Theology and Jesus [Justin Pearson]

From Becoming True Followers of Christ on Thursday, February 14, 2008:

I was talking with my wife, Amy, the other day about theology in reference to the blog post I made last week. She mentioned that she had read my blog, but didn’t click on the link to read the longer post about Dispensational and Covenant Theology. I was giving her a hard time about it and then she said, “I like theology, but I like Jesus more.”

That stuck out to me– “I like theology, but I like Jesus more.” I like that.

Now, I would be the first to tell you, as would my wife, that theology is important. Some in the Church today are almost anti-theology claiming that it divides churches, is nitpicky, and ultimately unimportant. I would argue that those that say that are either lazy, or do not understand the beauty of theology. Yes, many have used and continue to use theology as an aluminum baseball bat with which they beat people over the head that disagree with them. That is obviously not good.

However, I think it is important for us to pay attention to theology because it allows us to know God more and understand more of his revelation to us through Jesus Christ. After all, Paul told Timothy to pay attention to his teaching and doctrine and to teach truth in a perverse time (1 Tim 4:16; 2 Tim 4:1-5).

What I like about what Amy said is the priority of theology and Jesus. Theology is important, but Jesus is more important. We cannot get bogged down in non-essential* theological arguments (e.g.- charismatic gifts, eschatology, etc.) if it causes us to neglect Jesus in our life.

If we spend more time arguing about theological issues than we do on seeing and savoring Jesus Christ in our lives we are on a slippery slope.

Paul said that he counts all things as loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus (Phil 3:8), that he preaches the gospel (1 Cor 1:17), and that he knows nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:2).

It is all about Jesus for Paul, and should be all about Jesus for us. Jesus is the foundation of our theology. So next time you are arguing about when and how the world will end ask yourself, “Am I more concerned about this, or about knowing Jesus and becoming more like him?” I hope it is the latter.

Theology is good, but Jesus is better.