Most Christians today will admit that what you believe about God matters. But today, some of those Christians will say that doctrine and theology does not matter, or they see it as boring, dry, or irrelevant. A simple and careful word study of theology proves its importance for ALL Christians. The word “theology” is not a new term today, but rather it comes from two greek words, “theos” meaning (God) and “logos” meaning (word). When put together, it means the study of God. The word “doctrine” defined by Wayne Grudem is understood as what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic. Both theology and doctrine equips people to fulfill their primary purpose, which is to glorify and delight in God through a deep personal knowledge of him. To know God, to have relationship with him is deeply dependent on correct knowledge of him. True knowledge of God even includes knowing him and understanding everything from his perspective.
Brooke Frasier, associated with Hillsong worship wrote the bridge to the song “Hosanna”. The line, “Show me how to love like you have loved me, break my heart from what breaks yours” in my opinion helps us understand things from God’s perspective…A true believer wants to know what breaks God’s heart and what pleases him. A true believer wants to have the knowledge of God of what he loves and what he hates. THAT IS THEOLOGY!
In a more practical usage of theology and doctrine, when we compare other belief systems, the way we determine if one is right or one is wrong is by comparing the beliefs. For example, I do not hold to the Muslim faith. The Muslim faith says Christ was a prophet just like Moses, but Christianity holds says Jesus Christ was more than just a prophet, He is God. THATS THEOLOGY!
You see, most Christians think theology and doctrine is just head knowledge and beliefs, BUT theology at its best when lived out. Wayne Grudem has some fantastic thoughts on studying theology:
1. Helps us overcome our wrong ideas: Have you ever had a wrong idea that scripture clarified for you? The beauty of God’s Word yesterday, today, and forever is that is NEVER CHANGES. It is a consistent, it does not contradict itself.
2. Helps us grow as believers: The Bible often connects sound doctrine with maturity in the Christians life (1 Tim. 6:3, Titus 1:1). So as believers grow in the knowledge of God, maturity continues. 1 Peter 5:5 helps us come to God’s Word, or better use of words, it helps us APPROACH God’s Word with humility. That my friend is a spiritual discipline.
3. Helps us rejoice and praise: Theology is not just intellect or a Biblical exercise, it is the study of the living God and the wonders and works he has done. God’s Word, the Bible is FROM God himself. I truly believe when God hears this phrase-especially from believers…”it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you love Jesus”, “theology and doctrine does not matter, helping the needy and poor is kingdom work”, “I love Jesus, that all that matters”, “how does knowing the Bible help the homeless or bring people into the church”, “Theology and doctrine is boring” and so on… Do I think or better yet, does God want justice for the poor and needy, does God care that loving Christ matters? YES, he does, faith and works go hand in hand as James 2 reminds us, but what you believe determines your actions. Why do we not lie? Because it is not of God to lie. God is not a liar and he commands us not to lie (Exodus 20:16). That is theology at its best! We first believe that God is not a liar, but He is Holy, he calls us to be Holy (1 Peter 1:6), then we live out our theology by not lying because it does not please God to lie and it is against His nature.
I understand that most believers are turned off with theology and doctrine because of debates like Calvinism/arminianism, or baptism arguments, or the role of women in the church. I do agree that arguments handle in the wrong way can break people apart, but does not Paul warn believers in Galatians not believe in a different gospel, not there is another one where works save? Does not Paul purposefully write to the Colossians that the Gnostics/false teachers are in fact wrong and to not believe them? John Piper in his book “The Pleasures of God” writes that controversy can be hard and mishandled, but he also believes that controversy is beneficial to the Christian faith. Those arguments listed can actually be beneficial to the christian faith.
I am done! Here is my heart in this matter of the importance of theology and doctrine…
After Christ left earth, Peter wrote in his first letter for those who are ongoing persecutions “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But to do this will gentleness and respect”. That hope is Jesus Christ, which by the way is a theological statement-do a word study on “Jesus” then “Christ”. Though you may not be physically persecuted, our faith is always being tested, so what you believe matters. Also, knowing and understanding God’s Word is a privilege. The Bible is as if God said these things to you and I, it is not just a story of redemption, but rather God has allowed us to see what He is like. Do you know God? It is like a marriage, do you want to know the person you marry and live it out? I doubt many people would say, “oh I love this person a lot, but getting to know them to see what there like or seeing what they like to do is not very important…all that matters is that I love them.” That would be stupid haha. Finally, theology and doctrine finds importance because so many Christians today think by doing good things they are saved, but if we know God’s Word, we know that good works are NOTHING except when done in faith. THAT’S THEOLOGY! People are saved by theology and doctrine, people are sanctified by theology and doctrine, God is glorified through our understanding of theology and doctrine!
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