It better.
Notice in Paul’s writing, no command is ever given to the church without a proper theological foundation. Why? Because theology impacts everyday life. Notice some “theological” terms that help us live out our faith:
Incarnation – Jesus embodied humanity through the incarnation. In the same way, we’re to bear the burdens of others, be on mission toward a lost world and intercede on others behalf. You might call it “incarnating” (Galatians 6:2)
Trinity – Again, a term designed by theologians. However, the doctrine of the trinity spurs us on to love one another in unity (John 17).
Total Depravity – Not a biblical term, but allows us to see that no one is righteous, none of our works are good, and that we need to confess our sins before a Righteous Judge (1 John 1:8-10)
What theological terms have been particularly important to you?
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Great point. I shake my head whenever I hear someone suggest that religion should not (or even may not) affect our daily lives. (Usually when referencing a politician.) How empty would a belief system have to be for this to actually be possible?
Here’s one: freedom of the will. (Just kidding!)
Seriously, though, how about grace alone? Perhaps it shouldn’t have too much of an impact on what we do, but why we do it.
Nice one, Jeremy.
I’d prefer the phrase “the bondage of the will” from your very own Martin Luther but hey, that’s just me. 😉
Sola Gratia – now that’s staying true to your Lutheran heritage. Amen!
Hah! Sometimes I think Lutherans forget that Luther’s words are only scripture when he is quoting the Bible. I never liked the name “Lutheran” and he didn’t either.
I was part of a Sunday School team teaching a ten week series on theology and doctrine a few months ago. I kicked off the first week by pointing out that the people in the class made theological statements all the time but probably didn’t realize it: I believe in God; reading the Bible is important; prayer time is precious; Jesus is my Savior.
We then spent ten weeks using words like incarnation and pneumatology and trinitarian, and spoke of characters like Athanasius and Augustine and Gregory of Nyssa, and warned against errors such as modalism and arianism and pelagianism. It was one wild ride, and a lot of people found lots of ways that the 10 doctrines in our series are important in the lives of God’s people.
Tim
P.S. Which theological terms are particularly important to me? Nothing comes to mind. But some terms that tickle me are: Supralapsarianism, Antelapsarianism, Infralapsarianism, Sublapsarianism and Postlapsarianism. These come in handy when I am about to give a talk. Say them out loud slowly, repeat a few times while gradually building up speed, and you’ve got one great vocal warm-up going there.
That’s cool, Tim! I wish I could have been part of your class!
Although on Supralapsarianism and the like, those strike me some of the least helpful theological terms…But certainly good for vocal warm ups!
Blessings, Nick
Yeah Nick, the various lapsarianisms never got a whisper of a mention in our classes. Not even close to one!
We focused on the doctrines the early church wresteld with. Have you read Christopher Hall’s “Learning Theology With the Church Fathers”? That book gave us our basic ideas for the 10 weeks, although I diverged greatly from his materials as Hall focused on the writings of the Fathers while I focused on the Scruiptural bases for the various doctrines addressed in his book.
Never read it – Sounds like a fascinating class, though!
I am a bit confused about “Total Depravity,” when God says in Isaiah 1:11-18: “To what purpose (is) the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? Saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; (it is) iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear (them). And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” To be sure, what about, “Come now, and let us reason together…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”??
A.P. – That’s a beautiful verse from Isaiah. Do you see a contradiction between that verse and the doctrine of Total Depravity? What?
Yes, it is important and no you cannot just say “I believe the Bible”. That irks me.
I know what you mean, Susan. Even saying “I believe the Bible” is a theological statement (doctrine of Scripture, anyone?). When people claim theology doesn’t matter to them – despite the fact that they go around making theolgical statements – I think it’s more an indication that they misunderstand the definition of theology than an indication that theology truly has no importance in their lives.
Blessings,
Tim
Yeah, Susan – that comment gets a facebook “like” from me, too!