Ten Reasons You Need to Study Theology
Five Reasons You Need to Study Theology
by Nathan W. Bingham on February 25, 2009
Words such as theology and doctrine come with negative connotations for many Christians. This is a great tragedy, as I firmly believe every Christian needs to study theology to some degree in their Christian walk. Along with Andrew’s series on the importance of Biblical doctrine, there are many reasons why Christian’s need to study theology. In no particular order here are five reasons you need to study theology, and hopefully some of these you won’t have considered before.
You’re a theologian already…
Why do you need to study theology? Because theology isn’t something only a Professor of Theology has–we all believe something about God and therefore are theologians in our own right. However, what needs to be asked is whether what you believe is correct, and the study of theology can help answer that question.
Your love for Jesus is intrinsically linked with your knowledge of His Word…
Why do you need to study theology? Because Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) I heard someone remark that a certain Christian may not have been that great theologically, but that was okay because they really loved Jesus. However, Jesus says that if we love Him, we will obey what He commands. How can we obey Him if we don’t go to His Word to rightly know His commands?
Your doctrine will determine how you live…
Why do you need to study theology? Because what you believe (your doctrine) will determine how you live (your practice). This can be seen in everyday life. If you believe something to be poisonous, you simply won’t drink it. Similarly, your beliefs about God and His Word determine how you live day to day. For example if you believe God only speaks through His Word then you will study it diligently, however if you believe God speaks through impressions and the like, then you’ll listen for that still small voice. The aforementioned example drastically changes how a person goes about determining God’s will for their lives, and illustrates why you need to study theology.
Your affections will determine what you study…
Why do you need to study theology? Because what your affections are placed upon will determine what you spend your time studying. If your hobby is photography you will want to study the subject to know how to improve your photographs and to increase your love and appreciation for that pass-time. Likewise, if you’re a Christian and your primary affection is upon God, why would you not want to study His Word to increase your love and appreciation for Him and His gospel?
Your humility depends on it…
Why do you need to study theology? Because without studying theology it is possible that you will think too highly of yourself, and not high enough of God. It is true that knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1), however the Scriptures rightly understood and applied, will give you, for example, the knowledge of man’s utter depravity and wretchedness before God, and also of God’s magnificence, holiness, sovereignty and grace, which can only serve to send a true convert to his knees in humility.
May God be glorified as you study theology, humbly opening His Word with the desire to know more about His special revelation to man.
Your thinking will become less individualistic…
Why do you need to study theology? Because as you do, you will realise that you are not the first ever Christian. Great men of God have gone before you. Great minds, great theologians, men who have considered God to a depth that you will likely never achieve, have all gone before you. You will begin to realise that it isn’t all about ‘you’, nor is it all about the men of God who have gone before you. Ultimately, it’s all about your sovereign God, the One who is building His Church (Matthew 16:18).
Your discernment will be sharpened…
Why do you need to study theology? Because as you study theology you will better know the faith that ”was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 1:3c) and consequently your discernment will be sharpened. Jude knows all to well that error abounded in his time, and would abound in yours, and the only way to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 1:3b) as he commanded is to return to God’s Word and study. Without it, you won’t be sharp, being able to discern truth from error.
Your view of the Bible has changed…
Why do you need to study theology? Because your view of the Bible has changed. The Bible is no longer a book of stories and myths belonging to antiquity. You now see the Bible as the very Word of the living God, who condescended and graciously decided to reveal Himself to man. This understanding alone should be enough to drive you to the Word, to study it so as to know what God has said to the best of your ability.
Your defense of the faith depends on it…
Why do you need to study theology? Because we are commanded “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15) and unbelievers will have questions about what you believe; this is theology. Unfortunately, when Christians answer people’s questions they can give poor answers, confusing answers, or worse still, answers that aren’t Biblical; all because they haven’t taken the time to study theology. God will and does use you despite your frailty, however the gospel is an offense enough without you misrepresenting the One who sent you as an ambassador.
Your theology has likely been formed due to ‘where’ you heard the gospel…
Why do you need to study theology? Because most of what you believe has likely been formed due to ‘where’ you heard the gospel. For example, as I examine what I believe now in comparrison to what I did when I was first converted, my beliefs are vastly different! So why is it that you believe what you believe? Is it because that church where you first heard the gospel believed it, or is it because you have studied the Scriptures and studied theology for yourself?
