"All Christians do theology all the time, for theology just means thinking about our faith. When a child dies and we say "God didn't want that to happen," or "Now, she's in heaven," or even, "I don't know how to make sense of this" - whatever we say, we are doing theology. In less dramatic moments, if we pray, "if it be your will, help my mother to get well," or explain, "No, your friend can't take Communion; she hasn't been baptized," or sing "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so," all of that too is, or at least presupposes, theology…a pastor can help plan the church budget, provide helpful pastoral counseling, and get involved with organizing the community against a local polluter. But how do the way we allocate church funds, the advice we give, or the stands we take connect to our Christian faith? When we think about such questions we are doing theology. Theology thus orders and connects our faith and our practice. If Christians pretend not to think about theology, we end up with unexamined theology, sometimes in forms that are silly or even dangerous."Placher, William C. (ed). Essentials of Christian Theology (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003) pp.1-2)
How much is our faith shaped by 'unexamined theology'? We are all products of the culture and worldview we grow up with. It is easy to unconsciously accept beliefs we hear from other Christians and assume they are 'Christian' beliefs without questioning their theological and biblical basis. Christians sometimes say ‘I’m waiting for God’s call’ while justifying the lack of planning or covering the fact that they have no idea what to do next. Christians love to respond to financial and material abundance with ‘God has blessed,’ as if God doesn't bless the poor (which is the exact opposite of what the Bible says). Many Christians have bookmarks or decoratives with the 'Footprints' story printed, as if it's the Word of God itself. It is crucial to examine our faith honestly through reading and re-reading the Bible.
