Here at Community Bible Church, “Bible” is our middle name. I love saying that—it never gets old! The Holy Scriptures are the foundation of everything we do at CBC because the Bible is the Word of God. In our love for Scripture, we must also appreciate the role theology plays. Without theology, our love for Scripture falls short.
Imagine you want to bake a delicious pie for a Christmas dinner party. You go to the store, buy the ingredients, bring them home, and set them out on the counter. So far, so good. However, if you stop there, your guests will be sorely disappointed. Studying Scripture without theology is like serving the raw ingredients, not the finished pie. Theology takes the “ingredients” of Scripture and presents them in a holistic, complete, and edible fashion.
For instance, take John 1:1 and 14. These verses teach that Christ was “the Word” that became “flesh.” Theology combines these verses together and presents them with a helpful interpretation, leading us to the doctrine of Christ’s incarnation—through the Virgin Mary, the second person of the Trinity became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Further, theology underscores why this truth matters: salvation can only occur through the atoning death of the God-man, Jesus Christ. The manger and the cross go together!
In your study of Scripture, don’t forget theology. Reading the Bible while neglecting theology is like serving raw ingredients. The ingredients are delicious only when they’re combined and cooked. Together, Scripture and theology serve us a spiritual feast that nourishes the soul. Merry Christmas—eat some pie!
Pastor Chance Sumner
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