Childlike Faith, Not Childish Thinking
Every Christian must be a theologian! Or to put it another way, the study of theology is indispensable for the believer who is hungry to grow in the things of God.
When I speak of "the study of theology," I’m not necessarily referring to attending Bible college or earning a degree in theology. Instead, I’m talking about becoming a diligent student of the Word and Christian doctrine. At the very least, this means knowing what you believe and why you believe it.
The False Dichotomy: Passion vs. Knowledge
Some might think that as long as you have passion for Jesus or are moving in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, all is well. While these are crucial components of our Christian walk, we should not overlook the importance of theology. Christianity thrives on intelligence, not ignorance. It is vitally important to recover the place of theology in our pursuit of God and our witness to the world today.
The choice between passion for Jesus and a disciplined mental life rooted in Christian doctrine is a false alternative (cf. Romans 10:2). The only option is both/and, not either/or. The Bible talks about child-like faith, but it does not advocate childish thinking (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:20). As Christians, we are called to be both Word and Spirit people (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Our pursuit of the Spirit must always be anchored in the Word.
Finding the Balance: Heart and Mind
What I’m talking about here is balance. The Bible clearly teaches that an emphasis on the mind alone is dangerous: “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). However, Scripture also warns that an emphasis on the heart alone is perilous: “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). Authentic spirituality combines both the mind and the heart, as one without the other can lead to a defective Christianity.
Unfortunately, many Christians today believe that doing theology is a waste of time. They fail to appreciate that the Bible is full of exhortations to engage in the discipleship of the mind. For instance, the Apostle Peter – Peter, the uneducated fisherman – urges all Christians to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).
Loving God with Our Minds
When asked about the most important commandment, Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Jesus adds the word "mind" to Deuteronomy 6:5, indicating that our entire being – including our intellect – is involved in worshipping God.
Anti-intellectualism has no place in the life of a disciple of Christ. Discipling the mind is a way of loving God, too. In fact, Jesus presents it as a hallmark of discipleship and a key to spiritual breakthrough (e.g. John 8:31-32).
This demonstrates that the God-centered study of theology can help us know, understand, and obey God and His purposes better. This is why I love doing theology. Far from being secular, boring, or irrelevant, the study of theology is ultimately a way of coming to know God more intimately.
Theology: the Foundation of True Faith
Intimate relationship with God is surely one of the highest aims of every Christian. In Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, it can be tempting to pursue this goal without deep reflection on God. However, growth in knowledge, wisdom, and insight about God helps us know Him better (cf. Ephesians 1:17).
We are living in a generation facing serious moral and theological shortcomings; the only remedy is to return to the truth of the Word preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. This cannot happen solely from our pulpits or through a few skilled biblical teachers. It requires individual Christians to take their stand as Spirit-filled theologians, defending the faith and engaging in spiritual warfare at the level of thought (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5).
The Inescapable Nature of Theology
Theology is absolutely vital. If theology were irrelevant, it wouldn’t matter what we believed. It would make no difference whether we were Muslims or Mormons, all of whom have religious ideas involving Jesus. But Christ is worth honouring and serving precisely because of who He is and what He has accomplished. That is the task of Christian theology. True faith rests on the foundation of doctrinal claims, and theology protects us from errors and defines the boundaries of our thoughts about God.
Ultimately, theology cannot be avoided – it’s an inescapable concept! It’s never a question of theology or no theology; it’s always a question of what theology: biblical theology or unbiblical theology, good theology or bad theology?
Becoming a Better Theologian
Everyone has a theology - so what type of theology do you have? The good news is that it can always be improved – there is always more to learn. Make a decision today to disciple your mind and become the best Christian theologian you can be!