Why Theology Matters
Theology proper (the study of God as a historical being), real theology, has a method. Of course, there are people who call themselves “theologians” and call their work “theology” who do not follow theology’s proper method. Nobody can stop them and they cause all kinds of confusion among Christians and non-Christians alike! Real, proper, classical theology rises above particular practices and applications. It precedes them. It governs and guides them. Real theology, proper, classical theology, simply interprets divine revelation and “thinks it out” into doctrines about God, creation, humanity (what it means to be human and the human condition), Jesus Christ (God himself incarnate), salvation, the church, etc. Then these doctrines guide and govern the “doings” of Christian ethics, social work, ministry practice, etc.
Theology as a Governor
Some postmodern Christians want to put the cart before the horse and say that theology ought to be guided and governed by the “doings” (“practices”) of Christianity. But, of course, that leaves the doings, the practices, without anything to guide and govern them. Practice needs knowledge; knowledge leads to practice. Not the other way around. When you read Mathew 5:15-16 with your thinking and spiritual gears engaged you will be inspired to understand that; your light is the source of your good deeds. The question, however, becomes; what is the source of your light (that feeds your deeds)?
The answer to this is, Jesus the Light is the source of our (we the believers) light, and theology (the study of Jesus/God) is the only way to the source of our light.
Again, theology will help understand what Mathew 7:15-20. In this passage, though we call trees after fruits, it is not the fruits that determine the trees; it is the trees that determine the fruits. So Theology is not a fruit (practices) business before it is a stem (base and rationale of the practices) business. It is the same message communicated in John 15:1-7, theology address the issue of the vine and issues of the branches and branches fall into their rightful place.
If all this seems cryptic or enigmatic, let me be clear. Over the past century, and especially the past half-century, numerous books have been published pretending to be “theology” when, in fact, they are books almost solely about spirituality and/or social ethics and/or the practices of ministry. In other words, they are not about doctrines per se but about practices—the liberation of the oppressed, proper worship, spiritual formation, church leadership, pastoral work, etc. Also, the entire field of study has arisen called “practical theology” that often bypasses real theology, classical theology altogether. That is, many of the scholars and practitioners of “practical theology” call what they do “theology” but they know little to nothing (or ignore) real, classical theology. The result is that “theology” is being redefined in many Christians’ minds so that it has little or nothing to do with the true belief—doctrine.
The result of this trend is the gradual withering away of doctrine in Christian churches and even in Christian colleges, universities and seminaries. The line between classical theology and practical theology has become extremely blurred and is even disappearing. Allow me to be blunt than my professor is, Practical theology is not theology but an anthropology and sociology with tenets drawn or related to theology. Good behaviour and appropriate systems of operation are what can be accessed even without the knowledge of God i.e Theology (Romans 2:14). When we substitute Proper intellectual thinking that results in proper belief-systems with good practice as a framework of our thinking and believing, we face hurdles not just in life, but even in our Bible study.
Right Belief or Right Deeds
One result of this trend is that in many churches today what one believes simply does not matter so long as he or she does the right practices. “Practice” is swallowing up belief or pushing it aside. “Theology” is being redefined as the study of Christian practice without Christian belief. A person may be a church leader, for example, and have no interest in belief/doctrine or have heretical beliefs/doctrines and still be applauded within his or her church because of his or her strong promotion of (allegedly) right practices. We must look keenly on the issue of Cornelius in Acts 10. Why was it important that a man like Cornelius have his existing belief system and behaviour altogether be theologically educated even when his prayers were ascending to heaven? This is what we mean by ‘Theology as a Need’.
What I am not arguing here is that theology is better or even more important than ethics, spirituality, or ministry practice. Physics is not “more important” than engineering. Both are important, but they are not the same thing. A physicist cannot design a good bridge. If he or she does, then he or she is both a physicist and an engineer. But an engineer cannot design and build a good bridge without physics. Physics needs application, but the application is not physics. Engineering needs physics, the study of natural laws, but physics is not engineering. The unfortunate thing that could ever happen to us is to assume, that engineering is the ultimate goal of physics and therefore one is not a physicist until he produces his engineering works.
God bless you I invoke TRUTH, WISDOM, and FAITH (2Tim 2:7)
Priest M.I.T WHITE (+256-775 822833 for further inquiries)
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24)
QUESTIONING TO BELIEVE, BELIEVING TO LIVE
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24) 