Theology Is Meant to Be Lived

[Stormie]

It seems like biblically orthodox theology, or the belief system and worldview that are based on the promises and parameters found in the Holy Scriptures is perceived as a lofty, somewhat sterile subject pursued by academics and seminarians.

But if theology was merely a scholastic system through which people could organize their thoughts and suppositions about God and it didn’t lead to the love of Jesus Christ, it would be the religious version of entomology. Theology was meant to be lived, and our Creator Redeemer is not a proposition to be examined; He’s a personhood whom we get to engage with and ultimately emulate!

The original Greek root words that the English word theology is translated from are theos, which refers to God, and logos or logia, which refer to utterances, sayings, or words. Therefore, the basic definition of theology is “conversations about God.” And conversation implies relationship, right? Furthermore, genuine relationships framed in the context of conversation are not purely transactional; they’re personal. They require some measure of mental energy and emotional engagement. They affect our minds and our hearts.

The temptation to narrowness in theological interpretation is perhaps most serious in the ecumenical realm. Theology is so much more than a system to organize our thoughts about God and so much better than a belief system to modify our behavior. It’s a gorgeous, curving, adventure-strewn path that leads us deeper and deeper into the unconditional love of the one true God. Sound biblical theology doesn’t produce smug scholars; it produces grateful and passionately devoted—yet still flawed—disciples of Jesus Christ.

 

[Stormie]

It is quite clear that our view of God will inescapably shape our perspective on our circumstances. In this way our theology is like a lens through which you examine life. This means we never come at our circumstances from some happy place of neutrality.

We are always evaluating our situation from the vantage point of vertical awe or take it for granted. In some way, we, like the children of Israel, are always asking and answering five deeply theological questions, and the way that we answer them will push us toward hope or panic.

Question 1. Is God good? Now we can rest assured that the goodness of God will confuse us. You see, what looks good from God’s perfect eternity-to-destiny perspective doesn’t always seem good to us at ground level.

2. Will God do what he promised? Few questions in life are more important than this one.

3. Is God in control? In some ways, all the other questions rest on this one.

4. Does God have the needed power? How do you measure the power of God? How can poor, feeble minds grasp that which is without limit?

5. Does God care about me? Perhaps this is the question we’re most conscious of. It’s the question that the bullied teenager asks. It’s the question asked by the wife who has watched her marriage go sour. It’s the question the exhausted parent asks at the end of a very hard day with children. It’s the question asked by the lonely single woman. The man who has just lost his job asks this question. It’s what’s asked by the person who with sadness has left the church that has lost its way. It’s what the person suffering the weaknesses of old age asks. It’s what the person asks who is struggling through a long illness. It’s what you wonder about as you watch the surrounding culture coarsen and worsen.

He is the ultimate loving Father. He is the completely faithful Friend. He is the One who stays closer than a brother. He alone will never leave us, no matter what. He is the One who never sends us without going with us. He is our protector, guide, defender, teacher, Savior, and healer.

He never mocks our weakness but gives us strength. He never uses our sin against us but affords us forgiveness. He never plays favorites, never wants to give up on us, never gets exhausted or wishes he could quit. He never plays games with us. He is never disloyal. His care is so awesome and so complete that nothing in our life’s experience in any way compares. He cares!

 

[Stormie]

The knowledge of God and of the divine government is sometimes called the science of theology. If this be so, it is the science of all sciences. God is first, then come his works. We are made to obtain knowledge of Him; Solomon says in Proverbs 19:2:
“Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good.”

When ignorant, we are helpless, defenseless; we don't know what to do or which way to go; and what knowledge can avail more to our security, peace, honor, and prosperity than that knowledge which acquaints us with the character of our Creator, Saviour, Preserver. and Judge, and instructs us in those laws which determine our relations in life and fix our hopes for eternity?

Before the charge “know thyself,” ought to come the far greater charge, “know thy God.” But, though the study of the being and character of God is a duty which we dare not disregard, still, let us not be unmindful of the fact that we vile, short-sighted worms should approach the solemn task of studying God with feelings of humility and awe. God is found of the lowly, but hides himself from the proud and self-sufficient man. When Daniel fasted and prayed and made confession of sin, the secrets of the Lord were unfolded to his view.

 

[e v e]

It is exactly the academic 'esaus' and pharisee theologians who turned God into a 'system;'
who not only did that but who have corrupted the texts, their interpretation and their transmission...

it's true that we are far from able to study the topic easily... and I like the way you suggest an authentic meeting of the soul with our God rather than an institutional system of exegesis or debate.

 

[praise_yeshua]

The Gospel is largely meaningless unless it is lived. The Gospel can not be understood properly without it being lived. Abraham lived the Gospel.

