Can Theology Be For The Young?
It seems that in today’s western Church, the word “theology” has become taboo for many. Some Christians hear the word and think of a lofty system of teaching reserved only for seminary students. Some hear the word theology and think of that Bible trivia jerk they once encountered in a bible study or Sunday school class. Still, others hear the word and find it to be nothing more than an accolade. They falsely conclude by then saying, “I don’t need theology, I just need Jesus.” It seems that those who would identify with one of these false statements are operating with a poor definition of theology.
The word theology is derived from the two Greek words theos meaning God, and logia, a word that is closely related to the word logos meaning utterances, sayings, discourse, reason, or word. Theology, simply stated, is the study of God. For one to study theology is for one to learn about the God they love and what He has done.
For one to say that theology is only for the seminarian is to say that the laymen need not know God. To say that theology is only an accolade in which to win trivia contests is to say that one need not know God. To say “I don’t need theology, I just need Jesus” is to make a self-refuting statement on the nature of Christ.. Considering these negative stigmas placed upon the word theology, it’s no wonder that many (if not the majority) of Christians would find theology to be anything but beneficial to our youth. Lastly, and most importantly, to say that theology is not for the young is to neglect a clear and concise biblical mandate to raise children up in the Lord.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we find what is known as the great Shema. Shema (Hebrew for “hear” or “listen”) is a prayer given to the people of God. This prayer is still recited every morning and evening by many today. In the Shema, we find the greatest commandment of all — “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” As the prayer continues, we see in verse 7 that which was commanded by the LORD is extended to the children of those listening. “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
As we see in Deuteronomy 6:2, we see here that the commandments, statutes, and rules of God are for our children’s children. Here, is a clear and concise call for the people of God to teach the children, those who are young in our midst, theology.
The Psalmist speaks of these same commandments in Psalm 78:5-7. “He (the LORD) established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments”
As we look throughout the whole counsel of God, we see that this is a mandate often given. Isaiah 54:13 says, “All your children shall be taught by the Lord.” In Proverbs 22:6 parents are told to, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” Ephesians 6:4 commands fathers to “not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” You may have very well noticed that the word “theology” itself is not found in any of these passages. However, when we understand what it means to teach, train, discipline, and instruct children, we see what God requires clearly defined.
Consider Paul’s words 2 Timothy 3:14-15, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” A charge such as Paul’s in this passage doesn’t wonder if one has been instructed in the LORD since youth — it knows it.. That which is to be taught to the young, is to make them “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Children, like us, are born with a sinful nature. This nature is spiritually dead and stands condemned before a Holy God. It sounds brutal, but it’s a reality we see in passages like Ephesians 2:3 which says that all of mankind are by nature “children of wrath.” This is why it is so crucial that we teach them theology. We must tell them who God is, while proclaiming the redemptive work He has done, in sending His one and only Son Jesus Christ to suffer the wrath of God on the cross in the place of His elect people.
D.A. Carson once said, ”One generation knows the gospel; the next assumes the gospel, and the third generation denies the gospel.” This is the very thing that takes place when we neglect the words of the Shema, this is the tragedy we see when we fail to recognize that theology is for all. When we operate on the false proposition that theology is not for the young, we neglect the precious words of Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 19:13-14
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
