Never
have we known God; always are we in the act of knowing God. To know God is to have a
sense of definiteness - as if we have reached some marvelous and mentally
wall-busting conclusion of complete knowledge of Him and His glory.[1] Such conclusions, graciously and
invigoratingly, shall never be reached. Always will we be reaching
knowledge of God, always will we be participating in discovering more of His
beauty, always will we be enlightened to the vast and extensive omniscience of
His mighty and heavy name; always - a beautiful word of promise and hope.
Both transiently and eternally shall this hope be satisfied in knowing
God.
To directly and appropriately quote John Piper, “God is
most glorified when you are most satisfied in Him”. The most logical
question to follow then, must be, “How are we satisfied in Him?” Such is
a question posed by almost every Christian within some span of their Christian
life. However, most questions seem to be positioned in a manner such as
this: “Why am I not happy
with God? Why do I not take joy in God as this or that person does, or
even as I once participated in?” If you are, or have, asked these
questions, do not be discouraged or melancholy, nor let these thoughts become
cumbersome; instead, let them become a catalyst that will result in
contemplating on the very nature of John Piper’s quote, that is, the continual
pursuit of knowing God.
So how are we satisfied in God?
The answer, which many of you will be swayed away by, is
theology. However, this answer must be justified seeing that there is
typically a negative connotation associated with the term theology.
Theology is the process of knowing God. Theology is not
the end, nor is theology an intellectual existentialism upon which we find
justification based off of our thoughts instead of our affections. True theology
is preceded by true affections. Affections that are initiated by the very
grace and love of God which capture our hearts and minds. When our
darkened eyes are shown the true Light - resulting in salvation - our heart
(our innermost desires) and mind (our capacity to understand that which our
heart strives after) seek the process of knowing God by means of theology.
Therefore, what is theology?
Theology is the pursuit of knowing God upon which our
affections preceded. A more extensive definition would be: Theology is 1)
the attempted study of God and His attributes that are revealed within the Old
and New Testaments, 2) the study of His Scripture as a cohesive and coherent
whole, and 3) the study of the themes and concepts of biblical books and
passages that accurately represent God’s established character; all of which
impacts, guides, and supports biblical Christian living and understanding in
the time period in which the theology is being studied. In other words,
theology is pursuing the process of knowing God through the revelation of His
Scripture which represents and reveals God’s character, so that we may respond
appropriately - individually and corporately.
Why ought we to study theology?
A common question posed by individuals is, “Why need
anyone take time off today for the kind of study you propose [(that is to study
theology)]? Surely a layman, at any rate, can get on without it? After all,
this is [2014], not 1855!”[2] This
question will never cease and will always be in need of explanation. Much
greater men than myself have contemplated and answered these questions.
Therefore, to once again quote J.I. Packer, “The questioner clearly assumes
that a study of the nature and character of God will be unpractical and irrelevant
for life…The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a
disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God.”[3]
The former of Packer’s responses mentioned seems to convey an attitude of
sarcasm, or at least that is what was caught by my eye. However, his
statement displays not sarcasm, but a proper response given the common
misconception of theology. Theology is deeply and greatly practical and
relevant. Because of theology, we are able to live righteously and pleasantly
in an unrighteous and convincing world. A world surrounded by gospels
that attract hearts that cannot decipher what is true and not true. When
we are able to know fantastic lengths of God’s character and nature, who can
turn us away? When we are entrenched within the Scriptures and see
clearly who God is and what He does, nothing will ever be able to hinder us,
nor weaken us. How can we approach noticeably difficult truths such as
existing evil in the world (e.g. cancer killing children, natural disasters
devastating cities, kidnappings, rape, greed, racism, etc.)? How can we
discuss creation? How can we understand the Old Testament and apply
it? How can we understand God’s will throughout history? Those are
just to name a few. But there is one not-so-simple answer. We learn
these things through actively participating in and practicing theology by means
of the Word of God.
When we discover the truths of God through His Word, will
that not drive us to live according to these newly discovered truths?
That is the purpose of this blog, and that is my only hope in writing.
May you and I thrive in our Creator and see His marvelous truths, so that
our lives be conformed to them.
