What If Theology Is A Lot More Practical Than You Think?
We have the privilege of living in an age where many older works on Reformed theology are being translated and published. One of the works that has been rediscovered in the last twenty or so years is Franciscus Junius's book called A Treatise on True Theology. Translated by David Noe, this work from the 16th Century is one that still is relevant today. In this treatise, Junius shows us the foundations of what makes theology theology. In 39 theses, with explanations given for each, Junius helps Christians understand what theology is, what it's for, and how to live in light of it.
The first thesis of Junius is most important because this is what will drive everything else. Here it is: "Theology means either the discourse of God Himself, or discourse or reasoning concerning things divine." Taking his definition from Augustine's classic The City of God, Junius is telling us what theology is. Theology is the study of God. That's not the part that surprises you. But, as he will make clear later on, it is not merely a bare intellectual study of God but a practical wisdom and vibrant love that issues from such sanctified learning.
Too often today we treat theology like it is an optional add-on to the Christian life. We forget what A.W. Tozer once said: "What comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you." If we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27)--made to reflect His glory and to enjoy Him forever--then theology is the most important and urgent topic we should study. This does not mean that everyone needs to pay for a seminary degree. Nor does it mean that we should never spend time studying other topics. But, it does mean that every person created in the image of God (i.e. all human beings) are theologians. To put it simply: We cannot image God rightly if we don't know Him rightly.
The question is: Is our theology correct? Do we have right thoughts about God?
To build off of Junius's definition, we could say that theology is the study or discourse concerning things divine for the purpose of knowing how to faithfully live life in God's creation for God's glory. This means that the study of theology must include at least two things: 1) It must be accurate according to who God is and how He has revealed Himself. And, 2) It must be for the purpose of transforming our lives to be for the glory of God.
This means that we can never live rightly unless we're thinking rightly. At the same time, we are not thinking rightly if it doesn't transform how we live. Too often we have viewed theology like it is merely for "theologians" who have PhD's. While there is a need for trained theologians with PhD's, it is utterly false to think that someone who has a PhD in theology automatically makes them a true theologian or that one cannot be a theologian unless one obtains a PhD. Theology is far more than a degree. It is a way of life. It is an all-encompassing worldview. It is hope amidst the storms. It is hope for the forgiveness of sins in Christ. It is how we are to understand what it means to commune with God Almighty Himself.
Why study theology? Because it's what you're made for and Who you're made for. It is what you are saved for (Jn. 17:3). It will be the most thrilling joy of heaven (Jn. 17:24; 1 Jn. 3:2). One of the current joys of being a Christian is that the Holy Spirit gives us the desire to think more about the truth of Scripture. He fills us with godly affections to want to know our God more and more (Ps. 111:2). Studying theology is not for the sake of pridefully enjoying a growth in knowledge so that we can boast like the Pharisees--who were whitewashed tombs. Rather, it is a sweet delight in God that steadily grows in us the more we get to know Him. This, in turn, begets new living in us. But, ultimately, the end of all our studying is for the sake of delighting in God Himself.