Theology
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In a technical sense theology is the study of God. But in a broader, more practical sense theology is knowing the Lord, the one true God - not just knowing facts about Him, but knowing Him on a personal level. And in that sense - your theology is the most important part of your entire life. As Jesus said regarding it: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3, emphasis ours).
Theology is much more than "the study of God" from a distant academic perspective (although academics are important - Prv. 8:10-11, 23:23). The Bible says that while it is the "fool" who at the outset says in his heart "there is no god" (Ps. 14:1), it is the wisest of men who starts all his thinking with the "fear of the Lord" (Prv. 1:7). |
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But theology is also much more than knowing the Lord; it's knowing Him as he relates to you, your thoughts and actions, and everything else in His creation. Theology is much more encompassing then our view of God - it's our view of everything that God touches by His nature and works (which of course, is everything).
What does this mean in a practical sense? We can't state it more succinctly than Dr. John M. Frame:
What does this mean in a practical sense? We can't state it more succinctly than Dr. John M. Frame:
I would suggest that we define theology as "the application of the Word of God by persons to all areas of life."
-John Frame (1)
Being the most important aspect of your life and the very foundation of all your thinking (Jn. 17:3; Prv. 1:7) - your theology is what governs not only how you view the character and works of God, but also how you view every other aspect of life (Col. 2:3) - metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, government, society, culture and every subcategory therein.
So as our theology deepens, not only will our understanding of God deepen but also our understanding of God's world and His will for how it should operate. But the key to all of this is that we must start our thinking in the realm of theology. If this is God's world, then in order for our thinking to be correct about how it does and should operate, we must have a correct understanding of the God who created it.
So as our theology deepens, not only will our understanding of God deepen but also our understanding of God's world and His will for how it should operate. But the key to all of this is that we must start our thinking in the realm of theology. If this is God's world, then in order for our thinking to be correct about how it does and should operate, we must have a correct understanding of the God who created it.