Theology Matters

What is Theology?

One of the first things we read in this passage is “being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.” Timothy is told having good doctrine is important within community and for standing against false teachers. So tonight we are going to have a mini crash course on theology. Because it is important you have a solid understanding of what you believe. Having an understanding of theology affects 3 things:

It effects your personal relationship with Christ.

it has an impact on how you do community with other believers.

it impacts how you interact with the world.

Theology means the study or science of God.

Theology was seen as a science in the Middle Ages...In the Medieval universities, it was understood that the various branches of learning required an overarching standard. That standard was the Bible. Because the Bible was seen as the source of all truth, theology became the natural standard by which other scholarship had to abide. The scholars of the day rightly saw that one’s view of God and the Bible affects every other area of life. A scholar’s theology is the foundation of his worldview and shapes his study of philosophy and other fields. Theology, then, was the “queen of the sciences”; that is, God’s Word is the majestic source of knowledge that informs all other knowledge. -Gotquestions.com

The way we view the world is shaped by our belief of Scripture.

Theology shapes your worldview.

When it comes to theology I like to break it down into a pyramid. At the top you have dogma then doctrines, and lastly theological opinions. Higher up the category on the pyramid the more important it is. As you go higher up there is less that fits into each category.

Dogma

Definition by Oxford Dictionaries:

Dogma- a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true

A Christian dogma is something you have to believe in order to be a Christian. If you do not believe one of the dogma’s you are not a true believer.

Examples of Dogma:

Doctrines relating to Jesus

Salvation

Monotheism

Authority of the Bible

If you disagree with a dogma you become part of a cult set of beliefs.

Doctrine

Doctrine- theological teachings

All dogmas are doctrines, not all doctrines are dogmas. Dogmas their is no room for disagreement without eternal consequences. With doctrines (that are not dogmas) you have some wiggle room. This does not mean their is not a true doctrine, because it is. Everyone is not right in their doctrine. The better our doctrine is the stronger our faith will be, so we need to study why we believe what we believe.And being wronf on doctrien can cause issues in your spiritual walk. Differences in doctrines is where different denominations come from. I choose to be southern baptist because their doctrine seems to be the mot theological sound.

Examples of doctrine:

Baptism

The Lord’s Supper

Eschatology

Let us do Baptist vs. Methodist. If I get baptised here what happens? i get submerged completely. If I go next door, what happens? more than likely sprinkled and as an infant. Lord’s supper. Here? only believers. Next door? Open to all.

Theological Opinion

This by far the largest category. Opinions are numerous. Like we mentioned earlier, theology shapes your worldview. Thus how you see this world is shaped through the lenses of the Bible and how you interpret it. As a Christian all your worldview is a theological worldview, thus all your opinions can be theological opinions. You are not always able to give a clear verse on why you believe something but from your time in the word you draw conclusions on things in the world.

Examples of theological opinion:

Holidays

To what extent do we engage in cultural entertainment

Theology and Community

Beginning of verse 6 Timothy is told to put these things before the brothers. What are these things? Everything we have studied up to this point. Leading a church and standing against false teachers. We don’t have a deep understanding for theology for just the benefit of our relationship with God, but also for the benefit of other believers and nonbelievers.

Good theology blesses us and all around us.

Theology and Other Believers

Discuss theology with fellow believers.

As you discuss you'll hear other people’s inputs on a passage and have your understanding of Scripture grow. When I prepare my lessons I use something called commentaries to help me get a better grasp of what I am teaching.

Understand theology to keep one another accountable.

Scripture makes it clear that we are called to keep one another accountable. Scriptures that show this are Galatians 6:1-5, Matthew 7:1-5, and Matthew 18:15-20.

Matthew 18:15–20 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

And you don’t just go about correcting in any certain way. As Matthew 18 shows us their is a way to go about holding one another accountable. We do not just do it however. So their is a doctrine of accountability.

Theology equips us to encourage one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 gives us the command to encourage one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

In order to encourage one another beneficially and correctly we need to understand good doctrine.

What doctrines are beneficial in encouraging?

Doctrine of Heaven and Hell

Doctrine of Hope

Doctrine of Salvation

Over the last few weeks something y’all have heard talked about over and over again is standing against false teachings. Just to reiterate what you been hearing for weeks. get in the Word so you can make a stand against false truths. if you don’t understand the doctrines of the faith you will not be able to take a strong stand.

Theology and Age

Does your age have any bearing on your ability to grasp or study theology? No. 1 Timothy 4:12 tells us to let no one despise you for your youth.

What is the key to understanding theology? Holy Spirit

John 14:26 tells us how the Holy Spirit teaches us.

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

And does it say anything about age. No. If you are saved you got the same Holy Spirit and same amount as the most maturest believer in this church. You are just as capable of grasping theology as anyone in this church. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

Scripture makes it clear to let no one despise you. In fact you set an example for others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Seeing young people on fire for the Lord inspires people of all ages. Don’t let the years waste. Give your all to God regardless of your age.