Practical Theology (Jer's 1st Post)

Time and time again I hear that theology really isn’t important……I mean maybe for pastors and teachers but not for “real” people. To be honest, I find myself wondering if that is actually true. Are the things that I love to read and study really important and practical for the average person or are they simply a hobby or an intellectual exercise? Recently, I have had two conversations with Harper (our 4 year old daughter) that have me believing that theology is as practical as breathing:

Her Questions

1 - “Dad, If God doesn’t have a body, then how did he create things by speaking them? Wouldn’t he have to speak from a mouth?"

2 – “Dad if Jesus died for all sins, how come there is still sin in the world”

My Thoughts

Wow! Are you serious? You are 4! Shouldn’t you be thinking about Dora, the alphabet or what pretty dress you are going to wear today? I wish I could get my high school students to think that way! You are asking questions that the smartest people in the world have been asking for years!

Yeah, shaping the hearts and minds of the next generation is about as practical as it gets. Parenting with a biblical and theological worldview is critically important for those of us who claim to know Christ (Romans 12:1-2). No, you don’t have to be the next John Piper, Wayne Grudem or even Matt Williams. However, you better know what you believe and why you believe…….because when you least expect it you are going to be asked to communicate it and to live it……and probably from the persons you least expect!