One's Theological View Is Not The Final Word

Theology is the study of God which every Christian should be engaged in. I know for some theology might seem a more academic discipline versus a discipline for an ordinary saint to take part in. Some even see theology as something one who goes to seminary should be doing.

All Christians are theologians whether they want to admit it or not. You might a good one or you can be a bad one. As we study theology, we want to be sure we get some good material whether it is a 1000 plus page book on Systematic Theology or listening to a series of lectures. Not everyone is going to agree on certain points while there will be agreement on some.

As we study theology, there is one thing that we need to remember, one's theological view is not the final word. Just because someone is very skilled in a certain area of theology, it does not mean they are always right or they have perfect theology. No one is going to have perfect theology in this life. Sorry to disappoint some of you.

The only one that has the final word on theology is the One we are studying, God. God's Word is the final Word. Does not matter who the theologian is. You can learn a great deal from men of the faith who have studied the Bible and put together amazing works, but they might be wrong and/or you may not agree with them.

As I study theology, I have to remind myself that while these men I am reading are very skilled theologians, these are flawed men. They make mistakes. They might get some things wrong. Does not mean they are heretics. I have to go to the Bible and check, like the Bereans in Acts 17, to see if they are right or almost right. Does not matter who it is. It could be Calvin, Luther, Sproul, Edwards, MacArthur, or Owen.

There are some theologians that do have this idea that they do have the final word because they have studied for years. They have a degree to show it and even disrespect those who disagree with them. First, that is not a good theologian and second, that is not a sign of humility. Those are the kinds of theologians that you want to not engage with.

When studying theology, it is important that no work or lecture should ever become the final word. The Bible is sufficient for every spiritual need including our theology. No one has the final word except God.