While I whole-heartedly agree, this post will focus on a broader, more ecumenical appeal to the study of historical theology in general. Skip to content Instagram Facebook Twitter Menu. Jon English Lee. Truth for God's Church. Church History , Theology. Studying historical theology produces humility.
Studying historical theology challenges our piety. Studying historical theology gives to us a corporate identity. One historian wrote beautifully regarding historical theology: It [Historical Theology] attaches us to former generations, and inspires us with satisfaction and joy to find, that in the substance of evangelical faith and sentiment we are one with the Church of all ages.
Studying historical theology bolsters our hope. Studying historical theology enhances our worship. You might also like It should give meaning to our faith, enabling us to deepen our understanding of who God is and breathing new life into how we live in the real world.
Here are 5 reasons why we should all be engaging with theology. Therefore, anyone who thinks about God, or relates to God in any way, or lives a certain way based on a belief in God is already doing theology. We also do theology in any conversations we might have with other people about God.
Intentionally doing theology will change the way we live, and the ways we think about God and our relationship to him. In our Christian journeys, we want to be seeking God in everything we do, and theology is a way for us to do that. Through actually reflecting on the views we hold about God, and the way we live because of them, and the customs we enact, and the ways we talk about them, we find that we understand both ourselves and our faith more.
We will understand the ultimate purpose of creation: not only the purpose of its essence, which we seem to make some sense of through the various intelligible relationships among individual natures, but the purpose of its existence in general, for which no philosophy can otherwise find a sufficient reason.
And to know Him is to know pure love. To receive His eternal gift of life in Christ Jesus is to not only know but experience this divine love. Out of the fullness of this love we are able to express His love to another. For as much as we have talked about what theology is, we must be careful to assert what it is not. We were told throughout the Scriptures that we should not be speculating about the meaning of a mystery not revealed.
Indeed, one of the features of a maturing believer is to be able to live in the tension of the ministry. The Apostle Paul warns Timothy about the disastrous consequences of wrangling over words. We must, therefore, be careful and precise in our statements about what the Bible says. Going beyond that is theological speculation. This will surely lead not only to strife within that particular Christian community but will lead to heartache by the one who is espousing it.
We have no doubt seen how some people use Scripture as a weapon to hurt other people. Yet even the prophets, like Jeremiah, who warned of judgement, wept exceedingly when their prophecies at length became judgement. But there is another thing that theology must never be. Theology, the knowledge of our Creator, must not be neglected.
How do we do that? Well, one way is to allow the misuse of theology by another our excuse to avoid knowing God. The reasons that I have named are real.
As a pastor, I have seen the damage that abuse of theology can do to a person. To neglect the true knowledge of your God is to ignore the healing salve of grace that is needed to cure your pain. Can you imagine that? We have seen that theology is not mere philosophical speculation. Theology is not an esoteric inquiry into metaphysical ideas that are disconnected from living and dying.
Theology is always personal, always accessible, always about knowing God. Our Savior once told some who had trusted in Him that conversion was not the end, but the beginning:.
And that, dear friend, is the wondrous, unfathomable glory of true biblical theology: God is truth. To know Him, to follow Him, to pursue Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind is to increasingly shed the darkness of a fallen world and walk into the soft golden beams of celestial light; a light that warms, illumines, and guides you into the perfect freedom you have dreamed of for so long.
Leo J. Elders, The Metaphysics of Being of St. Thomas Aquinas in a Historical Perspective Brill, Michael A. He is the President of Faith for Living and the D. Milton is the author of more than thirty books and a musician with five albums released. Mike and his wife, Mae, reside in North Carolina.
Plus Toggle navigation. Password Assistance. Email address. What Theology Must Never Be For as much as we have talked about what theology is, we must be careful to assert what it is not. Theology is not Speculation We were told throughout the Scriptures that we should not be speculating about the meaning of a mystery not revealed. Theology cannot be Weaponized We have no doubt seen how some people use Scripture as a weapon to hurt other people.
Theology must never be Ignored Theology, the knowledge of our Creator, must not be neglected. Notes: 1. Share Tweet Save.
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