Why Theology Matters

Michael Patton over at the "Parchment and Pen" blog has a fantastic explanation of the importance of theology. I myself have gone through stages when I wanted to throw away all of my books, un-bookmark the many blogs I read, and reject all of the serious study of God in order to dwell in his simple, uncluttered, uncomplicated Presence. However, while I've recognized the necessity of this 'simple' relationship with the Lord, I've also come to see how essential it is to grasp for deeper knowledge of the One we love.

Patton explains that growing in knowledge of the Lord (theology) is equatable to growing in knowledge of a spouse or a loved one. Here's a snippet:

I fear that this is often the case when people rationalize their avoidance of theology. Theology is simply coming to understand God at a deeper level. Yes, there are risks, just the same as any relationship. There are risks of misunderstandings, changing your ideals, opening yourself up to criticism, and coming to know both the wonderful and (what might be perceived to be) the not-so-wonderful things about God. There is also the possibility of division and strife as you defend what you believe to be true. But is this really any different than any other relationship?

Check out the rest of the article here.