Theology: Fuel for Worship

I can think great, glorious thoughts about God. But it would be just that...my thoughts about God.

And my thoughts are different from your thoughts which are different from your pastor's thoughts which are different from President Obama's thoughts; yet, they are all thoughts about 'God.' So we either agree to all have differing thoughts of who God is, or we look to who God says He is and conform our thoughts to His self-description.

God has revealed Himself to mankind in a special way--He speaks to us in a way we can understand. Without God's intervention, mankind would be aware of a 'Creator Being' (Rom. 1), but would be clueless as to what this Creator is like, what the purpose of creation is, and what the Creator expects out of His creation. God thinks that a correct understanding of who He is is important; therefore, it is really important.

For God's glory, for His name's sake, and for our fullest joy, let us behold our Creator, who has revealed Himself to us in word. The Scriptures are where we look to meet God.

Theology is fuel for worship. The more you learn about who God is and what He is like, the more you see Him for who He really is. Result: worship, rejoice, repeat. We will never 'come to the end' of knowledge of God's person and character because He is an Infinite Being and we are finite creatures.

We have eternity to chase down the glory of God. This eternal pursuit begins when we are born again. Why wait to taste of the beauty of God? Why put off the glories of heaven when we can partake, though imperfectly, here and now? Or do we think that it is all for 'later'... Listen to the great theologian/worshipper, John Owen, speak on the folly of 'saving God for heaven:'

No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight hereafter, who does not in some measure behold it by faith here in this world. Grace is a necessary preparation for glory, and faith for sight.

Most men will say with confidence, living and dying, that they desire to be with Christ, and to behold his glory; but they can give no reason why they should desire any such thing only they think it somewhat that is better than to be in that evil condition which otherwise they must be cast into for ever, when they can be here no more. And the pretended desires of many to behold the glory of Christ in heaven, who have no view of it by faith whilst they are here in this world, are nothing but self-deceiving imaginations.

(John Owen, The Glory of Christ, Christian Heritage, pp. 43-45.)

Theology leads us into true and proper and passionate worship of the One True God.

When you're getting to know someone--what they're like, their likes and dislikes, etc.--you don't value the facts themselves; rather, you treasure the person and the intimacy that comes with learning about them and who they are.

That's why I love theology--it helps me draw closer to God.