Theology In Life

From time to time I have been asked "What is the big deal about theology? Why can't we just talk about Jesus?" In some ways they do have a point. Sometimes we can let nonessentials become essentials. I have seen churches split over nonessentials. I can see their point if this is what they mean when they ask this question. However, more often than not, this is not what they mean. 

This question opens a very serious issue, and it requires a very abbreviated history lesson in order to explain. Before the Reformation in 1517, the people did not have the Bible in their own language. This meant that the church could essentially teach whatever they wanted to teach, and claim that their monologue was part of God's Word. The common people could not contradict the church since they did not have the Bible to back up their claim.  

The problem with our modern day churches is the fact that they are lazy. If we go to a book store or online; we can find hundreds of different Bibles. We can find study Bibles, slim Bibles, large print Bibles, and specialty Bible that focus on outdoors or athletes, and much more. Even though we have complete access to God's Word, many are choosing to not study the Bible. 

Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Choosing not to read your Bible, will leave you ignorant of its teachings. Just like in 1517, we are choosing to place our faith that our pastor is going to correctly teach us God's Word. This is the opposite of Paul's message to the Bereans who studied their Bible to make sure the message was Biblically accurate. At this point, it is tempting for Christianity to resemble moralism rather than grace.

R.C. Sproul said, "It is impossible to know how to please God without an adequate and developing understanding of Scripture." We cannot understand the full picture of grace, mercy, and worship if we have a limited knowledge of the Bible. On the flip side, the more knowledge of the deep truths of the Bible, the more access we have to understanding the promised redemption story of the Bible. Neither of the Testaments make sense without the other. 

If we only open our Bibles on Sunday morning, then Sunday morning will be our only understanding of worship. Worship evolves into an event. Theology (the study of God) must be a part of our whole life in order for worship to be a lifestyle. "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God." (Psalm 42:1 ESV)

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