WHY THEOLOGY?

INTRODUCTION:

For generations theology has been considered the queen of the sciences; systematic theology being the crown of the queen.

Theology itself is the science of God and His works. Some people deny (that theology is a science, doubting whether we can reach any conclusion in this field that can be regarded as certain and final.

Influenced by the current philosophy of pragmatism the modern theologian begins with the
assumption that in theology, as in all other fields of inquiry, belief must never go beyond the mere setting up of a working hypothesis; it must never be expressed as something that is regarded as fixed and final.

The View of Bible Scholars:

Liberal theologians rejected the Bible as the infallible and inerrant Word of God and claim that
everything is in a constant flux. They also say that it’s unsafe to formulate any fixed ideas about God and theological truth.

Bible scholars believe that there are some things in the world that are stable and fixed, rejecting the theory of the Liberal theologian of the constant state of confusion.

They point to the regularity of heavenly bodies, the laws of nature and of the constancy observed in the science of mathematics.

To the scientist, the regularity of the laws of nature may be questioned but the believer in God sees in these apparent irregularities the intervention of God and the manifestation of His miraculous power.

Bible Scholars maintain that though the understanding of divine revelation is progressive, the
revelation of God is as stable as the righteousness and truth of God.

They thus believe in the possibility of theology, the reason being found in man’s mental and moral constitution which he received from God.

THE NATURE OF THEOLOGY:

The term “theology” is today used in a narrow and broad sense. It is derived from two Greek
words, theos (God) and logos (word, discourse, doctrine). In the narrow sense, theology may be defined as the doctrine of God.

In the broad and more usual sense, theology means all Christian doctrines not” just the specific doctrines of God, but also all the doctrines that deal with the relations between God and the universe which He alone is sustaining. In the broad sense, theology can be defined as the science of God and His relations to the universe.

THEOLOGY AND ETHICS:

Psychology deals with behaviour. It inquires about the how and why of human behaviour. Ethics deals with human conduct. It inquires after the moral quality of conduct. Ethics is divided into four:

1. Descriptive ethics: it examines human conduct in the light of some standard of right and wrong.
2. Practical ethics: is the foundation for right conduct – it stresses the motive for seeking to live up to a particular standard.
3. Philosophical Ethics: this is developed on a purely naturalistic basis and has nodoctrine of sin, no Saviour, no redemption, nothing about regeneration, no divine indwelling and enabling for the attainment of divine goals. It is confined to duties between man and man.
4. Christian Ethics: it includes not only the duties of man to man, it also deals with man’s
   duties towards God. Whereas philosophical ethics is motivated by hedonism, utilitarianism or perfectionism, in Christian ethics the motive is man’s affection for and willing submission to God.

Because of human intellect and the practical concerns of life, it is necessary for the believer to
have the right concept of theology.

The Necessity of Theology:

1. Human intellectis not satisfied with a mere accumulation of facts. All facts must be
   unified and systematically arranged to form a body of knowledge. Man’s mind, not being satisfied with the discovery of certain facts about God, man and the universe, tries to work out the relations between persons and things.
2. Since the world is permeated with unbelief, atheism, agnosticism, pantheism etc … , the
   Christian who is well versed in theology will be ready to speak up in defence of the faith
   (1 Pet. 3:15).
3. Theology matures the believer so that he does not remain a child in spiritual matters, he
   becomes firmly grounded and settled and cannot be tossed about by every wind of doctrine
   (Eph.4:14).
4. Theology provided an organized system of thought regarding God and the universe thus
   helping the Christian to be consistent in his walk with God, such that he is no longer at the mercy of liberal theologians and philosophers.
5. The Bible gives a consistent world-view and provides answers to the great problems which the philosophers had been battling with for a long time. The Bible is to the theologian what nature is to the scientist.
6. Theology helps man to develop an intelligent Christian character. It is not true that
   theology deadens spiritual life. A mere acceptance of Christian doctrines is insufficient to produce spiritual results, but true belief in God involves the intellect, the senses and the will – all these have an effect on character and conduct.
7. Men act according to what they really believe, not what they pretend to believe.
8. Theology is a guide to intelligent thinking about religious problems and a stimulus to holy living.
9. “Correct and full views concerning God, man, sin, Christ, heaven and hell guides a man in living right and dying well.
10. Theology does not merely teach us the kind of life we should live, it also inspires us to live such a life.
11. Theology does not merely indicate the norms of conduct; it also furnishes the motives for seeking to live up to these norms.
12. The great doctrinal truths containing expositions on theology are found in practical
    sections of scripture e.g. incarnation (2 Cor. 8: 9; Phil. 2; 5-11).
13. Theology offers us the revelation of God. Revelation is that act of God whereby He
    discloses Himself or communicates truth to the mind. God uses revelation to make
    manifest to His children that which could not be known in any other way.
14. Theology helps man to fully utilize both his mental and spiritual endowments.

CONCLUSION

Christians need to know theology and be versed in doctrines. Jesus Christ and His apostles were
preachers of doctrine (Mk. 4:2; Acts 2: 42, 2 Tim. 3:10) Christians are exhorted to preach doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9).

Believers who are thoroughly indoctrinated with the Word of God will be able to be effective
Christian workers and staunch defenders of the faith.

Only when Christians know what they believe will they be able to withstand the attacks of the
devil and move forward in the victory provided for them in Christ. Thereby using Micah 6:8 effectively.