Why Theology Matters
If you're around me long enough then you will inevitably hear me say the phrase, "Theology matters." Theology is one of those big words people hear and probably don't pay much attention to, but simply put it's the study of God or what people think about God. If you've ever thought about whom God is or what He's like then you've been a theologian in the loose sense of the word.
When I say theology matters what I really mean is how we think about God, what we know about God, and how that plays out in how we live our lives matters. For this reason, I would argue that if you're a Christian, you should be seeking to know God more through the study of His word and reading and studying from wise authors.
When we have friends or begin dating our future spouse then we want to get to know that person more. Why? God built us for relationships. Not only did He build us that way, but if we go all the way back to Genesis in the garden then we discover that God built us for relationship with Him! Adam and Eve had unlimited access to God. They had unhindered relationship. When they sinned, that relationship was broken and people had to go through a priest to have access to God. It was no longer unhindered. Christ came to restore that unhindered relationship. The question becomes, why wouldn't you want to know your Creator and Savior even more than you know your friends or spouse?
God calls us to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24). The truth is knowing more about whom He is and what He is like. I have found myself that the more I know God, the deeper my worship becomes as I realize how awesome and complex He is. Theology isn't just for seminary students and pastors, it should be for all of us.
Thinking about God and pondering His ways are what we see many people in the Bible doing. In Psalm 119, the writer tells us over and over how he loves God's laws, how sweet they are to him, and how he meditates on them day and night. It was obviously important for Him to know God.
We see this playing out more and more in our culture today. How am I supposed to think about gay marriage? How should I treat gay people? How should I feel about this presidential candidate? Can I affirm this or that position within my job and still be a responsible, faithful Christian? How can I best be raising my kids? All of these questions are theological at the root.
Our theology will touch every aspect of how we live our lives whether we recognize it or not. Whom we think God is affects how we live our lives. It affects our consistency in our Christian walk. Ultimately it affects what we will say or how we will answer King Jesus when we meet Him face to face in glory. Do you know Him or will He say depart from me I never knew you?
