The Study of God
Theology is critically important because Christian revelation has the answers to life's questions, and neglecting it is folly.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the critical importance of theology, asserting that understanding God is essential for humanity, as we are made in His image and accountable to Him. He argues that Christian revelation provides the authoritative answers to life's profound questions, and neglecting these truths in favor of human philosophies is folly. Tozer compares this neglect to a motorist ignoring a road map, suggesting that while alternative methods may exist, they are inadequate for finding one's way home. He believes that the wisdom found in Scripture surpasses the greatest philosophical thoughts of ancient Greece, highlighting the value of divine revelation over human reasoning.
Text
It is precisely because God is, and because man is made in His image and is accountable to Him, that theology is so critically important. Christian revelation alone has the answer to life?s unanswered questions about God and human destiny. To let these authoritative answers lie neglected while we search everywhere else for answers and find none is, it seems to me, nothing less than folly. No motorist would be excused if he neglected to consult his road map and tried instead to find his way across the country by looking for moss on logs, or by observing the flight of wild bees or watching the movements of the heavenly bodies.
If there were no map a man might find his way by the stars; but for a traveler trying to get home the stars would be a poor substitute for a map.
Without a map the Greeks did an admirable piece of navigating; but the Hebrews possessed the map and so had no need of human philosophy. As one not wholly unacquainted with Greek thought I state it is my belief that but one of Isaiah?s eloquent chapters or David?s inspired psalms contains more real help for mankind than all the output of the finest minds of Greece during the centuries of her glory.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Theology points: - God is and man is accountable to Him - Christian revelation has the answers to life's questions
- The Consequences of Neglecting Theology points: - Folly in searching for answers elsewhere - Comparison to a motorist without a map
- The Sufficiency of Scripture points: - The Hebrews had a map (Scripture) - No need for human philosophy
- The Superiority of Scripture points: - One chapter of Isaiah or psalm of David contains more help than Greek philosophy - Inspiration of Scripture
Key Quotes
“No motorist would be excused if he neglected to consult his road map and tried instead to find his way across the country by looking for moss on logs, or by observing the flight of wild bees or watching the movements of the heavenly bodies.” — A.W. Tozer
“As one not wholly unacquainted with Greek thought I state it is my belief that but one of Isaiah?s eloquent chapters or David?s inspired psalms contains more real help for mankind than all the output of the finest minds of Greece during the centuries of her glory.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should prioritize studying and consulting Scripture as a guide for life.
- Neglecting theology can lead to searching for answers elsewhere and finding none.
- Scripture is superior to human philosophy in providing real help for mankind.