Christian theology is ultimately Christ-centered.  

The God who “...so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16) has allowed for a personal relationship between Himself and fallen humanity.

____________________________________

Russ Sharrock has been in ministry for 23 years as Pastor, Church Planter, Bible Teacher and Missionary. In 2019 he founded Vanguard Ministries International. Prior to accepting God’s call into ministry, he was a professional photographer, and over the years co-authored three newspaper columns with his wife Alice Taylor Sharrock, a professional artist for over 40 years.

If you have any questions concerning the topic of the post, or about having a relationship with Jesus Christ, you may write to me at: lifesjourney1949@gmail.com.  I appreciate all my readers but give God all the glory for this opportunity to journey through life with each of you.  May God bless you!