The Mechanics of Sound Theology

In our last post, we considered how sound theology impacts our understanding and the way we live.  The essence of sound theology is the application of Scripture to our lives.  God’s Word is given to illuminate the path before us. Without sound theology we stumble about in the dark. Scripture trains us, disciplines us and corrects us (2 Tim 3:16-17).  Sound theology makes sense of life, providing us with meaning and purpose.

R.C. Sproul was fond of saying, “Everyone is a theologian.”  He didn’t mean everyone is a professional theologian.  His point was simple. Everyone has something to say about God; everyone engages in “God-talk.”  The atheist must talk about God to explain why he doesn’t believe in Him.  Pagans have their own conceptions of the nature and supposed work of their god or gods.  Those who profess Judaism or Christianity have their own understanding of God.  It’s true.  Everyone is a theologian.  However, not everyone is a competent theologian.  In this age of “God to me,” we must remember that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and the Redeemer of His people is who He says He is, not who we’d like Him to be.  

It is the task of the competent theologian to understand God as He has revealed Himself in His Word.  The Lord has revealed Himself as the great God to Whom belongs glory, power, majesty, and splendor (1 Chronicles 29:11), and it is the duty of all creation to ascribe to Him the glory due His name (Psalm 98:7-8; 150:6).  There is an important distinction to be made.  While we must know God’s Word to truly know Him, the goal is to worship His holy Person.  We do not worship the means of God’s revelation; we worship the subject of His revelation.  Therefore, while we do not worship theology, it is, nonetheless, a real and necessary means in our relationship with God.  In some sense, theology is even a consequence of that relationship because, if we are theocentric, God-talk will pervade our lives.  

"It is the task of the competent theologian to understand God as He has revealed Himself in His Word."

How does theology work?  How does one formulate sound theology?  We have already noted that sound theology must reflect the Scripture. However, it is not simply quoting Scripture. It involves “synthesis.”  Do not confuse “synthesis” with “synthetic.”  To synthesize is to combine parts into a whole.  Sound theology is a synthesized summary of what the Scripture teaches about a given subject, demonstrating an understanding of what is being said.  It is forming an overall picture of who God says He is and His purpose as revealed in Scripture.  In other words, it is synthesizing biblical teaching on a given topic.  

It is the nature of the human mind to take particulars and “synthesize” them into abstract universals.  The mind works in such a way that particulars are combined into universal principles.  For example, if we have a sufficient understanding of what it means to be an “officer of the law,” there is no need to refer to him as “a writer of traffic tickets, a responder to reports of criminal activity, an apprehender of suspected criminals, a protector of the people, etc.”  We synthesize all such activities and refer to the officer as a “policeman.”

This is the nature of theology.  It is a synthesis of particulars (the specific things Scripture says) into universals (the principles they produce).  Having considered the particulars of God’s saving activity throughout the Bible, we synthesize them into the doctrine of “redemption.”  Having considered the particular ways Scripture speaks of properly responding to God, we synthesize them into a theology of “worship.”  Having considered the various ways Scripture says one transgresses against God, we synthesize such actions and refer to them universally as “sin.” Having considered all the Scripture says about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we synthesize their unity in diversity with the term “Trinity.”  This is “doing theology.”

There is a symbiotic relationship between the universals and the particulars.  The accuracy of our universals will depend upon our familiarity with the particulars.  In other words, a good knowledge of the parts is necessary for an understanding of the whole.  And yet, our knowledge of the whole serves as a necessary framework for assessing the particulars.  Some grasp of the whole is essential for making sense of the parts.

"The accuracy of our universals will depend upon our familiarity with the particulars."

The Bible itself does theology.  It often gives us particulars and then interprets them.  The point is simple.  Theology is organic.  While our knowledge of the Scripture affects our understanding of theology, our theology helps us in interpreting Scripture.  Without doubt, every Christian engages in theology because he must have some synthesis of what the Bible says.  There is no such thing as an “anti-theology” Christian.  The question is whether our theology is biblically sound.

In our next post, we will look at the various ways of synthesizing the teaching of Scripture and how this facilitates discipleship.