I am a fanatic for theology, especially as to how it
applies in counseling. I have long said that it is critically important for
women to understand theology because each counseling issue reveals an aspect of
theology that is out of whack.
Theology is from two Greek words that mean God (theos)
and word (logos). Women are to by faith know God and His Word and then make
application of its commands and principles to our lives.
If more women paid attention to God's Word instead of
Cosmo, and the latest trashy novel or program on television they would know how
to solve the common to man (1 Cor. 10:13) problems of their lives. They
would be full of wisdom and insight and when faced with troublesome issues they
would not seek Dr. Phil, or Dr. Ablow. Our homes might be less stressful
places and more restful and harmonious places to come to after a tough day.
We would have the answers for others and would soon be known for the wise
and insightful counsel we give when called upon.
"Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not
forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. “Do not forsake her, and she
will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. “The
beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring,
get understanding. “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if
you embrace her. “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will
present you with a crown of beauty.” Proverbs 4:5-9 (NASB)
Women who are theologians study and internalize the Word.
They know that to live the life that God has called us to live involves
theology. To understand the changes that must be made in our minds and
hearts we must know theology!
Paul made a big deal out of instructing his young
apprentice Timothy to stick to sound doctrine, from good and accurate
theology. “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be
a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of
the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” 1 Timothy
4:6 (NASB)
Paul exhorts him again in 2 Timothy 1:13 when he
says, "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching,
with faith and love in Christ Jesus."
Why would Paul consider theology so important? In
Titus 1:9 he tells Timothy to: "hold(ing) fast the faithful word
which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to
exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
... "For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will
accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires" 2
Timothy 4:3 (NASB)
Paul knew that when the foundation is not build on
doctrinal truth, the person would be susceptible to a distorted gospel and be
easily led astray. I can see this so clearly in the community
contacts who come to us for biblical counseling!
Women who attend churches that do not teach sound
doctrine and who don't study theology for themselves are confused and are often
very focused only on obtaining God’s blessings and have an expectation of God
to serve them and meet their emotional and felt needs. They are ignorant
of solid theological truth and its necessary impact on their lives.
I do hear and see volumes of bad theology coming from
those counselee’s. The tragic thing is the wrong theology spreads faster than
the correct one does, woman to woman, email to email, phone call to phone call
because women are wired to help each other. We want to help, to give
advice and counsel to one another but when our counsel is based in wrong
theology we often make matters worse.
It is critically important that women know theology.
We are the more frequent counselee’s, the more relational ones, and the
most likely to go looking for help someplace, we have to provide a biblically
literate group of women who will have sound and godly wisdom to offer to those
women looking for somewhere to go for answers.
We must become a part of the solution to the
theologically illiterate women in the church.