You Are A Theologian!
Today we will be reading from Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Who are the theologians of this church?
Before you answer that, what is a theologian and what is theology?
And to answer that requires a two step process.
The English word “theologian” comes from two Greek words with an English suffix.
The first is “theos” meaning “God” and the second is “logos” meaning “word”.
And then to that we add the English suffix is “ian” which means “relating to”.
Martian - someone relating to Mars
Grecian - someone or something related to the Greek culture
Politician - someone involved in politics
So, when you string “theos”, “logos” and the suffix “ian” in the word theologian it literally means a person who is in some way relating to God’s word.
Now, when a person is a theologian they engage in theology or the study of God through His word.
And, what finally happens when you engage in the study of God through His word? You end up with at least an intellectual knowledge about God.
When a theologian studies the Word of God something called theology develops and that is a series of belief that develop from that study of God’s word.
Do you want to hear something that is NOT surprising?
Pastor Karenlee and I are theologians.
Do you want to hear something that is VERY surprising?
YOU ARE ALL THEOLOGIANS!
IN FACT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WHO HAS EVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT GOD IS A THEOLOGIAN!
Now, even though everyone in the world who has ever thought about God is in a sense a theologian it does not mean that everyone’s theological beliefs about God are right. Right!
An atheist is a theologian - that person has determined in their mind that there is no god.
A man named Spong who preaches in churches and teaches in Christian universities does not believe in the God of the Bible or even in the word of God at all. He is a theologian with a huge following.
A child who is hearing his Mom reading a children’s Bible book is a theologian. Their understanding of Who and What God is may be limited but they are forming their beliefs.
All learning requires three things:
1) The desire to learn
2) A knowledgeable instructor
3) Self study (home work - personal effort)
What is needed to be a Christian theologian?
1) The desire to learn
2) A knowledgeable instructor (if one is available … if not, the Bible and the Holy Spirit can and will bring enough light into the seekers heart and mind to bring about salvation and holy living)
3) Self study (home work (Bible study) - personal effort)
4) A spiritual group of fellow believers (if one is available)
Just how critical is the Word of God?
Let’s look at an example from the Old Testament.
At this point Moses is just talking about the fact that the people of Israel will one day want to have a king like the surrounding nations.
So, Moses lays down this law for the kings that will come in the future.
Let’s read Deuteronomy 17:14-20
What is the King supposed to do?
Deuteronomy 17:18-19
“When [the king] takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere (Yahweh) the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees …”
1) Write a copy of the law in with his own hand
2) Keep the scroll with him
3) read it every day of his life
(Stop to prayer for help in understanding the importance of this)
We do not have any record of any king of Israel ever doing this but many scholars both Jewish and Christian believe that King David is the most likely author of Psalm 119.
Listen to what he says in verses 97-106.
Psalm 119:97-106
Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on Your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey Your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey Your word.
I have not departed from Your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from Your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow Your righteous laws.
Moses knew that the Scriptural study was important
King David knew that Scriptural study was important
(Quote Psalm 1:1-2) “… in this law He meditates day and night …”
(Quote 2 Timothy 2:15 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
John 10:27
“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”
(Hold up a Bible) THIS IS GOD’S VOICE!
Do you know it? Do you listen to it? Do you follow its instructions?
OK. How would you do if you were given a test???
What are some of the popular notions today in Christianity???
Suppose you turn on your TV set and you hear Oprah Winfrey say, “Well, I am a Christian who believes that there are certainly many more paths to God other than Christianity.”
So, what would you say?
What do you have in your Scripture memory arsenal???
John 14:6-7, “Jesus said, “I Am the Way …”
John 3:18, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned …”
Whenever I donate blood they ask me, “Have you ever donated under another name?”
Jesus does not use an alias. I mean, yes He is known by titles as the Christ, the Messiah, The Son of God, the Son of Man, the Holy One of Israel, The Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Way, The Truth and The Life, but, He never goes by Allah or Mohamed or Krishna or Baal or Moloch or one of the one hundred and two Buddha’s.
He is Jesus, the One, the Only!
What if you are having a discussion with a brother or sister in Christ and the conversation turns to a topic called eternal security.
(Never ARGUE about this topic. Never allow it to cause a division between you and a fellow believer. This is a mystery about which we can disagree with harmony. The mystery is the understanding about the tension between God’s sovereignty, the moral free will He has bestowed upon us and the effect of His grace upon us.)
Perhaps the person might quote 2 Timothy 2:13a, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.” That sounds convincing, doesn’t it?
But, because we have memorized 2 Timothy 2:11-13 we know that the Scripture they just quoted is not only just a small segment of a larger sentence it is just a fragment of a “trustworthy saying”.
The entire text says,
2 Timothy 2:11-13
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot disown Himself.”
Remember this is speaking to Christians, born again Christians and the entire book is actually written for the benefit of pastors.
“If we died with Him …” Romans 12:1a, “I have been crucified with Christ …”
“If we endure …” if we don’t give up …
“If we disown Him …” You’ve heard of parents disowning their children right?
“If we are faithless (to Him), He remains faithful, for He CANNOT disown Himself”
Once again. If the conversation starts to become agitated just graciously change the subject or respectfully excuse yourself.
Perhaps it would be best to just listen to what he or she has to say without further response.
If the discussion continues in harmony you could also recite John 15:5-8 which is also written to those who are saved.
These are just two examples.
What if someone says that if we seek God and His kingdom we can be assured that He will bless us materially because Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
And they will go on to say that based on verses like this we can be assured that we will be wealthy and healthy during our lives.
But what is Matthew 6:33 really referring to? We know because we have Matthew 6:31-33 memorized, right?
“Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? …”
And, did does the Bible promise us smooth sailing???
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers …”
So, let’s wrap this all up, OK?
Since we are all theologians, let’s be good theologians for the cause of Christ and for His kingdom here on earth!
Let’s make sure that what we are talking about is in agreement with the Holy Bible and let’s make sure that WHENEVER we have the opportunity to share the truth of Scripture with a fellow believer or an unbeliever that we follow this final instruction …
1 Peter 3:15
“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Final thoughts and prayer …
