Written by: Telile Fikru Badecha on October 13, 2013

Reading “Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God” by Stanley J. Grenz; Roger E. Olson refreshed my understanding about my theological studies and their contribution to the development of my Christian faith. I am reminded to appreciate the privilege that God has granted me to study theology so that I have a better idea how to serve Him and others in my community.

In the first chapter the authors begin by saying, “everyone is a theologian.” The authors go on saying, “anyone who reflects on life’s ultimate questions-including questions about God and our relationship with God-is a theologian.”[1] This is a very interesting concept for me to think that everyone, even those who do not like theology, is theologian. I think knowing that everyone has his or her own theology helps us to seek to understand their way of understanding about God and the world.

I must confess that I do not want to see myself as theologian and many times regretted for choosing to study theology partly because of the misconceptions and prejudices against theology and theologians similar to what the authors brilliantly discussed in this book. It is not common for women in my church to study theology since they are not allowed to be in the church leadership and in teaching or preaching ministry. During my first year study at the seminary in Addis Ababa, I have experienced discouraging advice from friends and classmates who thought I am wasting my time and money on the thing (theological study) that has no use for my future professional life. One of the things that helped me not to take these objections to heart was that those people who were telling me their views about my study some have never been to seminary and very little or no idea about the importance theology for Christian faith. Often I wondered where their misconception and prejudices was coming from. Strangely, there is this notion even among church leaders and pastors that theology is all about intellectuals debating about different kinds of church doctrines and practices. As a result, they tend to reject any sound biblical teachings that might strengthen their faith and expands their views.

I appreciated the authors’ effort in this book to close the distinction between lay and professional Christians by showing that “everyone—especially every Christian—is a theologian ”[2] since they both strive to discover truth about God and God’s relation to them. Moreover, as the authors say, they are interdependent and mutually beneficial to one another”[3] Therefore, they need each other as they seek to understand the truth in Christianity.

Another important point that I appreciate the authors discuss is on “reflection”, which “involves a certain amount of critical thinking—questioning the ways we think and why we believe and behave the way we do.”[4]  This has not been part of my Christian practice. What has been part of my Christian practice is simply have faith, accept and believe without questioning. If you question and think critically, you will be labeled just as “ intellectual’ or “not so spiritual.” So, when discussing theological issues with my church community I learned to be careful how I presented my views.

The authors do not only depict the greatness of Christian theology for once formation, but they also agree that theology carry certain “danger.”[5]  Because, Christian theology requires us to think critically and examine our belief  “ in the light of biblically informed Christian truth.”[6]  Although we know that this is something good to strengthen our faith and it does not always comes easy, at least for me, to allow myself to be challenged and stretched out in my convictions. However, I am grateful for God’s continued invitation to Christian theology that is reflecting and articulating on “Christian teachings and beliefs for consistency with authentic Christian sources of truth.”[7]

About the Author

Telile Fikru Badecha