Who Needs Theology? You do.

This is a reading synopsis of this book, found for purchase by clicking here.  I would recommend it.

Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson ask and answer the question “Who needs theology?” with their book holding the same title (1996).  In this book, they provide an obvious answer to the question, explain and define theology (particularly “good” theology) and then give instructions on how to theologize while finally inviting readers to become theologians themselves.  When it comes to who needs theology, the answer presented by Grenz and Olson is an obvious “everyone.”  They explain that “Every person must at some point in life face and wrestle with the questions that point to the ultimate question of God” and then conclude that “… every thinking person is a theologian.” (Grenz and Olson, 1996)  With this, it becomes obvious that every person in this world has or will wrestle with the concept of who God is and what that means.  The issue with simple theology is that there is a difference between good theology and bad theology, with levels of each.

Grenz and Olson explain the levels of theology as: Folk, Lay, Ministerial, Professional and Academic.  At either end, there are theologies that would be deemed “bad theology.”  Further in their description of theologies, they present the importance of knowing the difference between Dogma, Doctrine and Opinion within the three “good” theologies.  As they garner steam in encouraging the reader towards theologizing themselves, they state that: “Good theology always makes a difference in how Christians live, and it motivates them as well.” (Grenz and Olson, 1996)  Equipped with this knowledge of good and bad, the reader is then challenged to become theologians themselves as “theology’s critical task is to examine beliefs and teachings about God, ourselves and the world in light of Christian sources, especially the primary norm of the biblical message.” (Grenz and Olson, 1996)  The tools of the theologian are then described as the Bible, Christian heritage and contemporary culture with a case presented that a trialogue between the three being the best way to form a proper and accurate theology.

I have found this book to be good and encouraging.  The issue of theology being avoided at so many costs is prevalent in and detrimental to the Church today.  Where I find issue with the book (albeit a small issue) is the role that contemporary culture is given in determining theology. Theology itself is not affected by culture, though the presentation of theology can be swayed with the changing tides of culture.  Aside from this, I would recommend this book to many who find themselves questioning the role of theology in their own lives.