How many times have you heard a well-meaning Christian say something along the lines of: “Theology’s not important; just love Jesus”? Just recently I read someone say that Jesus didn’t tell us to believe the truth, he told us to follow him as the truth.
I understand and resonate with the sentiment, but the over-simplification of theology (and loving Jesus) misses the point. In fact, C.S. Lewis compares this type of thinking to those who embrace a flat Earth.
Why theology divides
There are worthwhile questions to ask about how some use theology to divide. But simply because some use theological positions to practice unnecessary division, does not mean there cannot be a legitimate place for theology—even theology that divides.
Forcing conflict in a healthy church over different but orthodox perspectives on the return of Christ is divisive. Pointing out differences between Christianity and Mormon doctrine, for example, divides, but is needed to establish the proper boundaries of biblical faith in Christ.
If Jesus said the path is narrow and only a few find it, we must make clear where that path lies and how wide exactly it is. In that case, theology divides but it also gives us direction.
Doctrine as direction
This direction-giving function of theology is why C.S. Lewis used part of Mere Christianity, a book written to appeal to virtually the entire spectrum of Christian belief, to explain the usefulness of theology.
He gives an example of an old Air Force officer who said he experienced God in nature. The man told Lewis, “I’ve felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that’s just why I don’t believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him.”
Lewis partly agreed with the man. When he moved from a direct, personal encounter with God, “he really was turning from something real to something less real.” Lewis compared it to standing on the beach looking out at the ocean and turning to look at a map of the same ocean. Obviously, the printed piece of paper does not generate the same sense of awe as standing on the precipice of an ocean.
But, Lewis argues there are two important truths about the map that should be considered.
In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to get to America.
To connect the analogy to theology, Lewis says that doctrines are not God, but they are a kind of map based on the experience of hundreds of people who were in touch with God. The historic creeds may not have the same emotional impact as your personal experience but they are a lot more helpful.
You see, what happened to that man in the desert may have been real, and was certainly exciting, but nothing comes of it. It leads nowhere. There is nothing to do about it. In fact, that is just why a vague religion—all about feeling God in nature, and so on—is so attractive. It is all thrills and no work: like watching the waves from the beach. But you will not get to Newfoundland by studying the Atlantic that way, and you will not get eternal life by simply feeling the presence of God in flowers or music. Neither will you get anywhere by looking at maps without going to sea. Nor will you be very safe if you go to sea without a map.
In other words, theology is practical: especially now. In the old days, when there was less education and discussion, perhaps it was possible to get on with a few simple ideas about God. But it is not so now. Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed. Consequently, if you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones—bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas. For a great many of the ideas about God which are trotted out as novelties today are simply the ones which real theologians tried centuries ago and rejected. To believe in the popular religion of modern England is retrogression—like believing the earth is flat.
Truly loving Jesus
Despite what so many claim, it is not progressive to dismiss theology. It may be part of the “popular religion” of the day, but it is, as Lewis contends, regressive. That’s part of the reason why he argued a “‘liberal’ Christianity which considers itself free to alter the Faith whenever the Faith looks perplexing or repellent” cannot actually be a progressive religion. “Progress is made only into a resistant material.”1
“Just loving Jesus” sounds great, but gnostics in the first century “just loved Jesus.” Jehovah's Witnesses “just love Jesus.” Prosperity preachers “just love Jesus.” Whatever you believe about the theological convictions of those groups, they hold vastly different beliefs about who Jesus is than orthodox Christianity.
If we want to actually love Jesus, He told us what that entails. He said those who love Him will obey His commands.2 Not that those who obey the commands necessarily love him, but that loving Him naturally leads to following His commands. But how can you obey them if you don’t know them? That’s where biblical theology comes in. It rejects the theological equivalent of a flat Earth and holds to truth that has stood the test of time.
Keep loving Jesus, but don’t make a false distinction between Him and theology. Otherwise, you might just fall off the edge of the doctrinal world.
Not Safe But Good
C.S. Lewis quote of the week
A man who first tried to guess “what the public wants,” and then preached that as Christianity because the public wants it, would be a pretty mixture of fool and knave.
Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
Door Jam
Interesting articles from others
The reports I shared last week about production beginning on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia adaptations seemingly have been retracted. What’s On Netflix has taken down their story making those claims and Narnia Web says they have reason to doubt the rumors.
Lamp Post
Additional recent articles from me
Weekly Church Attendance Leads to Better Health — Lifeway Research
Southern Baptist Membership Decline Slows, Baptisms and Attendance Grows — Lifeway Research
5 Church Factors That Influence a Pastor’s Health — Lifeway Research
In The Wardrobe Door Archives
“Christian Apologetics” in God in the Dock (All book links are Amazon affiliate links. The price remains the same for you, but I receive a small percentage of the purchase price.)
John 14:15