I recently read an excerpt from a book, The Prodigal Church by Jared C. Wilson, in which he states:
We have this notion that theology is something that takes place somewhere “out there” in the seminaries or libraries. . . In many churches, theology is seen as purely academic, the lifeless intellectual work for the nerds in the church or, worse, the Pharisees. [1]
Well, that is probably most people’s opinion of theology. My wife says that the question she always had as a child when leaving church was: “what does this have to do with my life?”
Theology is the study of God and his relationship to the universe which includes us. Theology is important because it is essential we know who God is and how he relates to us. However, God desires that we do more than just know the correct theology he wants us to be a new creation, to be like him. If our theology does not move us in that direction, then our theology is of no value.
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[1] Jared C. Wilson, The Prodigal Church, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015, chapter 4.
