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By: Kev. Merlin Shorb
Rappahannock Methodist Charge
Flint Hill, Sperryville and Willis Chapel
IS THEOLOGY IMPORTANT?
A theology is an idea of God. We all have a God concept. That we may not speak the trade language of an academic discipline does not disqualify us. All of us are theologians. The atheist also has a God concept, a theology.
But what I am trying to get at is the place of theology in human relationships. We meet folks every day who disagree with us. What shall our attitude be? If we come across as dogmatic, we discourage any dialog. If we stay off the subject altogether, we never hear another viewpoint. In either case we have failed to touch the theology, the person, of another.
To tell the truth, my theology is not perfect. One of the reasons I keep searching the Scriptures (all of them) is to check out my understanding of God, to make my theology more biblically consistent. I accept the authority of the Bible because the Church has done so from its inception; but also because I do not consider myself to be a greater authority. In other words, I stand under scriptural truth, not above it. If I am growing, then my ideas about God, imperfect at best, will be changing.
As a Christian, I proclaim truth, much of which I do not understand. For example, how it was possible for God to exchange our sin for his righteousness (II Cor. 5:21) is more than this mind can hold. But I can still proclaim it because I believe it. God will always remain a wonder, a mystery. What God accomplished in Christ at the Cross is in the same category.
Of course theology is important. But the importance of a truth does not depend on my personal grasp of that truth. At this point all of us could use a little more humility. There is no scriptural warrant for unchristianizing anyone over a point of doctrine. The only incidents of breaking fellowship were over moral infractions, and then only for the offenders' salvation. (I Cor. 5:5; Gal. 6:1) Our differences need to be heard because our theology is yet imperfect.
The above article appeared last week with two sentences deleted. The Rappahannock News regrets the error.
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