We are all Theologians

November 16, 2004 · Filed Under theology

I just wanted to clearly state something:

We are all theologians.

I had occasion in the past week to make this statement, during a debate of sorts, only to be faced with a strong retort of (and I paraphrase), “We’re certainly all priests, but we are not all theologians!”

Per Merriam-Webster.com, the primary definition of theology is:

1 : the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God’s relation to the world

Now, I don’t know about you, but that certainly leads me to think that we’re all theologians. Living in/under the grace of the Gospel, we are all most certainly concerned with God and His relation to the world.

Somehow theology has been “elevated” so as to be thought of as something so special as to be beyond the common, everyday experiences of “Joe Pewsitter.” This is quite unfortunate.

Also unfortunate is that many Lutherans have confused the concept of the Priesthood of All Believers, along with their confusion about their status as a theologian.

I daily consider, investigate, and am comforted by God’s relation to the world (through His Son Jesus).

Thus, I am theologian.

Thus, I state again — we are all theologians.

-ghp

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Tags: faith, lutheran, theology