The Need for Theology

Why is Theology Important?

(Part III)

 The Need for Theology

Is there a need for theology? If I go to church, read my bible, and love Jesus, isn’t that enough? 

Unfortunately, due to gross misunderstanding and misrepresentation of theology, theology has gotten a bad rap. Theology is often portrayed as something for scholars that seem to be far above the “average” Christian in the pew.

Look at how H. L. Mencken viewed theology, “A theologian is like a blind man in a dark room searching for a black cat which isn’t there - and finding it!” H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

The above quote by Charles H. Spurgeon reads, "I learned when I was a boy that the chief end of man was to glorify God and enjoy Him forever: but I hear now according to the new theology that the chief end of God is to glorify man and to enjoy man forever, yet this is the turning of things upside down. "  This stems from ignoring biblical theology.

Others charge “theology” with being divisive and antithetical to developing unity within the body of Christ. One can certainly point to the myriad of denominations that have developed over so called doctrinal differences. Almost every day a new “flavor” of the month opens up in a community near you as a result of some difference in bible doctrine.

I am here to tell you that theology is definitely needed. Theology is not some abstract theory for the erudite. Theology is simply biblical doctrine recorded in the Scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Let me give you three reasons why theology and a study of biblical, systematic theology are needed.

Reason One

Theology is needed due to the fact that accurate doctrinal beliefs are essential to the relationship between you as a believer and God.

Biblical theology teaches us about God and His character. It tells us how and in what manner we may approach God and conduct a relationship. Theology informs us as how we are able to come to know and delight in the God of biblical revelation.

Simply having a warm and fuzzy emotional feeling about God is not enough. We must have accurate information and understanding in order to love, serve, obey, and cherish God.

Jeremiah made this point clear when he said,

 “Thus says the LORD: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the

mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,  but let

him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am

the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV

emphasis mine)

Theology is needed in order to define and establish a relationship with our God. Theology is not extraneous. God has explained how we may understand Him and how we may know Him.

Reason Two

Theology is needed since truth and experience are related.

We live in an age where many “believers” do not want their experiences hindered, interpreted, or governed by biblical truth. Someone once shouted at me in a rather heated manner during a discussion, “I don’t care what the bible says, I know what I experienced.” Experience seems to “trump” biblical doctrine, or theology more and more these days.

This story has been told more than once but it still demonstrates the fact that experience is governed by truth:

“A , man who falls from the tenth story may shout as he passes each window on the way down, ‘I’m still doing fine,’ and he may very well mean it. However, eventually the facts or the truth of the matter will catch up with his experience.”

The meaning of biblical truth has significant bearing upon experiences. We cannot deny biblical truths in order to validate personal experiences.

Reason Three

Theology is needed because of the proliferating false doctrines and false teachers

How serious is the problem of false teaching? Does the Bible contain many warnings about religious error and false teachers? Should we compromise and overlook differences in doctrine and fellowship people regardless of their errors? How important is spiritual truth? How concerned should we be about false prophets?

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false

teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even

denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift

destruction.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the

way of truth will be blasphemed.  And in their greed they will exploit you with

false words.”  (II Peter 2:2-3, ESV)

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith

by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,  through

the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and

require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving

by those who believe and know the truth.” (II Timothy 4:1-2, ESV)

There are so many false teachings and doctrines today that I wonder

if they can be numbered. The “isms” are rampant and are designed to
deceive. We have humanism, secularism, cults, eastern religions, the 

Emergent Church, psychology, and more seeking to erode biblical

teaching and principles. 

         

The answer is not to roll over and play dead or listen to the “siren call

that begs us to play nice.”  The answer is not simply to try to identify

false doctrine and then debate it, but we need to become even more

proficient at understanding biblical doctrine or theology. The answer

isn’t simply to lay down our bibles and throw out anything that is

seemingly divisive or prohibits “unity.” 

         

How does the treasury department train its agents to detect

counterfeit money? They do not have them study counterfeit bills.

They have their agents examine numerous samples of genuine

money. They have them look at it, feel it, and scrutinize it. When the

agents are given counterfeit money the agents immediately recognize

it.

         

When it comes to understanding biblical theology or doctrine we don’t

need to study the false teachings of all the “isms,” we simply need to

study the Scriptures, learn biblical doctrine or theology and when the

counterfeit appears we will know it immediately.

         

After all that is why Christ told Timothy and the church through the

apostle Paul, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that

needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane

and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (II Timothy

2:15-16, KJV)

To be continued…