The essential contribution that theology makes for the life of the church

I've mentioned a few times already on this site that theology is important in and for the life of the church, but that sound theology isn't the ONLY the thing a church should be concerned with. Here's one short excerpt from a previous post:

So a right theology is not enough - at least not if we define theology primarily in terms of what we KNOW at a cognitive level.  We also need to respond rightly - with faith, trust, awe, worship, and obedience" (We NEED Sound Theology. And We Need MORE THAN Sound Theology.

We need to keep this mind - in all the ways this quote highlights and more.

But I also want to keep my foot on the gas pedal of the important - essential! - contribution that sound theology does make in and for the life of the local church.

I love how Keith Johnson brings this out in his recent Theology as Discipleship (p. 77). Read this slowly:

We practice theology in order to guide the church as it thinks and speaks about God. This work is our specific commission. God has given us the task of bringing order to the church's language, and this task puts in a position of service rather than superiority. We are responsible for directing the church so that its prayer, worship, and preaching correspond to God's being and character. Our goal is to help the church become confident that its claims about God are true so it can teach believers within the church - and proclaim the gospel to those outside the church - in grace and truth" (Keith L. Johnson, Theology as Discipleship, p. 77).

Let's not abandon this "specific commission" Johnson calls us to. We need to champion theology, we need to create space to read and study theology, and we need to teach theology. As we do this, our posture is one of service. Our goal is to faithfully align with God's self-revelation in the Bible (no more, but no less) to equip the church in her prayer, worship, preaching, service, and witness.

The local church needs the essential contribution theology makes.

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If you liked this post, you may be interested in...

• We NEED Sound Theology. And We Need MORE THAN Sound Theology.
• My Own Working Definition of Christian Theology.
• Doing Theology is Important. But Watch Out for These Dangers.
• 8 Starter Books for Building a Biblical and Theological Library.
• 3 Ways Theology and the Local Church Go Hand-in-Hand.