There is medieval theological dictum: theologia a Deo docetur, Deum docet, et ad Deum ducit.
Theology is taught by God, teaches God, and leads to God.
But what does this mean? To understand, we will take a look at one component each week for the next few weeks.
We’ll work our way backwards.
and to God it leads
Theology is not some abstract science which has for it’s chief end the attainment of knowledge. Knowledge, especially theological knowledge, apart from a growing sanctification and vital union with Christ breeds arrogance. If the chief end of man is to glorify God and fully to enjoy him forever (see WSC and WLC 1), then all of man’s actions ought to be oriented toward this end. Theological inquiry is no different. When we come to the Scriptures, and we engage our reason to understand what God has said about himself, the point is not simply to inflate our own ego by the acquisition of knowledge.
The point is to not only know about God, but to know God and to live for him through Christ.
A Christian theology is required that embraces Christ and is theoretical-practical. That is to say, it is not theoretical only, resting in some sort of contemplation of the truth, nor practical only, considering the knowledge of the truth to be indifferent. Rather, Christian theology unites theory with practice, and is “a knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness” (Titus 1:1). And the doctrine according to godliness, by which we know and do, is composed of faith and love…
Petrus Van Mastricht, Prolegomena, trans. Todd Rester, ed. Joel Beeke, vol. 1, Theoretical-Practical Theology (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2018), 78-79.
If our theological pursuits do not yield the practical outcome of doxological joy, then we have missed the point. This would be akin to learning everything you can about a woman, and never asking her out on a date. Studying the likes, dislikes, and other facts about her is endearing and charming if the goal is a relationship… but absent that purpose is disturbing and unnerving. The difference between getting to know someone and stalking is the intention to enter into a genuine relationship.
While we must be careful of comparing our relation to God with earthly romance, the principle holds true. The chief end of man, and thus God’s chief intent in revealing himself to man, is for man to not only give glory to God, but also to enjoy God forever.
Are you reading this blog in an attempt to live for God through Christ? I hope you are. Are you participating in online theological debate seeking to glorify God and enjoy him forever? Have you properly understood that theology is not just theoretical, but must also be practical?