As you read through the Bible you see time and time again that the devil was a pretty good theologian. While many people missed what was truly going on he got it. He said things like…
I know who you are—the Holy One of God! Luke 4:34b (GW)
That’s pretty good theology. Of course, good theology isn’t enough. God wants so much more for us. We’ve got to move beyond mere head knowledge of what’s true to living lives of love. We must love God, first and foremost, and then love others with abounding grace. We must give and serve and lead and follow. We must sacrifice and care enough to act. As His followers, we must be people that love deeply.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 (NIV)
The truth is that you can have perfect theology and still miss the point. I think that God assumes that as His followers we will focus on Jesus and therefore have good theology but He also wants us to push for more than that. He wants us to love as we have been loved.
Our highest goal should not be to become the best theologians in the world. Rather, we should strive to be Christ followers (and emulators) in every way.
Very true that good theology isn’t enough. I fo fear that many christians rely on a “head” knowledge that will get them nowhere.
However, I think you hit the nail on the head about Satan, his cunning and his smarts. Because of that, it is way too easy for him to twist good theology and practice that a believer who doesn’t have the desire to be right on could be in danger of falling prey to.
It’s not enough, but it is EXTREMELY important and necessary to walk with God.
Pat, I totally agree with you. It’s so important and I’m very thankful for the grounding I’ve received from good, solid, Biblical teaching over the years. Still, if it doesn’t prompt us to love more and do more than I’m not sure what the point is. It’s not an either/or type of thing. We need both with love being our highest aim/goal.
Absolutely both/and… I guess theology in it’s proper context, etc. is a motivator (or should be) to love God more. To understand the act of grace of the cross is humbling and life-changing. But there are guys that consume themselves with the ‘letter’ of the law and miss the ‘spirit’.
I’m definitely not leading any studies through Grudem’s Systematic or anything, but he does end each section with a hymn (presumably written before praise songs were popular) – implying that good theology should lead us to worship.
Very true that good theology isn’t enough. I fo fear that many christians rely on a “head” knowledge that will get them nowhere.
However, I think you hit the nail on the head about Satan, his cunning and his smarts. Because of that, it is way too easy for him to twist good theology and practice that a believer who doesn’t have the desire to be right on could be in danger of falling prey to.
It’s not enough, but it is EXTREMELY important and necessary to walk with God.
Pat, I totally agree with you. It’s so important and I’m very thankful for the grounding I’ve received from good, solid, Biblical teaching over the years. Still, if it doesn’t prompt us to love more and do more than I’m not sure what the point is. It’s not an either/or type of thing. We need both with love being our highest aim/goal.
Absolutely both/and… I guess theology in it’s proper context, etc. is a motivator (or should be) to love God more. To understand the act of grace of the cross is humbling and life-changing. But there are guys that consume themselves with the ‘letter’ of the law and miss the ‘spirit’.
I’m definitely not leading any studies through Grudem’s Systematic or anything, but he does end each section with a hymn (presumably written before praise songs were popular) – implying that good theology should lead us to worship.
RT @tmack2 Good Theology Isn’t Enough http://bit.ly/3HRVv5
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