Showing posts with label Theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theology. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Theology and Our Relationship with God

"Hence, the reality of faith itself — our commitment to the God revealed in Christ — calls forth theological reflection." — Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God (p. 1)

As a parent of school-aged children, I frequently confront the reality that, while assisting them with their homework, I struggle to remember what they are learning. More often than I’d like to admit, I find myself turning to Google in search of the correct answers.

This experience illustrates a crucial truth: our knowledge of the world is limited. It is constrained by what we have learned, what we can recall, and the information available to us. There is no one person who possesses comprehensive knowledge about everything. Indeed, even specialists in a given field have gaps in their understanding. These gaps encourage us to engage in deeper inquiry and study.

This is true for the most important of all areas of inquiry: God.

The Need for Theological Reflection

Too often, because our contemporary culture emphasizes the “relationship” aspect of God, we feel like the study of God makes that relationship all about intellectual knowledge. We figure that because it is like a relationship, we will learn what we need along the way, through our experience. Unfortunately, this reality has contributed to the American Church not fully understanding who God is and how He expects us to live.

In a typical interpersonal relationship, we come to know another person through shared experiences. These moments reveal their character and provide us ample opportunities to engage in conversation and ask questions. However, our relationship with God operates differently. The experiences we have with Him must be interpreted through the lens of Scripture. The Bible serves as our primary source for understanding both who God is and His will for the world. Part of nurturing our relationship with God involves dedicating time to study and meditate on the Bible, which helps us in truly knowing Him.

We Are All Theologians

Many of us do not identify as theologians. For much of my life, I viewed myself simply as a Bible student, with the academic discipline of theology seeming distant and inaccessible. We often perceive theology through an academic lens, characterized by complex terminology and intricate ideas. This perception can lead to the conclusion that theology is irrelevant to our relationship with God.

It is true that theology can feel out of reach and not practical to following Jesus, but that is not all theology is. At its core, the work of theology is the work of thinking well about God. Understanding that God is the Creator is the work of theology. Knowing that God is Trinity is also the work of theology. As we think through what the Bible says about God, we are engaged in the task of theology.

Since theology is thinking well about God, then we engage in theology whenever we ponder His nature, His works, or His will for our lives. It is important for us to remember that theology is not merely an academic pursuit for scholars in seminaries; it is a necessary discipline for every believer who desires to grow in their faith. To follow Jesus faithfully requires that we take time to deepen our understanding of God through study, reflection, and application.

The Foundation of Theology

The foundation for theology is always Scripture. While it is true that nature reflects the glory of God, it is Scripture alone that provides us with the information that we need to truly understand who God is. Reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible are important parts of theology; they provide the correct input we need to think well about God. Without a solid grounding in Scripture, our thoughts about God can easily be shaped by cultural assumptions, personal experiences, or misconceptions rather than by biblical truth.

Yet, theology is not merely an individual endeavor. The Church, both historically and presently, plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of God. Throughout history, faithful believers have wrestled with Scripture, created doctrines, and provided insights that help us think rightly about God. Engaging with the teachings of the Church helps guard against error and deepens our understanding by connecting us with the wisdom of the faithful people who have gone before us.

Theology Leads to Transformation

The goal of theology is not merely learning more information but fostering a deeper love for God and maturing our faith. Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Loving God with our mind implies engaging in the work of theology—seeking to know Him rightly so that we may worship Him more fully and live in obedience to His will.

When we neglect theology, we risk distorting our understanding of God and living according to a false perception of Him. A faith that is not grounded in truth is susceptible to error, doubt, and instability. However, when we commit ourselves to theological reflection, we equip ourselves with the knowledge necessary to discern truth and to stand firm in our faith.

Ultimately, theology is a pursuit that leads to transformation. As we grow in our knowledge of God, our hearts are strengthened in commitment, our lives better reflect the character of Jesus, and our purpose aligns with God’s heart. Theology is not just about thinking well; it is also about living well. It is about knowing God so that we might love Him more deeply and follow Him more faithfully.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

You Are A Theologian

 


One of the fundamental aspects of being human is that we think. Some people may reflect more deeply than others, but all of us, at some point, have pondered life's big questions. It’s in our nature to think and to seek understanding.

