Does Anyone Care About Theology Anymore?

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Does Anyone Care About Theology

Anymore?
By Rob Bentz
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I am concerned. Troubled, actually, by the American churchs growing lack of interest in Theological
things. Formal seminary training, classes at the local church and friendly Theological discussion seems
to bring a collective yawn from the church masses.
Need a few examples?
One pastor friend has completely given up offering Theological courses to his congregation for
lack of interest. Service projects? Great. Theological offerings? Not so much.
In the spirit of the Inklings, another church leader holds what he refers to as Theology Pub to
read and engage with the thoughts and ideas of prominent Theologians. He finds interest
minimal at best.
Another pastor regularly offers Theological classes in an eight-week format in his megachurch
context. A grand total of 25 regularly participate.
These snapshots are real, not fabricated to stir up some false blog tension. And, sadly, they are
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Does Anyone Care About Theology Anymore?

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/253635-anyone-care-theology-anymore.html?print

becoming the norm in churches across the United States. As I talk with pastor friends from a wide
swath of denominations, I hear a consistent malaise expressed when it comes to Theology.
How can this be acceptable?
Theology is, in its simplest defined form, the study of God. This should be a regular part of church
ministry, regardless of your denomination, network or tribe. Gods people must know who God isHis
attributes, His character, etc.if we are to live out a Christian faith that is biblical.
Instead, we seem more interested in creating God in our image. We develop caricatures of a god that
wed like to hang out with. A god who, curiously enough, wears the same jeans and listens to the
same tunes that you and I do. Lets consider a few of the prominent caricatures in our culture today:
Hipster JesusThis Jesus is so cool, so vanguard, so compelling, that everyone wants to follow
him and be just like him.
Tough-Guy JesusThis Jesus lives up to a bumper sticker I saw on my commute recently. It
read Jesus Kicks donkey image. Clearly, his deity is not to be messed with!
Touchy, Feely JesusThis is the Jesus that loves everyone, and more important, everything
that his creatures doeven when it contradicts Scripture.
Helping Hand JesusThis is the Jesus that rolls up his sleeves and serves the physical tangible
needs of people. Yet, unlike the Jesus we read about in the Bible, never talks about the Kingdom,
or sin, or forgiveness.
We can all make a god in our image if we dont have the foundational understanding of the God of the
Scriptures. We can create a god who we like if we dont wrestle with the One whose attributes we are
thankful foryet make us uncomfortable. (Grace, anyone?)

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Does Anyone Care About Theology Anymore?

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/253635-anyone-care-theology-anymore.html?print

When the church loses its capacity to interact with the God of the Holy Scriptures, we are dangerously
close to becoming little more than an old civic organization with fancy buildings who does kind things.
When our culture is wrestling with complex issues of the definition of marriage, racism and violence,
and terrorism and nuclear treaties, the churchand the individual Christianmust have a biblically
accurate, Theologically rich worldview. Not simply rooted in the thinking of our favorite political
commentator or podcast preacher. Instead, it must come from our own study of Gods Word and the
rich Theological truths that have been handed down from generation to generation of church history.
Biblical truth about God, His will and His character must guide our thinking and the way we engage
with the challenges facing our culture todayas the church has done through many dark periods of
human history.
Theology is as important today as it was 500 years ago. Its important for church leaders to teach. Its
important for Christ followers to read. And its important for everyone to talk about with each other.
Theology is what drives the church to have and practice a high-view of God instead of being led by
cultural trends.
Does anyone care about Theology? The church must continually remind itself of its importance.
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Rob Bentz, is a pastor at Woodmen Valley Chapel in Colorado Springs, CO and the author of The
Unfinished Church: Gods Broken and Redeemed Work-In-Progress a recent release by Crossway.
More from Rob Bentz or visit Rob at http://www.RobBentz.com

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Does Anyone Care About Theology Anymore?

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