May God be glorified as you study theology, humbly opening His Word with the desire to know more about His special revelation to man.
by Nathan W. Bingham on February 25, 2009
Words such as theology and doctrine come with negative connotations for many Christians. This is a great tragedy, as I firmly believe every Christian needs to study theology to some degree in their Christian walk. Along with Andrew’s series on the importance of Biblical doctrine, there are many reasons why Christian’s need to study theology. In no particular order here are five reasons you need to study theology, and hopefully some of these you won’t have considered before.
You’re a theologian already…
Why do you need to study theology? Because theology isn’t something only a Professor of Theology has–we all believe something about God and therefore are theologians in our own right. However, what needs to be asked is whether what you believe is correct, and the study of theology can help answer that question.
Your love for Jesus is intrinsically linked with your knowledge of His Word…
Why do you need to study theology? Because Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) I heard someone remark that a certain Christian may not have been that great theologically, but that was okay because they really loved Jesus. However, Jesus says that if we love Him, we will obey what He commands. How can we obey Him if we don’t go to His Word to rightly know His commands?
Your doctrine will determine how you live…
Why do you need to study theology? Because what you believe (your doctrine) will determine how you live (your practice). This can be seen in everyday life. If you believe something to be poisonous, you simply won’t drink it. Similarly, your beliefs about God and His Word determine how you live day to day. For example if you believe God only speaks through His Word then you will study it diligently, however if you believe God speaks through impressions and the like, then you’ll listen for that still small voice. The aforementioned example drastically changes how a person goes about determining God’s will for their lives, and illustrates why you need to study theology.
Your affections will determine what you study…
Why do you need to study theology? Because what your affections are placed upon will determine what you spend your time studying. If your hobby is photography you will want to study the subject to know how to improve your photographs and to increase your love and appreciation for that pass-time. Likewise, if you’re a Christian and your primary affection is upon God, why would you not want to study His Word to increase your love and appreciation for Him and His gospel?
Your humility depends on it…
Why do you need to study theology? Because without studying theology it is possible that you will think too highly of yourself, and not high enough of God. It is true that knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1), however the Scriptures rightly understood and applied, will give you, for example, the knowledge of man’s utter depravity and wretchedness before God, and also of God’s magnificence, holiness, sovereignty and grace, which can only serve to send a true convert to his knees in humility.
May God be glorified as you study theology, humbly opening His Word with the desire to know more about His special revelation to man.
Your thinking will become less individualistic…
Why do you need to study theology? Because as you do, you will realise that you are not the first ever Christian. Great men of God have gone before you. Great minds, great theologians, men who have considered God to a depth that you will likely never achieve, have all gone before you. You will begin to realise that it isn’t all about ‘you’, nor is it all about the men of God who have gone before you. Ultimately, it’s all about your sovereign God, the One who is building His Church (Matthew 16:18).
Your discernment will be sharpened…
Why do you need to study theology? Because as you study theology you will better know the faith that ”was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 1:3c) and consequently your discernment will be sharpened. Jude knows all to well that error abounded in his time, and would abound in yours, and the only way to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 1:3b) as he commanded is to return to God’s Word and study. Without it, you won’t be sharp, being able to discern truth from error.
Your view of the Bible has changed…
Why do you need to study theology? Because your view of the Bible has changed. The Bible is no longer a book of stories and myths belonging to antiquity. You now see the Bible as the very Word of the living God, who condescended and graciously decided to reveal Himself to man. This understanding alone should be enough to drive you to the Word, to study it so as to know what God has said to the best of your ability.
Your defense of the faith depends on it…
Why do you need to study theology? Because we are commanded “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15) and unbelievers will have questions about what you believe; this is theology. Unfortunately, when Christians answer people’s questions they can give poor answers, confusing answers, or worse still, answers that aren’t Biblical; all because they haven’t taken the time to study theology. God will and does use you despite your frailty, however the gospel is an offense enough without you misrepresenting the One who sent you as an ambassador.
Your theology has likely been formed due to ‘where’ you heard the gospel…
Why do you need to study theology? Because most of what you believe has likely been formed due to ‘where’ you heard the gospel. For example, as I examine what I believe now in comparrison to what I did when I was first converted, my beliefs are vastly different! So why is it that you believe what you believe? Is it because that church where you first heard the gospel believed it, or is it because you have studied the Scriptures and studied theology for yourself?
May God be glorified as you study theology, humbly opening His Word with the desire to know more about His special revelation to man.
1 Comments:
I really enjoy reading the blog this post is awesome and encouraging in the fact that we do need to know Theology. Our wonderful God is allowing us to breathe we should be glorifying Him in thought, word, and deed and be ashamed for wasting our time and energy on worldly things and desires.Theology Matters!
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