This natural inclination to think means that, on some level, every person is a theologian.

Stanley Grenz wrote in his book Theology for the Community of God:

"Every Christian is a theologian. Whether consciously or unconsciously, each person of faith embraces a belief system. And each believer, whether in a deliberate manner or merely implicitly, reflects on the content of these beliefs and their significance for Christian life." (p. 1)

In other words, you are a theologian. Every time you contemplate who God is or reflect on His existence, you engage in the discipline of theology. Even though people—both inside and outside of the Christian community—disagree about the nature of God, the act of thinking about such things makes us all theologians. This reflective process plays a key role in shaping our worldview.

Your worldview, the set of beliefs through which you interpret the world, is rooted in your thoughts about God. If you’re reading this, chances are you already have specific beliefs about God’s role in the world and in your life. These beliefs shape how you understand the world and influence the way you live.

For me personally, what I believe about God shapes my understanding of right and wrong, my sense of purpose, and the hope I have for the future. It informs my perspective on the creation of the world, historical events, the present, and what lies ahead. My faith brings moments of joy, guilt, hope, and sorrow. In essence, reflecting on God guides every aspect of my life.

What’s remarkable is that God grants us the freedom to choose what we believe about Him. He doesn’t force our beliefs; He invites us to decide. This means that as you ponder God’s existence, you also determine the place He will have in your life.

The question you need to consider is: “Will you allow Him to guide you, or will you ignore Him?”

The choice is yours.

This freedom also brings with it a personal responsibility. You can’t rely solely on your family’s beliefs or simply go along with the crowd. You must seek the truth for yourself.

It’s essential to pause and think deeply about what you believe and why. I firmly believe that God desires us to think critically about our beliefs so that we gain a better understanding of life and the world around us.

While we each bear responsibility for our own faith, we also have the potential to impact the lives of others. Through our conversations and the way we live, we influence those around us—especially those closest to us. That’s why it’s important to be intentional about learning, teaching, and living out the truth.

The apostle Paul gave Timothy this advice:

"Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:15-16, CSB)

Paul reminds Timothy that what he believes about God is crucial and that his faith should shape his life. We should take this to heart as well, allowing our beliefs about God to guide our actions and decisions.

You are a theologian. The ideas you develop about God will influence the direction of your life. Don’t just follow someone else’s beliefs—take the time to think deeply about who God is and what that means for your life. Being a theologian is one of the most important roles you’ll ever play. Don’t ignore this great responsibility.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Thinking Right and Worship

 


Worship is an essential part of the Christian life. It is the act of recognizing and praising God for who He is and what He has done. Worship is not just singing songs or attending church services; it is a way of life that centers on the recognition of God's greatness and our utter dependence on Him.

N. T. Wright, in his book Simply Christian wrote,
"Worship is at the very center of all Christian living. One of the main reasons that theology (trying to think straight about who God is) matters is that we are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. It matters that we learn more about who God is so that we can praise him more appropriately." (pp. 148-49)
In this quote Wright highlights the importance of theology in worship. He points out that the more we understand who God is, the more we can love and praise Him.

This idea is supported by Jesus' teach ing on the most important commandment found in Mark 12:30 (CSB):
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
In other words, to mature in our worship of God, we must engage our entire being, including our intellect. Our love for God is not just an emotional response; it is grounded in a knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us.

Theology, the study of God and His character, helps us understand God's nature, His attributes, and His actions.

As we learn more about God, our worship becomes more meaningful and authentic. To properly worship God we need to grow in our understanding of who God is. This allows us to praise Him for His holiness, His love, His mercy, His justice, and His faithfulness. Theology informs our understanding of God so we can sing songs that reflect those truths and offer prayers that are in line with His character.

Good theology also helps us avoid false worship. It helps us discern between true and false teachings and helps us avoid worshipping idols. It reminds us that our worship is not just about what we want or feel but is primarily about honoring God.

