The Importance of Theology and Educational Understanding
By Rod Dreher
Rawlings School of Divinity
CLED 720: Biblical & Theological Foundations of Education
Genevieve Hamer
July 6, 2022
Definition
Theology is the study of God and his relations to, purpose for, and work within the created
universe.
Introduction
The term “theology,” combining theos (God) and logos (word about, or study of), refers
most literally to the study of God. Yet this term is used for the study of humanity, and sin, and
salvation, and the church, and last things (and more). The reason “theology” may rightly be
used of these other areas is this: theology is the study of God and his relations to, purposes for,
and work within, the created universe, which include his creation of the world, his formation of
man as male and female in his image, their fall into sin, his plan of salvation and restoration for
a fallen world involving his call of Abraham and choice of Israel through whom the Messiah
would come, his providential workings to bring about salvation through the incarnation, sinless
life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection of his Son, his formation of the church,
and his plans to bring all creation to its divinely decreed ends. The expanse of what theology
covers is breathtaking, and it shows us just how comprehensive and widely impactful it is to all
of life.
Consider a few areas in the study of theology for how a correct and biblically informed
theological understanding affects the whole of our lives. We begin with the doctrine of God,
sometimes referred to as theology proper, since theology is most centrally and most
importantly the study of God’s self-revelation concerning his own character, triune Being, and
providential workings in the world he has created. In his classic treatment of the attributes of
God, A. W. Tozer begins chapter one with these now famous words, “What comes into our
minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” (A. W. Tozer, The
Knowledge of the Holy [New York: HarperCollins, 1961], 9.). Tozer’s insight here is of paramount
importance and deals directly with our question of the importance of theology and theological
understanding. Because the knowledge of God affects every area of life, and because our
conception of God shapes our worldview, our values, our commitments, and our affections, and
our actions, there is no other area of human understanding that is more impactful in shaping
the whole of our minds, and hearts, and lives.
Theological Understanding and the Creator-creature Distinction
One of the most important aspects of a Christian worldview is affirming what is sometimes
called the Creator-creature distinction. God, as eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient, infinite,
simple, and omnipotent, exists eternally independent of anything created and finite in the
infinite fullness of life and joy as the Triune God. Since the world that God created had a
beginning, but God has no beginning, it must be the case that God exists eternally, apart from
the world, in the fulness of his transcendent excellencies such that everything qualitatively
good resides intrinsically and eternally in God.
He has no need for the creation that he chose to bring into existence. So, while the
creation is dependent upon God for every aspect of its existence and for every good thing it has
and shows forth, God is independent of and transcendent over all that he has made. The
heavens declare the glory of God, not the glory of the heavens, since every quality exhibited in
the heavens comes from and is reflective of the infinite beauty, power, and wisdom of God. To
know the transcendent fullness of God, who does not need us or anything we have to offer,
humbles us greatly. But it also amazes us because though God does not need us, he created us
to fill us with himself and make himself manifest in and through our lives. He not only exists
independent of all that he has made, he also lives as the immanent God intimately involved in
and working through our very lives. As Triune, he lives eternally in the joy of the fellowship of
the persons of the Trinity. Yet, he made us persons who are created and redeemed to share in
his life and the joy he knows in his own Triune being.
Consider also how faith in God is strengthened and sustained by an understanding of his
attributes. When one examines just what faith in God requires, one sees how important it is to
have deep and abiding confidence in aspects of the character of God, without which we simply
won’t believe him or look to him when difficulties face us. For example, when one encounters
some hardship, trust in God requires an understanding of and confidence in God’s
comprehensive knowledge and flawless wisdom. Why would we go to God and trust in God if
we doubt whether he really understands all the features of what is happening to us and can
determine, in his infinite wisdom, the best course of action to take? So, confidence in God’s
perfect knowledge and wisdom is essential for genuine trust in God. In addition, trusting God
during a time of affliction requires that we have confidence in God’s indomitable power. If we
believe that God knows everything that can be known about our situation and has perfect
wisdom to decide what is best to do, yet we doubt that he can actually act to bring about what
is best, we won’t truly trust him. So, faith in God – trusting him during times of suffering and
affliction – require a deep and abiding confidence in both his perfect wisdom and his
unassailable power. Yet we also must have an unquestioning confidence in God’s love for us. If
we believe he knows what is best, and can do anything he chooses, but doubt that he truly
cares about us, we still will be disinclined truly to trust him. So, trust in God is something like
the trust we put in a three-legged stool when we choose to sit on it. We have to believe God’s
wisdom is perfect and cannot be improved upon, that his power is such that nothing can thwart
him doing what he chooses to do, and that his love for his children is flawless, faithful, and will
never falter. Knowing the character of God makes all the difference, then, in how we live our
lives before him.
