The Weakness of -ology

I read a great quote by Mark Allan Powell, pulled from Scot McKnight’s book, The Jesus Creed: “We cannot have a relationship with our christology — we can have a relationship with Jesus Christ…. All of the various “-ologies” that we deconstruct and reconstruct in our attempt to follow Christ are simply portraits, icons of a greater and richer reality — the magnificent person of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I read a great quote by Mark Allan Powell, pulled from Scot McKnight’s book, The Jesus Creed:

“We cannot have a relationship with our christology — we can have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Our
soteriology cannot save us from our sins — our Savior can.

Our
ecclesiology does not make us one — the Lord of the Church does.

Our
eschatology will not transform this flawed universe — Jesus the King of kings and Prince of Peace will do that.

And no matter how much we love
theology — it will never love us back.”

For me, theology is a spiritual discipline. Studying, reflecting, meditating, and praying over how we should understand God as he has revealed himself and how we should live life in his grand creation is necessary and good. But in the end, theology is simply a vehicle to a much greater end and much greater love — Christ himself. All of the various “-ologies” that we deconstruct and reconstruct in our attempt to follow Christ are simply portraits, icons of a greater and richer reality — the magnificent person of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

One thought on “The Weakness of -ology

  1. Hey Jason, that is a great quote!! I too have found myself to have abandoned (or still abandoning) my faith in “-ologies.” As you said very well, theology is a valid and important discipline. But it is still limited by our finitude. It should point us toward the one appointed to save us, Jesus Christ!

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