Conclusion
This is part six of six. All in all, I’ve written five other parts, some long, some short, and now our little theological road trip is at an end. I mention this because so far I’ve yet to say why any of this matters. Sure, I’ve said why specific virtues and behaviors are worthwhile, but I’ve yet to speak about theology as a worthwhile pursuit. On the one hand, this is the Ichthus, a journal of Christian Thought, so by extension it is quite natural that theology is embraced herein. However, on the other hand, much of theology is without immediately obvious application, and arguments must be created for why earlier arguments were created. In this way, I think a few words need to be said about the purpose of theology, for us practitioners of theology.
A musical friend once told me when you sing to God you’re praying twice: once with words and mind, and once with voice and music. Just as musically actualized types may “worship God two-fold” by using their talents to glorify him, so too may we the “intellectually actualized” (as I like to think of/fancy myself) “worship God two-fold” in using our specific talents to glorify him. High theology is one way that we, the Ichthus types, (and hopefully y’all along with us), praise God. We commit our minds towards the obviously impossible task of understanding God, not because we’re supremely arrogant (though sometimes we are), but because repurposing our intellects is a rededicating of ourselves towards God’s. Just as you may sing songs in praise, you may study theology in praise. Theology is prescriptive and guides us in our faith lives and many other things, but it’s not just study and scholarship. It’s not just explanation and guidelines. Practicing theology, dear readers, is one way we pray.