The Importance of Systematic Theology

What is systematic theology trying to do, and why is it important?  I ran across a post earlier this week ("Why All Christians Should Care about Systematic Theology") and thought it had some really good stuff to say that helps us understand systematic theology and its importance.  Here's an excerpt:

...systematic theology leads to worldview formation as we seek to set the biblical-theological framework of Scripture over against all other worldviews and learn “to think God’s thoughts after him,” even in areas that the Bible does not directly address. In this important way, systematic theology presents a well-thought-out worldview, over against all of its competitors, as it seeks to apply biblical truth to every domain of life. 

"As a discipline it is also critical in seeking to evaluate ideas within and outside the church. Outside the church, systematic theology takes on an apologetic function as it first sets forth the faith to be believed and defended, and then critiques and evaluates views that reject the truth of God’s Word. In this way, apologetics is properly a subset of systematic theology. Within the church, theology is critical by analyzing theological proposals first in terms of their fit with Scripture and secondly in terms of their implications for other doctrines. In all these ways, systematic theology is the discipline which attempts “to bring our entire thought captive to Christ” (see 2 Cor. 10:1–5), for our good as the church and ultimately for God’s glory."

Interested in more?  Check out the whole post here.  Or, you may want to check out these related posts from this site:

• "Why Theology Matters" taught by Dr. Jeremy Treat
• What Do You Think of When You Hear the Word "Theology"?
• We NEED Sound Theology.  And We Need MORE THAN Sound Theology.