Know Theology, Know God. No Theology, No God.

This is probably at least a little controversial, but I think it needs to be said. Most of my peers will probably agree with this (seeing as I am here at one of the stalwarts of Evangelical Theology).

But in my readings and even my own experience, and especially in theory, those who love theology and seek to understand it, are best able to truly love God. Those who do not love theology and seek to understand it, are not well equipped to truly love the God of the Bible.

For example, for me to truly know my wife, I also need to know about her. And for me to love her I need to know her (for those of you who don't know, I don't actually have a wife, this is just an example). It is the same with any person, including the Personal God. For someone to love God, that person needs to know God personally, and to know God personally that person needs to know about God--i.e. who He is.

If I did not know much about my hypothetical wife, and I had extreemly warm affections toward her and really loved her, in reality I don't love her, but who I perceive her to be. In other words, I don't love my wife, but the shadow of her that my mind labels "my wife." I'll be quite disappointed then when she acts quite contrary to my perceptions of her, and I may find that the woman I love doesn't really exist, and the woman I'm married to, I don't really love.

So it is with God. Many people have warm affections toward their perception of God, and really love that one, but this is not God, but in reality is an idol--not the Biblical God. To really love God you have to read Scripture and accept what it is saying--not write off parts of it that do not fit your liking (for instance, election, Christ as the only way, the total depravity of man--you must know yourself to know God, and God to know yourself). Only if you can accept the God actually presented in Scripture, and love Him for who He is, can you truly love God. So to truly love God, you must know theology, and have good theology, or at least portions of your "God" will actually be Baals--idols of your own invention and the vain desires of your heart.

I am not suggesting that everyone needs to become a seminary professor, we all have our own gifts and callings, and this variety is good and from God. But a lack of concern for good theology should really alarm us and cause us to ask, "What is my real motivation? And what do I really think about God? Is He the center of my life?"

This is a harsh word, and for many it will be difficult to accept. But for those who have ears to hear, let them hear. This is part of the reason Paul admonishes/warns Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:16). The wise will heed such an admonition (Prov. 15:5, 31-33).