by Garrett Glende

John Calvin wrote in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, “True and substantial wisdom principally consists of two parts, the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” A.W. Tozer wrote that “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” These are the reasons why I decided to begin this series in the first place. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all theologians. We all have ideas about who God is, what He has done, and how He acts. We also believe certain things about ourselves, our nature, and our purpose. There are none who are able to escape that fact that he or she is a theologian. This series was about theology, but theology does not end in our brains, it ends in our actions and in our daily lives. How we live exposes what we really believe. This is why I’ve tried to tie in personal application points at the end of every article. As a wrap up for the series, I think it would be good to share about what I’ve learned from reading Grudem’s book and writing the articles, as well as some thoughts on the importance of theology in general.

One thing that I knew before opening up Systematic Theology was that there would be a few points of disagreement between myself and Grudem and I was interested to see exactly how this would play out, particularly as it related to how I would convey these doctrines through the articles. I had JR’s help with the chapters at the beginning of the book, but once I moved up to San Jose last year, our times together dwindled. So when I came across things that seemed a little off to me, I really had to examine them against what the Bible said. I tried to do this as best I could, but at the same time it was very difficult to disagree with someone who has the type of credentials that Dr. Grudem does. I already held convictions, but I have not even come close to the type of work that he has accomplished. Having said this, I still believe that we both have the same Holy Spirit working in us and illuminating our hearts, thus he is no more capable of understanding truth than I am in that sense. Through this, I learned that learning theology requires humility. It’s neither humble nor honest of me to dismiss another viewpoint without taking the time to consider it.

Through this study I’ve also gained a firmer grasp on the Bible’s teachings and how doctrines are developed. I think it’s very easy to make claims about what you believe, but it’s another issue to defend it from Scripture. Grudem’s work is thoroughly Scriptural and there are many references to Bible passages. This was helpful particularly in the areas of the Old Testament that I was less familiar with. He showed that the Bible has a clear and consistent message about who God is, regardless of the time period. After reading through each chapter and reporting back, I can definitely say that the Bible is clear about what it teaches and that God wants us to know Him for who He really is.

That said, theology would be a worthless study if there is no underlying relationship with God. Many people claim to know God, but perhaps they only know things about God. We cannot mistake knowledge for a relationship. There are probably plenty of atheists out there who know more about the Bible than I do, but it does them little good in the long run, as the truths they encounter in Scripture make no impact on their lives. But Christians are not immune to this either. Every time we open God’s word we are encountered with universal truth. If our eyes gloss over the words, only storing information in our heads and not our hearts, then we have become just like the Atheist. If there is no change in our lives, no outward evidence of God’s word within us, then we must take a step back and ask ourselves what role God is playing in our lives. He is so much more than an interesting topic to study (although He is infinitely interesting). He is our personal Savior and Lord and we have the privilege of knowing Him intimately. If we truly value this relationship, then theology will be immensely important to us, directing our hearts and minds to live in a manner worthy of the gospel. So please don’t make the excuse that theology is only for the “smart people” or for the pastors. No, it is for all of us. And if you’re intimidated by a big book like Grudem’s (which is really quite readable), then start small and work your way up. It’s well worth it, but be sure that what you read becomes what you live.