Theology: Inescapable and Limited

By David Ryser

Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. (Soren Kierkegaard)

“I don’t care about theology.  I only care about what the Bible says.”

These words were uttered by a young Christian woman.  We had been talking; and in the course of our conversation, I mentioned that I was a theology student.  She was obviously not a big fan of theological studies.  (She referred to seminary as “cemetery”)  After our visit had concluded, I thought about her words for a couple of days.

“I don’t care about theology.  I only care about what the Bible says.”

A few days later, I was reading my Bible.  In 1 Samuel 2:25, the Bible says--concerning the sons of Eli--that “God desired to kill them.”  I took my Bible to this young lady and asked her to help me understand this verse.

It was a set-up.

She took my Bible, and read the verse.  She stopped, and then reread the passage more slowly.  Then she put her face close to the page, squinted her eyes, and read the verse again.

Why do we think that if we get really close to a printed page and squint our eyes, the words on the page will change?

Finally she pulled her face out of my Bible, looked up into the air, and sighed.  I waited.  She thought for a moment and said, “It’s a mistranslation.”  “A mistranslation, ”I asked?  “So you’ve studied Hebrew?”  She responded in a tone of voice normally reserved for addressing a dimwitted child, “No, I haven’t studied Hebrew; but it’s a mistranslation.”  Since I’m a curious sort, I asked, “Then how do you know it’s a mistranslation?”

I found her answer to be quite informative…and very helpful.

“Because God doesn’t act like that.”

I thanked her, took back my Bible, and left as quickly as possible.  I badly needed to laugh, and didn’t want to laugh in her face.  That would have been impolite.

“Because God doesn’t act like that.”

This sincere young lady--who disdained theology--when confronted with a Bible verse she didn’t like, declared it to be a mistranslation based upon a theological statement.  So what happened to, “I only care about what the Bible says”?

The fact is, everyone has a theology.

An atheist has a theology.  An atheist states that there is no God.  But to state this belief with certainty, the atheist must know everything and have experienced everything.  Otherwise, God might exist outside of this person’s limited knowledge and experience.

To be an atheist, a person must be God.

The agnostic has a similar problem.  The agnostic states that it is impossible to know if there is a God.  Again, to hold this belief with certainty, the agnostic must know everything and have experienced everything.  Otherwise, God might be knowable outside of this person’s limited knowledge and experience.

To be an agnostic, a person must be God.

Since everyone has a theology, we don’t have the option not to have one.  The issue is not whether we have a theology.  The issue is whether we have a sound, biblical theology.

Did I mention that everyone has a theology?

Even the devil has a theology.  According to James 2:19, the devil and his demons believe in God.  And their theology is accurate.  They could correct our theology.  So why aren’t they Christians?

And now we are brought face-to-face with the limitation of theology.

Theology is a good and useful tool.  The Bible commends the study of God’s written Word, and we are exhorted to rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15).  And we are told what our study of the Bible is useful for:  doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2Timothy 3:16).

But it is only a tool.

Imagine you have a hammer.  A hammer is useful for pounding nails.  It can even be used to pull nails.  But no matter how good the hammer, you cannot use it to tighten a screw.  Why?  Because a hammer is not designed to tighten screws.  What would people think if they saw you cursing your hammer because it wouldn’t tighten a screw?

They would think you were a loon.  And they would be right.

Like a good hammer, a good theology is a useful tool.  But it has its limitations.  It cannot save us.  It cannot make us children of God; otherwise, the devil would be a Christian.

Theology has limitations.

In order to become children of God, we need to go beyond theology.  We must go beyond what we believe about God…to God Himself.  We must put our faith in Him and enter into a personal, intimate relationship with Him

What child relates to their father only by reading about him in a book?

A sound, biblical theology is a good thing.  It aids us in our walk with God.  It keeps us from errors in doctrine and practice that would take us away from Jesus.  It helps us believe God for the promises He has made to us.  We have confidence when we experience God because our experience is in accordance with the Bible’s teachings about God and our relationship with Him.

Theology is a wonderful tool that we can use to build upon the foundation of our faith.  But our foundation is Jesus (1Corinthians 3:11).  Theology must never take the place of Jesus in our lives.

It is, after all, just a hammer.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com