The word “theology” comes from two Greek words that combined mean “the study of God.” Christian theology is simply an attempt to understand God as He is revealed in the Bible. No theology will ever fully explain God and His ways because God is infinitely and eternally higher than we are. Therefore, any attempt to describe Him will fall short (Romans 11:33-36). However, God does want us to know Him insofar as we are able, and theology is the art and science of knowing what we can know and understand about God in an organized and understandable manner. Some people try to avoid theology because they believe it is divisive.
Properly understood, though, theology is uniting. Proper, biblical theology is a good thing; it is the teaching of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The study of theology, then, is nothing more than digging into God’s Word to discover what He has revealed about Himself. When we do this, we come to know Him as Creator of all things, Sustainer of all things, and Judge of all things. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things. When Moses asked who was sending him to Pharaoh, God replied “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The name I AM indicates personality. God has a name, even as He has given names to others.
The name I AM stands for a free, purposeful, self-sufficient personality. God is not an ethereal force or a cosmic energy. He is the almighty, self-existing, self-determining Being with a mind and a will—the “personal” God who has revealed Himself to humanity through His Word, and through His Son, Jesus Christ. To study theology is to get to know God in order that we may glorify Him through our love and obedience. Notice the progression here: we must get to know Him before we can love Him, and we must love Him before we can desire to obey Him.
As a byproduct, our lives are immeasurably enriched by the comfort and hope He imparts to those who know, love, and obey Him. Poor theology and a superficial, inaccurate understanding of God will only make our lives worse instead of bringing the comfort and hope we long for. Knowing about God is crucially important. We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about God. The world is a painful place, and life in it is disappointing and unpleasant. Reject theology and you doom yourself to life with no sense of direction. Without theology, we waste our lives and lose our souls.
An audit of Michigan’s foster care system revealed that more than half of children in its care didn’t receive monitoring by the state to make sure their needs were being…
Residents in Westboro, Massachusetts, are pushing back against Amazon’s plans to launch drone deliveries in their community, overwhelmingly approving a new bylaw aimed at restricting the service. At a special…
President Trump on Tuesday announced the federal government will compensate whistleblowers who report people defrauding the U.S. government and taxpayers, but said he will decide who gets paid. “I will…
Amazon said on Tuesday that it plans to hire 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers across the U.S. this holiday season, up 20% from the same period last year. Holiday…
The pain of discipline may sting today, but we are reminded that endurance turns today’s struggle into tomorrow’s strength, producing a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who refuse…
Alberta voters reject move toward separation from Canada in referendum Voters in Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta have rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, results showed early…
A Canadian man has been found guilty of animal cruelty after he took a flamingo from its enclosure in Las Vegas and brought it back to his hotel room during…
Your attention is one of the most valuable things you own, and everyone wants a piece of it. The question isn’t whether something is getting your attention—the question is whether…
What happens when your new truck decides you’re not allowed to drive it? Modern trucks and SUVs are becoming rolling computers, packed with driver monitoring systems, advanced driver assistance technology,…
According to civil society sources, militias associated with the Burmese military dictatorship operating in Kachin state are using church grounds for military purposes. The U.S.-based Burma Research Institute (BRI) verified…
A mysterious object discovered near a remote Pacific island is not the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s missing plane, researchers said after an expedition to the site, dealing another setback to…
After several months of bears dominating reports of startling wildlife encounters in Japan, it seems as though the nation’s monkeys have decided to take that notoriety as a challenge. We’ve…
In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow Jesus can place…
You can spend your whole life trying to prove you’re good enough, but Romans 3 reminds us that salvation was never something you could earn, it is a gift you…
People in the province of Alberta head to the polls on Monday to decide whether to hold a referendum at a later date on separating from Canada. The vote was…
Good intentions do not excuse harmful outcomes. When churches prioritize growth, image, or outreach over safety, they step into dangerous territory. This is the blind spot Scripture repeatedly warns us…
In 2018, two Christian brothers were sentenced to death over allegations of blasphemy. After about a decade of fighting for their freedom, one brother was acquitted by Pakistan’s Supreme Court…
Nepalese Police have arrested 24 South Korean Christians after complaints were lodged against them for “illegal religious teaching, training, and promotion.” Sources in Nepal and South Korea state that the…
God has spoken, and His greatest message is not a philosophy, an idea, or a feeling it is Jesus Christ. When the world fills your mind with competing voices and…
In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries…
Whatever you constantly look at will eventually influence how you live. When the world gets loud and life gets overwhelming, don’t stare harder at the distraction, look up and fix…
President Trump said Wednesday that “massive” oil, gas and mineral exploration is preparing to begin in Greenland. In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump said “Massive…
Christian legal advocacy group the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) has welcomed moves by the UN to recognise “coerced” abortion as a form of violence against mothers. Earlier…
President Donald Trump issued pardons at a campaign rally in Alaska on Tuesday for two diesel mechanics who were previously charged with and pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air…
Neighbors in Cecil County say they are fed up with a local farm owner they blame for contaminating nearby waterways. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) says manure runoff…
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper helped rescue an injured owl found in the center median of Interstate 10 near Van Horn, highlighting the role law enforcement can play…
The Modesto City Council is moving forward with a proposed crackdown on reckless bicycle and e-bike riding, including fines of up to $5,000 and the possible impoundment of bikes for…
When life feels like it’s falling apart, God remains your safest place. Even when everything shakes, His strength never does. Bible Verse:God is our refuge and strength, a very present…
The climbing alligator harvest in Arkansas has led to decreases in nuisance calls involving the reptile. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission members heard last week a presentation from AGFC herpetologist…
You must be logged in to post a comment.