What is theology?
The word has somewhat varied definitions, so we begin where millions hunger: Theology is the wonder and study of the existence and nature of God. Where answers to life’s hard questions can be found.
Why do we need The Theology Project?
It's a humbling proposition, but our experience and plenty of research by others confirms what we lamentingly call the scandal of the Church in our time: the spiritual anemia, confusion and Biblical illiteracy pervading our culture, both in and outside the church. To glorify God and enjoy him, we need good theology.
Check out some startling samples of research: The State of Theology; http://magazine.biola.edu/article/14-spring/the-crisis-of-biblical-illiteracy/; The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy; Christianity Today; Competing Worldviews;
Are Young People Leaving Christianity?; https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/
Who is The Theology Project for? What about unity, arguments and division? Is this just for one denomination?
The theology project invites all who are sincerely interested in studying the things of God.
A scholar from the past helps us get a handle on the question of unity. Rupertus Meldenius famously said “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
When it comes to comprehensive statements of faith and practice, we understand well that various theological persuasions will not agree on the fine points (e.g. our Reformed brethren would differ in ways from our Wesleyan brethren, and the same applies to Baptist, Anglican and so forth, in varying degrees). We hold to and rally around the historic, creedal, orthodox Christian faith. See our beliefs for more details.
Is this about doctrine? Don’t we just need Jesus?
“We just need Jesus” is a popular idea today, and on the surface can seem great. If you think about it for a moment, "we just need Jesus" is actually a doctrine itself. You've landed squarely in the realm of theology and doctrine.
The greatest commandment, said Jesus, is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). While matters of the heart, feelings, and experience are important, the necessity of good orthodox Christian doctrine to inform all we are and do is foundational. The heart needs to see first through the lens of Scripture. As author Jen Wilkin declares “the heart can’t love what the mind doesn’t know.” Romans 12:2 reveals that Godly transformation takes place by the renewing of our mind. And this certainly doesn’t leave out the Holy Spirit! The work of the Spirit is done through the Word of God (Eph. 6:17), which we are to study (2 Tim. 2:15).
So when you get Jesus, you get doctrine. It’s a package deal.
We already have lots of Bibles, Bible knowledge, teaching and churches. If we aren’t living what we already know, why more theology?
We appreciate that question and will say up front that The Theology Project is not about more information when we aren’t living what we do know.
But the facts are, as abundant research shows (not to mention just honestly assessing ourselves and the world around us), that we DON’T already have lots of Bible knowledge. Think about it. If we really believe the Word of God is alive, powerful, profitable, good and true, and effectively working in us, as the Scripture states, then it follows that the idea of “we already know tons of Bible and we just need to start doing it” falls very short. Yes, there is such a thing as being a hearer but not a doer of God’s Word (James 1:22). But that is a different issue.
The point is not that we don’t need more theology, the point is that while many of us have spent years hanging around the church and Christian families, doing various church things, very few of us have had any real training or understanding in Biblical theology, even the basics of our faith. Certainly not in a way that has brought us to a strong Biblical worldview with a coherent faith that we can understand and then articulate in word and deed.
In other words, it’s not that we already have too much Bible or theology, its that the disparate ideas, concepts, verses and topics we’ve passively engaged by “going to church” or “doing a small group” or whatever, are not the same as a serious, studied approach to living a life fully pleasing to The Lord. Check out Colossians 1:9,10 ”And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Additionally only a tiny percent among us have ever learned how to read, study and interpret the Bible. Which is crazy if you think about it, because we claim the Bible is sacred to us. It is Gods revealed will to us. The very words of life! So, to say we’ve studied (yet we don’t know even a couple of basic rules of interpretation, nor doctrine, nor have a Biblical worldview), and learned, and “know” all this stuff and are just not doing anything with it, is not factual, nor the best reasoning, nor biblical. If we truly grow in understanding it, knowing God accurately in the Scriptures, we’ll naturally be doing a lot more living of it. A tree is known by it’s fruit (Matt. 12:33).
God’s Word is effectual. If we truly come to understand the great narrative of the gospel in the Bible, and the core doctrines and concepts, then we will begin to truly live them. We aren’t living them, often because we simply don’t truly know them. That’s a more biblical approach and premise.
Here are some verses about the effectual nature of God’s Word:
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Php. 1:6)
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Php. 2:13)
“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63)
“… as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:2)
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Who is The Theology Project and what does it do?
The Theology Project, an outreach of SimpleWay Church, has a volunteer ministry team intentionally comprised of leaders from several local churches. We produce Theology Project events, activities and resource development, and work with pastors, churches, and other ministries as we carry out our mission.
More questions?
Contact us here