Although I am grateful for the church community in which I began my Christian journey, I didn’t get the sense that I was growing - there was little teaching and I didn't have too much of a reference for what theology was all about.
However, a handful of years later I encountered Jesus in a life-changing way, and I met Christians whose walk with God was different from mine. I came across two books that were my introduction to any kind of theology - “Know What You Believe” and “Know Why You Believe,” both by Paul E Little.
The Christian community in which I became involved was somewhat skeptical of theological education, often speaking of previously solid Christians who somehow lost their faith and enthusiasm for Jesus and the Church while at Bible College. There seemed to be a big gap between academia and the Church! And to be fair I have met some pretty stodgy theologians over the years, even in a Pentecostal academic society of which I am a member. But Little’s books had whetted my appetite for academic theology and shown me how deep theological thought was accessible to all. Soon I was cutting my theological teeth on books like T C Hammond’s “In Understanding be Men” and Bruce Milne’s “Know the Truth.” These are great books but a far cry from the volumes I have had to read on my way to getting a PhD in Theology!
Over the years, my conviction has been that no matter how complex the theology I study may be, I need to make it accessible for those who sit under my ministry. Two theologians in particular have fostered this in my Spirit - John Frame and Simon Chan. Frame defined theology as “the application of God’s Word by persons to all areas of life”. Further Frame wrote: “The job of theology is to help people understand the Bible better, not to give some sort of abstractly perfect account of the truth as such, regardless of whether anyone understands it or not. Rather the job of theology is to teach people the truth of God.” This definition of theology has had such an impact on my life that I would later write in my PhD dissertation that “I am convinced that the only worthwhile theology is that which is translated into life.” I still hold to this conviction to this very day.
In Spiritual Theology: A Systematic Study of the Christian Life, Simon Chan quotes William Ames saying that “Theology is the doctrine of living unto God.” In another place Chan writes: “In the narrow sense, spiritual theology is concerned with life in relation to God (the supernatural life), whereas practical theology is more broadly concerned with action in the world.”
In conclusion, some may decide my teaching is simple in comparison with other teachers of the Word, but if it is understandable and practical, then I have fulfilled my goal and the passion God put in my heart.