“No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not a theologian in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nevertheless. The issue for Christians is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are going to be good theologians or bad ones.” (R.C. Sproul)
If you are a Christian—one who has been redeemed by sovereign grace by God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ—you are also a theologian. Today, many Christians are appalled at such a statement, claiming theology is only for the scholars at seminary and pastors in the church. Sure, not all Christians have to be scholarly theologians, per se—but we must be students. Students of what? you might ask. Students of the written Word. If we are to be faithful Christians, it is imperative that we do theology.
We must be theologians.
Not everyone has to study themselves deep to the point of writing a systematic theology. No, let’s leave that to those who desire to do so. But we must study—and study diligently. Many, including myself on occasion, are intimidated by “doing theology.” But we shouldn’t be, for to do theology is simply to do the task of a Christian: study the Bible.
Part of the problem, of course, are Christians who declare they don’t need theology. The folks who say, “Just me give me Jesus,” and carry on about their day. My intention is not to overly criticize that way of thinking, but to lovingly pushback. For we must know that even when we say, “Just give me Jesus,” we then must define who Jesus is. And once we do that—surprise—we’re doing theology. the study of God The biggest reason we say it’s imperative to study theology is because of what theology is. We’re not speaking of abstract doctrines or theoretical philosophies. No, we’re 9 talking about God. Theology is, simply define, the study of God. When we neglect to study theology, we neglect God Himself. The more we act as if theology is unimportant, the more we treat God as unimportant.
Imagine thinking of your spouse in this manner. You say you trust and love her, yet you don’t put in the time to get to know her even more. You say one thing but do another. The same is true regarding our relationship with the triune God. If we say we love the Lord, yet do not take the time to study Him—what does that say about us?
Theology is extremely important. It’s also incredibly important to know how the theology we study impacts our daily walks with Jesus. We don’t worship and serve a theoretical or impractical God, but One who is imminent and personal. He is always with us.
Theology & Life 