Why Study Theology?
Tim Davis
Theology is necessary for faithful discipleship.
Now you might be wondering what I mean by theology? Simply put, theology means “words about God.” So if you’ve ever learned about God, talked about God or spoken to him, you’ve done theology.
So the question isn’t “to do or not to do theology?” Why? Because at the end of the day, you are a theologian.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “how is theology essential for you and me on our pilgrimage following Jesus?” Here are four ways.
1. WORSHIP
Getting to know my wife is anything but a mere intellectual exercise.
I remember our early ‘dating-days’ like they were yesterday. I cherished every dinner date—I was eager to sit across the table and learn about her. You could put it this way…
I learned so that I could love.
And so it should be with God. Theology, doctrine, dogma—these words can easily feel stuffy or disconnected from day-to-day life. But this shouldn’t be so. After all, “theology” simply means “words about God”. So when you do theology, you’re learning about God or talking to or about him. To return to my illustration, learning about my wife, talking about her and talking to her is anything but a mere intellectual exercise. I was learning to love.
Theology is necessary if we want to learn to love God and worship him for who he is.
2. KNOWING AND LIVING THE BIBLE’S STORY
You and I make sense of everything we do in light of a story.
So for example, suppose you’re recognized at your job for your work ethic and performance—and hats off to you, you get a promotion! Odds are, you’ll feel an intensified sense of identity in your role. So the next time you submit a report, you’ll do so with greater purpose and meaning. Why? Because the story of "who you are" and "what you bring to the table" just got richer. That (new) story governs the way you now live.
Well as it turns out, the Bible is a story. If you want to interpret all of life through the lens of Scripture’s story—if you want to deepen your sense of identity, purpose and meaning—you need to soak yourself in the story of Scripture.
3. BROTHERLY LOVE
Emergency rooms prioritize serving those patients who have greater need. They triage by focusing on the bigger issues first.
Utilizing this illustration, teachers and theologians apply the word triage to theology.
Here's what this implies: some theological ideas are weightier than others. For example, Jesus rising bodily from the grave is a weightier issue than baptism. Don’t get me wrong, both are important. But the former is essential to being a Christian whereas good-faith believers can lovingly agree to disagree on the latter.
So if we want to maintain integrity and brotherly love inside the church, we need to learn to do theological triage. Because not every doctrine is a hill to die on.
4. WITNESS
The Christian faith is attacked on a regular basis. And apps like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube make this anti-Christian messaging more accessible than ever.
Younger generations, especially, need robust theological training to weather these attacks and hold fast to the faith.
This means that the Church should be a teaching community. Yes, teachers should teach. But everyday churchgoers should be equipped to do the same. As the Apostle Paul states, “Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” (Col. 3:16) Moreover, every Christian should move on from milk to solid food. (Heb. 5:12-14)
If the church is going to faithfully witness to her neighbors, she needs solid food—she needs theology.
A THEOLOGICALLY TRAINED PEOPLE
Theology is necessary for faithful discipleship.
After all, you are a theologian. You’re in a community of theologians.
So let’s be a theologically trained people who faithfully worship, who faithfully live out the Bible’s story, who faithfully maintain integrity inside the church and who faithfully witness to the excellencies of Christ to a world that so desperately needs him.