For Christians, studying God’s Word and wrestling with theology is not optional. Nothing in Scripture restricts theological study to a certain class of Christians. God expects all of his people to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18, ESV). We should be working towards the day when all believers will “attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:13, ESV).
On the other hand, we must not trick ourselves into thinking that theological knowledge alone is sufficient. If we turn the Christian faith into just another intellectual exercise, we will have missed the point. God is not looking for people who merely acknowledge his existence. He is seeking people who will worship him in “spirit and truth” (John 4:23, ESV); people who are not merely curious about the mysteries of the world but who are “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14, ESV). God desires true love and devotion. The apostle Paul put it bluntly when he wrote, “if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2, ESV).
As a musician and a theologian, I have battled with the twin pitfalls of drifting towards mindless emotion and immersing myself in dispassionate research. Neither of these extremes is truly pleasing to God. I often find myself tending towards focusing on one at the expense of the other, so I constantly have to remind myself that I must develop both if I can ever hope to live a life that glorifies God. As believers, we must devote ourselves to pursuing God with every part of our being (Luke 10:27). This includes the mind as well as the heart.
I aim to use this blog as a place to spur people on towards maturity in Christ by fostering their love for God and deepening their knowledge of him. Join me as I strive to cultivate my own faith and share what little knowledge I have gained along the way. My hope is that it will be helpful to you in your own journey.
