The Necessity of Basic Theology

Most churches today are filled with people who have little or no theological understanding. There has been a failure in many denominations and local churches to proclaim the great doctrines of the faith. Many Christian’s Christianity never goes beyond a list of does and don’ts, or a series of “how to’s” (how to: be financially successful, live a clean life, be a good husband, make friends and influence people…) So many people are left without a basic understanding of what the Bible is all about.

I am not calling for the accumulation of facts for the sake of knowing the facts. The doctrines taught in the Bible are all about our God and how He relates to this fallen creation. Knowing these facts without knowing God will not do you any good. But the Christian who does not “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18) will be weak and ineffective in the Christian life. It is necessary to know something about God to worship God. It is essential to know what God is like to effectively pray to God. It is impossible to tell others of a God we know nothing about. For Christians, then, theology is the most practical thing we can do.

Now tell me, doth this offend you?