Ramblings on Theology

Is theology something that is universally recognized by scholars? How is it recognized? Do they all share the same opinion about what theology is? The many different definitions given by different Bible scholars would say not. That can create a bit of conflict between believers and non-believers. It can create conflict among believers too. You can have your theology, but just don't tell it to me. That would be arrogant and rude, especially if you have any real conviction. Where does that come from?

In my thinking, theology is the study of God's word. It is exploring through the Bible, His character and His attributes. It is the study of Jesus Christ, and how He is progressively revealed to us throughout the pages of the Bible from beginning to end. It tells us what to believe, and what we are to do. One would think that especially among believers that rational discussion of God is possible without a bunch of drama. Believers do get upset though when they talk about Jesus. Why is that? It has a lot to do with human nature. Human beings can tend to be self-centered to say the least, and most don't like to be disagreed with.

Take for example the person who is really squared away on the Bible. He has it down. He knows in his heart that what he believes is correct and true. Someone disagrees with Him on key beliefs he has about God. Should he get upset? It isn't really him or his views that someone is disagreeing with is it? If he is squared away, it is the Word of God that is at issue. We ought to let God take care of such things. "Theos" is Greek for God. "-Ology" is a derivative of "logos", which means "word". Theology could literally be translated "words of God". If we are right about "the words of God", we are not being disagreed with, but His words are. What have we to do with that? I think there is a powerful need in most people to "be" right. This can cause problems.

I think if you look for a definition of the word, "theology", it will most often get boiled down to "the study of God". That can be such a generic reference though. It can be seen as representative of a worldview or even a philosophy. It certainly is viewed that way by many scholars in the secular world. What believers would call "theology proper", others would call nonsense. Ravi Zacharias is called a Christian philosopher and apologist. Anyone who listens to him at length knows that while he is very knowledgeable and skilled in those two endeavors, that it would not be possible for him to be so, if he did not have a strong, consistent theology in which they were founded and built from. Our theology is our belief. Our belief is something more than intellectual or emotional. We hold them based upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our souls and the opening of the Word of God to our hearts. What we believe about God and man should come from God.

In times past, theology was seen as chief in the pursuit of knowledge. All other intellectual pursuits were subordinate to the authority of the Word of God. The Bible dictated morality. Philosophy was at best, secondary. Everything was dictated by theology. Now, the word theology is anyone's guess in the public realm. If your theology denies the existence of God, so what? If one is inclined to believe the study of God leads to no belief in God, then one's morality becomes relative to one's time and location. When that happens, morality is a non-sequitur. Sin doesn't exist, since there is no moral absolute.

Jesus' atoning, bloody death, His sacrifice on the Cross starts to look like an unnecessary, even repulsive thing in the face of a belief that He was not God's Son. In other words it could be said that in today's world that theology, whether correct or incorrect is what a person believes, and it dictates a person's actions. It could be said, yes. Do I believe that? In a sense. People often form their beliefs about God whether they read His word or not. People can have a study of God in the loose sense without studying His word. Many, many people do that. I would venture to guess the majority do.

Is that something that has changed? I don't believe so. Theology is still the primary pursuit in knowledge. More ramblings later.