By no means do I intend to envelop theology in the mere terrestrial, but qualitative assessments of proficiency or ineptitude govern our daily affairs and we give honor accordingly. The common clerk ought not profess to be a doctor. His/Her Honor the judge may give lousy advice concerning your home improvement project. Thus we admit when we are "out of our element" and so defer to the qualified - except when it comes to theology. Beyond the adage "We should never discuss politics or religion because it's all opinion and everybody has one." do most expect his/her theology to be considered the zenith regardless of any contrary position?
Theology: The field of study, thought and analysis that treats of God, His attributes and His relations to the universe.
Theologian: A person who is versed in theology
Theologize: To theorize or speculate upon theological subjects
"He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still." ~Samuel Butler (1612-1680), in Hudibras. Part iii. Canto iii. Line 547
While this philosophical quote addresses our plebeian preference, in matters of theology it is rather inane. Every inadvertent and seemingly innocuous "theological" remark betrays our view of God. Men and women who are not theologians still have no trouble theologizing as though theological fact were (to quote a friend of mine) as the Folks of the far-flung fields of Landingham: one here, one there and in between room for acres of conjecture.
Romans 1:18-23
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Chapters 3 and 4 of Calvin's Institutes Book One are entitled:
3. The Knowledge of God Has Been Naturally Implanted in the Minds of Men
4. The Knowledge Is Either Smothered or Corrupted, Partly By Ignorance, Partly By Malice
Now just because Calvin said it does not make it so. Insofar as Calvin (or anyone of us) is faithful to the Scriptures, these statements are so. Can there be any doubt whatsoever that this is the teaching of Scripture? So why am I disparaging of theologizing if all "know God" naturally?
Precisely for the reason Calvin states in Ch. 4! But this corruption must be denied in order that our conjecture not come crashing down upon our heads!
"Nobody's perfect" we say. "Everybody makes mistakes" we admit. No matter what our declaration toward God, be it affirmation, open hostility or imagined neutrality, we speak as though irrefutable or worse, that it is inconsequential.
Good / bad doctors. Efficient / lax clerks. Fair / barbarous Judges. Ethical / unethical businessmen. All contmporaries. So yes, there are also sound and unsound Theologians. I think there can be no sound theologizers because theology is not speculative.
2Tim 4:1-5
4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Titus 2
2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Who is God? What is God? How do we know? We know by the full revelation of scripture and the Person and Work of Christ. If a person's explanation is mere speculation based apart from scripture, we have every right to censure their idolatrous view, for is not every false notion of God idolatrous even when it is our own? James White repeatedly says "Theology matters." But again, theology is not speculative. Sola Scriptura. Semper Reformanda.
