Sound Theology and a Life of Meaning

In our last post, we considered the importance of theology in a world where people increasingly define themselves in terms of their feelings and psychological impressions rather than objective reality. Today’s society likewise assesses truth subjectively, according to reactionary sensations and personal intuition.  In other words, truth is determined by how it makes one feel. This has given rise to the notion of individual truth.  We are told everyone must find “their own truth.”  This strips “truth” of any real meaning, rendering it a mere synonym for personal opinion.  For objective truth, we must look to the One who defines reality, the God who created and sustains all things.  The Scriptures are God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Though penned by human authors, holy men of old were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) so that the words they wrote were the very words God determined.  The Word of God is the gold standard of truth, the plumbline by which all truth claims must be measured.

God’s Word is the source for sound theology (God talk).  In other words, the worth of our theology will depend on how faithful we are to what God has revealed of Himself in His Word.   Since humanity is made in God’s image, we cannot truly know ourselves without knowing our Creator.  Therefore, living an authentic life requires engaging in theology. This should be our way of life.  God must be the unstated premise of all our knowledge and activity.  Sound theology involves knowing what God has said, understanding what it means and the wisdom to live accordingly.  The essence of theology is the application of Scripture to our lives. Biblical theology should inform the way we live.

In Psalm 119:105 we read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” While Scripture tells us that God has ordained the path we must walk (Psalm 37:23, 139:16; Proverbs 16:19; Ephesians 2:10), the way is new to us.  As we journey through life, God’s Word illuminates the path before us that we might not stumble.  Psalms 19:8 says, “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”  Without God’s Word, we go through life stumbling in the dark (John 8:12; Ephesians 4:18).  Proverbs 6:23 offers further insight: “For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.” God’s Word trains us in how to live and, when needed, provides discipline and course correction, keeping us on the path leading to eternal life in His presence.

Not only does sound theology teach us how to live, it makes sense of life.  It has often been observed that consistent atheism leads to nihilism (the belief that life is meaningless).  If the universe is a colossal cosmic accident, there can be no true meaning or purpose. As the famed atheist Richard Dawkins proposed, “The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.”  If this is true, his statement is itself, nonsense.  It is merely the result of a random interaction of atoms and, therefore, without meaning. The laws of logic that govern his argument and the rationality of his conclusions are the product of chance and have no real value.
 
"Not only does sound theology teach us how to live, it makes sense of life."

We innately know better.  Rationality is not merely an illusion created by an arbitrary evolutionary process.  This explanation of the world and how we make sense of life is woefully inadequate.  A view of life and the world which is man-centered will only increase our confusion.  Cornelius Van Til proposed an apt illustration for this self-defeating logic.  Imagine the hopelessness and senselessness of a man of water attempting to climb out of the water on a ladder of water.  Purpose doesn’t arise from purposelessness.  Meaning isn’t derived from meaninglessness.  Purpose and meaning aren’t fabricated, they’re discovered.  We must have a point of reference outside of ourselves to make sense of our existence.  That point of reference is the true and living God.

"Meaning isn’t derived from meaninglessness.  Purpose and meaning aren’t fabricated, they’re discovered."
 
The great philosophical questions of life can only be answered by our Creator.  Who are we?  We are creatures made in the image of God.  We are rational, relational beings because we were created by a rational, relational God (Genesis 2:7).  Why do we exist?  We exist to bring Him glory (1 Cor 10:31).  Sound theology makes sense of life because God is the self-existent creator and sustainer who gives us life and breath and everything else. It’s as simple as that!

In our next post, we will consider the foundation of sound theology and how it works.