Perfect Theology

I took Systematic Theology from Regent University a few years ago. I was excited to write my paper for it; I always got great grades for writing and I was looking forward to impressing this particular professor. I can't for the life of me remember what I wrote about, but I remember my grade and his remarks on the paper.

'Too devotional in nature.'

Granted, I was marked down half a letter grade because I forgot to use the required NAS translation; I used my own NKJ study Bible instead for references. I remember feeling particularly horrified at my bad grade (C) because I still remember the intent of my paper, if not the subject.

Normally I make an argument, opposing argument and then my conclusion. I've even argued against my own opinion because I had the most source material for that side. I always got great grades on those, so I assumed that I was just a great writer and could get away with anything, especially if my intent was spiritual. This time I chose to offer different perspectives and then pull it all around to examine the heart. Bring it back to Jesus. Basically throw out the academics and bring it face to face with the spirit. That was my goal,  but perhaps I really didn't write it well, because my professor was not impressed. At all.

Webster defines theology as: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world. Break it down into Latin; God, study of. Pretty simple. The study of Who God is and His relationship to us. In my naivete I always felt that while theology could be coalesced into precise philosophies, it was not possible to escape God while studying Him. After all, that's how C.S.Lewis met God; He studied about God in order to disprove Him and ended up meeting Him.

I did know that you could separate them, but why would anyone want to? To my disappointment I found out that it is really hard to take everything you learn in seminary and apply it to my growth in relationship with Jesus. A lot of it is just a bunch of academia. Nothing wrong with that. I was just hoping for more. I was hoping to encounter the One I studied.

I know most people understand theology as a subject, like physics. But I propose that the only way you can really study theology is to meet the One Who is perfect theology. Jesus said if you look at Him, you see the Father. We are always looking for practical application. For this we have Jesus. We want to know what He looks like. For this we have Jesus. And scripture tells us the only way we can really SEE Him is by the Holy Spirit. The only way to study is to encounter. Revelation simply means to reveal. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus, and Jesus reveals the Father. He reveals perfect theology.