You are a Theologian. Are You the Best Theologian You Can Be?

God spoke.

These are stunning words, especially when coupled with the biblical evidence that God continues to speak to His people in myriad ways.  When reading Hebrews, my tendency has been to fly right by this amazing and foundational concept on my way to untangling the mystery of Melchizedek or decoding the significance of the Levitical priesthood.

But not today.

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…”

Hebrews 1:1-2

The truth is that most of us—if we were honest—would admit that we have more issues than National Geographic over this concept of God communicating with us.  We flinch at the idea that we have absolutely no control over what He says.  We complain over the waiting, the timing, and the content of His guidance. 

A couple of decades ago, I quit reading the Bible for a while in a misguided protest against what I perceived to be a silent heaven.  What I learned from that little temper tantrum is that God is not silent or withdrawn, BUT neither does He speak in skywriting—and usually NOT through the whispered, individual messages that I longed for.

The 39 Old Testament books written “to the fathers by the prophets” are expanded and clarified by the 27 New Testament books written by the apostles, eyewitnesses to the Word made flesh.  They testify to the fact that God has communicated lavishly, “at various times and in various ways.” 

What if all we had of God’s Word was the book of Ezekiel with its visions of whirlwinds and spinning wheels with eyes?  On the contrary, God has given the poetry of the Psalms and the rich historical narrative of Israel’s history, the ancient wisdom of Job, and the record of His plan to rescue humanity, all interspersed with messages of grace and judgment, wisdom, and hope.

For the believer, our theology and our worldview are driven by this amazing truth:  the sovereign God has spoken.  He is unrestricted in His ability to communicate with His people.  All of our impressions from the words of others, from the still small voice of the Spirit, and from the “heavens declaring the glory of God” must be subject to the filter of His revealed Truth.  We will never exhaust its infinite riches.

God has spoken.
What will we do about it?

When I quit reading the Bible in misguided protest against what I perceived to be a silent heaven I learned that God is not silent BUT neither does He speak in skywriting nor through the whispered individual messages that I longed for.

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And Now, Let’s Talk Books…

Jen Wilkin and J.T. English have collaborated on a thorough rebuttal to this mindset, for every Christian is called to know and love God well. Everyone is a theologian–even your favorite atheist! The question is: Are you the best theologian you can be? Are you believing what is true based on God’s revealed Word?

You Are a Theologian is an answer to Jesus’s call to make disciples, learners who know the basic beliefs of our faith and can transmit them to another generation of believers. With that in mind, the authors have devoted one chapter to each of the core doctrines of Christianity, steering away from second and third-tier issues, and providing readers with helpful labels for organizing the ideas given to us in God’s Word.

The authors argue against the notion that theology is heartless and then go on to build a strong connection from each point of doctrine to its role in heart transformation and the goal of living well. Prayerful, worshipful, and humble theology is best done in the community of the local church as we learn from each other AND in the community of the historic church as we learn from our predecessors.

How amazing that God has spoken to us, that he makes Himself known to us, and has even made it possible for us to live in communion with Him! Good theology leads to worship and gratitude for God’s revelation, and that was my response to the book. I found myself pondering the questions at the end of each chapter and copying the very meaningful prayer responses into my journal. It’s a pleasure to share this resource with you!

Holding You in the Light,

In #YouAreaTheologian @JenniferWilkin and @jt_english argue against the notion that theology is heartless and build a strong connection from each point of doctrine to its role in heart transformation and the goal of living well. @BHpub

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Did You Know that I Also Publish a Monthly Newsletter?

Every month I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where everything lands first. I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path.

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees. If you should decide to purchase any of the books or products I’ve shared, simply click on the image, and you’ll be taken directly to the seller. If you decide to buy, I’ll receive a few pennies at no extra cost to you.

Many thanks to B&H Publications and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.