 

[civic]

The Gospel is largely meaningless unless it is lived. The Gospel can not be understood properly without it being lived. Abraham lived the Gospel.

Yes along with those OT saints mentioned in Hebrews 11.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

It seems like biblically orthodox theology, or the belief system and worldview that are based on the promises and parameters found in the Holy Scriptures is perceived as a lofty, somewhat sterile subject pursued by academics and seminarians.

But if theology was merely a scholastic system through which people could organize their thoughts and suppositions about God and it didn’t lead to the love of Jesus Christ, it would be the religious version of entomology. Theology was meant to be lived, and our Creator Redeemer is not a proposition to be examined; He’s a personhood whom we get to engage with and ultimately emulate!

The original Greek root words that the English word theology is translated from are theos, which refers to God, and logos or logia, which refer to utterances, sayings, or words. Therefore, the basic definition of theology is “conversations about God.” And conversation implies relationship, right? Furthermore, genuine relationships framed in the context of conversation are not purely transactional; they’re personal. They require some measure of mental energy and emotional engagement. They affect our minds and our hearts.

The temptation to narrowness in theological interpretation is perhaps most serious in the ecumenical realm. Theology is so much more than a system to organize our thoughts about God and so much better than a belief system to modify our behavior. It’s a gorgeous, curving, adventure-strewn path that leads us deeper and deeper into the unconditional love of the one true God. Sound biblical theology doesn’t produce smug scholars; it produces grateful and passionately devoted—yet still flawed—disciples of Jesus Christ.

Hi Stormie

Thanks for this very interesting thread. Let me share my thoughts.
Theology is discursive, even speculative.
Theology is not a relationship with God and is not meant to lead automatically to a spiritual connection with God. It is, as you discovered from root words, “conversations about God”… in the same sense that entomology is “conversations about insects”.
Satan could be the greatest theologian, and that would not change its character a bit.
I have met overweight nutrition specialists, and doctors who smoke.

Let’s not confuse theology with the Gospel.
Let’s not confuse theology with the knowledge of God that is salvific.

When Jesus in his prayer in the Garden said: “For this is eternal life: to know Thee… etc” He was not talking about theology. He was talking about a personal familiarity with the will of God… with the love of God.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Hi Stormie

Thanks for this very interesting thread. Let me share my thoughts.
Theology is discursive, even speculative.
Theology is not a relationship with God and is not meant to lead automatically to a spiritual connection with God. It is, as you discovered from root words, “conversations about God”… in the same sense that entomology is “conversations about insects”.
Satan could be the greatest theologian, and that would not change its character a bit.
I have met overweight nutrition specialists, and doctors who smoke.

Let’s not confuse theology with the Gospel.
Let’s not confuse theology with the knowledge of God that is salvific.

When Jesus in his prayer in the Garden said: “For this is eternal life: to know Thee… etc” He was not talking about theology. He was talking about a personal familiarity with the will of God… with the love of God.

Real and lasting theology leads to humility.

The fact you believe theology doesn't change anyone is rather silly. Theology is knowledge. People are destroyed because of their lack of knowledge.

Do you remember those words and where they came from?

 

[civic]

It seems like biblically orthodox theology, or the belief system and worldview that are based on the promises and parameters found in the Holy Scriptures is perceived as a lofty, somewhat sterile subject pursued by academics and seminarians.

But if theology was merely a scholastic system through which people could organize their thoughts and suppositions about God and it didn’t lead to the love of Jesus Christ, it would be the religious version of entomology. Theology was meant to be lived, and our Creator Redeemer is not a proposition to be examined; He’s a personhood whom we get to engage with and ultimately emulate!

The original Greek root words that the English word theology is translated from are theos, which refers to God, and logos or logia, which refer to utterances, sayings, or words. Therefore, the basic definition of theology is “conversations about God.” And conversation implies relationship, right? Furthermore, genuine relationships framed in the context of conversation are not purely transactional; they’re personal. They require some measure of mental energy and emotional engagement. They affect our minds and our hearts.

The temptation to narrowness in theological interpretation is perhaps most serious in the ecumenical realm. Theology is so much more than a system to organize our thoughts about God and so much better than a belief system to modify our behavior. It’s a gorgeous, curving, adventure-strewn path that leads us deeper and deeper into the unconditional love of the one true God. Sound biblical theology doesn’t produce smug scholars; it produces grateful and passionately devoted—yet still flawed—disciples of Jesus Christ.

For many it’s just a textbook

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

I still don’t understand Stormie’s point. My apologies.
If your point, Stormie, is that people who study theology should live a better, more godly life, I agree… but that also applies to sciences and arts. The honest pursuit of knowledge and beauty should produce better people.