This is post 2 is a series of post for the week, unpacking the truth that theology matters. These post came about in response to a friend's reply from last week about theology. Yesterday we discovered the truth about what theology really is and is not. As I said, theology is a study of a particular topic or person and their nature from the Bible. Theology is not facts about the Bible or Bible verse quoting. As my friend also replied, understanding this truth and really knowing what theology is matters. He pointed to a bad reality in the life of the universal church today stating, "There are so many in churches today that study theology and use God's word to make money. Some that have multimillion dollar houses that are great with theology, but fall far short of doing God's WILL.". He is right in stating that today many Pastor and people in the church misuse and for their own gain, destroy the Christian faith. But as I said yesterday a Pastor preaching the Bible is not theology. Yes a Pastor preaching can be theological, but many times and from many of the "popular, rockstar" Pastors, they are preaching facts and application that makes us feel good. A Pastor truly preaching theology from the pulpit is never really popular because, preaching theology calls for hard work from the listener and not an easy beleivism and easy listening. And to make matters worse, these Pastors and people that abuse the faith are not the norm, but they are the ones who stand out in the public eye.
But lets get back to the main point of why theology matters. Why would a study of the nature of our God be critical, essential, and founadtional for a real Christian life. I want to unpack this question over the next 3 posts by talking about 3 different areas that answer this question. Today I want to think about the topic of love and why theology matters. Lets begin by asking a question. Do I love God? I would hope and pray my answer is yes. So then let me ask another question. Do I love my wife? I would hope and pray that the answer is yes also. But to truly love my wife and serve her in that love, just as Jesus loved His church (this is a theological statement), I must know my wife. And what must I know about my wife to love her the best I can. Here are some questions that I would have to answer so I could love my wife the best I possibly can.
What is her shoe size? (So I can buy her new slippers for Christmas)
What is her favorite flower? (So i can bring her flowers on her birthday)
What is her favorite flavor ice cream? (So I can bring her a bowl while we watch a movie together)
What was her favorite subject in School? (So I can start a good conversation with her)
What is her favorite place to be on this planet? (So I can take her away for a few days to relax)\
What is her favorite Bible character, verse, or book? (So I can dig in with her spiritually)
What is her biggest sin struggle? (So I can help hold her accountable)
And the list can go on...
So if I want to love my wife the best I possible can, I had better know these things and much more about her. I must study her, talk with her, get to know her character, nature, and desires. And I must be in a realtionships with my wife to the point she speaks to me about herself and I listen.
The same is exactly true about God. If we claim to love God, we must know God. Here are some questions I must ask God so I can know Him and love HIm better.
What is your main reason for doing things?
Why did you Create me?
Did you create me?
Are you in complete control?
Why did you save me?
Are you the only Savior in the world?
What does it mean to obey you?
What is your will for my life?
And the list goes on....
So if we want to truly love God the best possible way we can, we must know God. And how do we come to know God? We must study him, talk with him, hear from him, and truly have a deep intimate personally relationship with Him, where He speaks to us and we listen. And what does it mean to truly know and study God and learn His nature? It means theology or the study of God. And to say again, studying God is not being able to list a bunch of facts or quote the book of Genesis. Studying God is reading His word (which is letting Him speak to us), and doing the hard work of really getting to know God through the Bible. This is theology. This is the hard work of theological study. And if we do not put the hard work of studying God in (which again is theology), we will stay in the baby pool of the faith and NOT DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER, which is truly meaning we do not really know Him. God desires that all His children grow deeper in their love for Him. And to love God better and grow in it, it always comes from knowing Him better first. How can we know how to love God the way, the when, the how, and the why of what He wants, if we do not first know Him?
Theology matters becasue we need to know the why, how, when, and where of loving God to the fullest. And theology puts us in the right place to do all of that.
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