Paralysis by Analysis
“If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it is bound to go bad on us.” J.I. Packer
A bookshelf full of Christian books and theological textbooks might convince you that a person is close to the heart of God. It's not. It’s just evidence the person likes to read.
I say that as someone with a robust library of books that would rival a seminary’s. As someone who's collected theology books like a person collects coins or a hunter collects animal pelts, I can say there is a subtle danger in conflating the pursuit of theological knowledge with living out theology in our everyday lives.
In his article, “Theology is Not a Hobby,” J.A. Medders rightly articulates:
“One of the greatest dangers for studious Christians is loving the study of God more than God himself… A shelf of hardback books doesn’t fulfill the Great Commandment. Study of Scripture cannot be separated from loving God and others. If it is, we are washing the outside of the cup more than we realize.”
Lest we be duped into becoming modern-day Pharisees, we need serious introspection as to why we bathe ourselves in book after book, lecture after lecture, and sermon after sermon to grow in knowledge and understanding.
Don’t misunderstand me. Theology is good and important. Christians should devote themselves to studying their God and Savior, to know Him and the life He calls us to.
[One could even argue that in this day and age of rampant biblical and theological illiteracy, with all the vast amount of resources — books, biblical commentaries, online lectures, and sermons — available to us, we should have no excuse for not rightly learning and understanding the faith to which we are called].
But the whole point of learning and understanding the truths of God in Scripture and sound doctrines is so that it would shape our lives, not just our minds.
As Paul David Tripp says, “The doctrines of the word of God were not intended to just lay claim on your brain, but also to capture your heart and transform the way you live… The truths you actually believe are the truths you live.”
Biblical literacy is not the same thing as biblical obedience. Or, stated another way, theological intellect and prowess are not the same as spiritual maturity.
For years, I filled my head with abundant knowledge, but my heart lacked the appropriate application of what I learned. An unfortunate phenomenon not unique to me.
Like many others who traversed and traveled theological roads, my head and heart grew miles apart. I had so much information but little transformation.
The whole point of theology is not the assemblage of knowledge and doctrines, but the wise application of biblical truths into our everyday lives by the power of the Holy Spirit because we love Christ and desire to love our neighbors.
In the book of Revelation, we find one of the most indicting and scariest passages in the Bible:
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” [Revelation 2:1–5].
The duty for discerning correct teaching was clearly evident in the Ephesian church. And yet, the Lord calls the church out for the misplaced motives of their hearts.
As scholars and commentators have routinely pointed out, the church at Ephesus had not lost their love (as one might lose their keys), but they abandoned their first love.
What was the first love? The joy of salvation in being in a right, reconciled relationship with God and the imitation of Christ’s love towards others [see Ephesians 1:15–19, 1 John 4:14–24].
Charles Spurgeon said it best: “When love dies orthodox doctrine becomes a corpse, a powerless formalism. Adhesion to the truth sours into bigotry when the sweetness and light of love to Jesus depart.”
Love for Christ and others had been placed wayside for being diligent for doctrine.
On the outside, a Christian might be able to check all the theological boxes or pass any doctrine test. But on the inside, they are not right with God because they have abandoned their first love with a counterfeit.
Jesus makes painfully clear that being a theological nerd is not identical to being a person after God’s own heart. Love for theology is not the same as love for Jesus and others.
That’s why we have people who know the Doctrines of Graces but are total jerks on social media; that’s why we have people who have memorized Church creeds and confessions but go ballistic in rage when they get stuck behind an old lady driving in the left lane; that’s why we have people who know a lot about the Gospel truths but refuse to look into the eyes of a homeless man and have compassion.
Our first love is not theology; our first love is to love God and others. And when we confuse or conflate the two as being identical, we find paralysis by analysis: people who are so smart but are spiritually stuck and stagnate.
Does theology matter? Yes, of course. Any serious, mature Christian should want to dive into the doctrinal truths of who God is and what He’s done.
But doing theology is vastly more important than knowing it.
God is looking for something more than theological meatheads, people with bulky brains of memorized theology; He wants people with enlarged hearts.
In view of Jesus as our first love, theology is not merely biblical literacy or insightful intellect; theology is applying the truths of God into our lives. True wisdom is played out with competent character in action, and a connection of head and heart.
If God has revealed and given us a wealth of knowledge, let us spend it on wisdom. Don’t store theology in boxes in your brain; live the truths you believe.