Worship is not a passive activity but a vital aspect of the Christian life. To worship God fully, we must engage our heart, soul, mind, and strength.


Theology is not an activity reserved for academics, but it is a vital part of a Christian’s worship of God. Theology helps us understand who God is and what He has done, which empowers us to praise Him more fully and avoid worshipping a false god created in our own image.

As we continue to grow in our knowledge of God, our worship will become more authentic, meaningful, and life-giving. We shouldn’t neglect theology, but instead we need to let it inform our worship of God.

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Theology of Rights


I have had these three tweets from Skye Jethani rolling around in my head for a couple of weeks.



I follow Skye on Twitter because I occasionally listen to The Holy Post Podcast, which he cohosts. Even through I don't always agree with him, I do find his thoughts to be interesting.

That is how I feel about these tweets. I don't 100% agree with them, but they sure got me thinking.

The part I absolutely agree with Skye about is the need for a corporate theology. American Christianity has developed a very individualized faith. It is all about my personal relationship with God. 

I have written before how we don’t just have a personal relationship with God, but we have a covenant relationship with God. An understanding of the covenant nature of Christianity would go along way to help us grasp the truth that we are part of God’s Global Family, and that our relationship with God includes our relationships with other people.

With that being said, when it comes to the topic of masks and vaccinations more than a corporate theology we need a theology of rights.

The reason I say this is because Americans, even though our Constitution was created to protect rights, have a poor understanding of what rights are. 

This lack of understanding about rights is true for people inside and outside the church. We have many people who want to stand up and claim something as a right to justify what they want to do.

One of the reasons we need a proper understanding of rights is because it helps us navigate these type of conversations.

Do I have the right to choose to wear a mask or not to wear a mask? 
Do I have the right to choose to be vaccinated or not to be vaccinated?

We need a way to determine if something is really a right or if we are using freedom as a  justification for doing what we want to do.

A second reason why we need a proper understanding of rights is because it helps us understand the sacrifice we need to make so we can follow Jesus. 

In Philippians 2:7 (NLT) we read:
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.

Jesus gave up, in other words he sacrificed, his rights in order to save us. 

Looking at this passage through the lens of rights, Jesus saw his rights as something that he could set aside in order to love his Father and to love people. 

Our rights, like all of God’s blessings, are to be used for the good of His kingdom. That means there will be times when we have to set aside or sacrifice our rights in order to love people.

Remember, sacrifice is one of the primary ways we worship God.

For example, I am a big 2nd Amendment guy. I think we have the right to self-defense and to protect the lives of our family and friends. If we believe that, then we understand the sacrifice we make when we lay down our weapons for the sake of the Kingdom.

Having a proper understanding of rights allows us to have the conversation about how we properly use our rights, when we should work to protect our rights, and the when and why we should lay them down to follow the example Jesus.

Here is the bottom-line: A proper understanding of our rights helps us know when a sacrifice of our rights is needed in order to love people.

When it comes to these questions about masks and vaccinations here are a couple of thoughts I have.

It doesn’t matter what your position on masks are, whether they are effective or not, it is not a violation of your rights to wear a mask to spend time with a person who is more concerned about COVID than you are. In fact, wearing a masking is the loving thing to do because it is taking in to consideration the other person’s thoughts and feelings.

When it comes to vaccinations I think things are a little different. 

God created us to be good stewards, and being good stewards includes taking good care of our bodies. I don’t think it is wise or loving to tell a person unsure of the health benefits of a vaccine that they need to be vaccinated in order to show love to other people. This is especially true since there are other ways for a person to protect others, like practicing good hygiene and staying home when you are sick. 

Therefore, as long as a person is practicing good hygiene and staying home when not feeling well, they are not violating the command to “love your neighbor,” because they are doing other things to keep themselves and other people healthy.

Having a good theology of rights would help us know the proper use of our individual rights and us understand when to sacrifice those rights so we can love our neighbor.

Encountering God: The Foundation of Christian Identity and Community

  “As Christians we assert that religious experience — an encounter with the divine — is foundational to our self-identity. According to the...