Theology Matters!!

Maybe you have come across Christians who claim that they are only about Jesus and are not concerned with theology. They want to keep it simple and do not want to be caught up in the mire of complex doctrine. But this is a self-defeating position. All that is needed is to ask them to say something about the Jesus they believe in; and with the very first statement they make, they have engaged in theology. 

Theology is the study of God. Its aim is to outline propositions or beliefs about God. Needless to say, everyone has some belief about God, including the atheist. And these beliefs impact the way a person sees the world and interacts with it (though there are many inconsistencies). Consequently, it is important that we have the right understanding and belief of who God is, and how He interacts with us and with all of creation. Without this understanding, we will come up with our own concept of God and interact with our own imagination. 

Theology Matters for Worship

Jesus said that those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Worshiping in truth refers to worshiping the true God, that is, as He is and as He has revealed Himself. Without the true knowledge of God and His nature, we will not be worshiping in truth. We will worship according to our beliefs about God which may not be accurate. 

For example, it is common among Christians to think that God is not sovereign and many events take place that are outside of His control including calamities and sickness. But the Bible says that God is in control of everything in this universe and He does whatever He pleases (Is 45:7, Ps 135:6, 33:11, 115:3, Dan 4:35). Having this knowledge of God should cause us to worship Him in good times and in bad times, knowing that He is in control and will work all things for the good of those who love Him; those called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).

It is imperative that we learn the attributes of God and His work so that our worship will be according to what Jesus said the Father is looking for. 

Theology Matters for Salvation

Our understanding of how God saves is important to have the right relationship with Him. We are not saved by our works; we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). God saved us in Jesus by making Him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor, and there is nothing we can do to maintain God’s favor (Gal 3:3). God loved us first (1 John 4:10) and made us born again. If we do not understand God’s grace, we will spend our days trying to earn God’s favor; we will think that we are in control of our salvation not realizing that salvation is from the Lord (Ps 3:8).  

Theology Matters for Ethics

How can we tell if a certain practice or behavior is right or wrong? Humans have debated these since Adam and Eve sinned and it continues today. We have to know how God defines things since He is the ultimate authority in the universe. If we do not understand this then we will come up with arbitrary standards to live by. God has spoken in His Word and He has told us what He expects from us (Micah 6:8). This knowledge has to guide our judgements and how we interact with people around us. We have to have the right understanding of love, race, marriage, sexuality, identity, work, money, children, and so on, and this understanding will come only when we learn what God has already said about it. 

Theology Matters for Ecclesiology

Ecclesiology is the study of the church. What we understand the church to be will determine how we do church. There are numerous churches and denominations in the world. And the differences between them are so large that it cannot be said that every church is biblical. Some differences are trivial (for ex: frequency of communion), while others are more serious (for ex: believing baptism saves a person). Therefore, it is important to know what Jesus intended His body (the church) to be and His purposes for it in the world (see Eph 3:10). Without the right understanding of the nature of the church, a congregation could become a mere social organization and lose the reason for its existence. Theology determines our ecclesiology and therefore, we must strive to learn from God’s revelation. 

Theology Matters for Evangelism

We have already discussed how theology affects our salvation. In the same manner, the way we share God’s salvation to others is also impacted by our theology. We have to see that humans are dead in sin (Eph 2:1) and not merely wounded or sick. Dead people need regeneration and not antibiotics. It is only the Spirit of God through the Word of God (see John 3:5 & Rom 10:17) who can bring about life in dead sinners. If we do not understand this, then we will use all other worldly means while evangelizing and risk false conversions and false assurances. We are to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ clearly so that people will be convicted of their sin and repent and believe. We should also understand the gospel ourselves before we preach it to others. 

Conclusion

I recently saw a movie with the lead character in a dual role — twin sisters. There were many instances of mistaken identity, that is, attributing qualities, actions, and sayings to the wrong twin. There was so much confusion and constant correction. Without the right theology and understanding of God, we attribute qualities, actions and sayings to God that are not true of Him. And, essentially, we end up worshiping, obeying, and following a God of our own creation and not the Only true God. 

As we begin a new year, let us strive to learn our God more; He who has revealed Himself through His Word. Theology matters and it matters for us.