Theologians: Don’t Lose Sight of Theology's Most Basic Task

Students and teachers alike need to remember the difference between knowing theology and knowing God.

Søren Kierkegaard once claimed that the “fundamental idea” he explored was “what it means to be a Christian.” He wrote, “Even if I never managed to become a Christian, I would before God employ all my time and all my diligence at least to get it made clear what Christianity is.”

Everyone who teaches Christian theology shares this same basic task. It is not possible to teach the Christian faith seriously, responsibly, or professionally without attempting to clarify what Christianity is. And one of the most subtle and tenacious obstacles to clarifying the meaning of the Christian faith is the tendency—in teachers and students alike—to lose sight of the difference between knowing theology and knowing God.

As students encounter the capacious world of Christian theology, as they become familiar with its shape and contours, they easily conflate cognitive agreement with Christian faith. They confuse believing in God with believing ideas about God. Furthermore, many do not realize this is happening, which makes the problem even worse. Sometimes this pathology mirrors one that exists in their teachers, and even when this is not the case, our instruction contributes to the problem whenever we teach without an abiding awareness of the difference between knowing God and knowing about God.

Kierkegaard famously launched a blistering attack against teachers who gave the false impression that living as a Christian can be reduced to thinking the right thoughts about God. According to the New Testament, Jesus wants followers, not admirers. Since he is both the truth and the way, to know him you have to commit yourself to him.

Kierkegaard mercilessly derides teachers who lose sight of this. ...