Theologika

Originally posted on February 15, 2006 – by Andre Piet

No, you won’t find the above word in the ‘Van Dale’ dictionary. I likely invented the word myself. It appeared in the title of the most recent Bible evening (“theology or theologika?”), and the idea was derived from Romans 1:21. By theology, I mean everything that is said and written about God by ‘learned’ people. By the imam, rabbi, priest, pastor, etc. From orthodox to liberal. They all speak in one way or another about God.

Under theologika (with Romans 1 in mind), I understand two things.

First of all, it is logical that God exists. Every person with understanding is expected to know this. For although God is not seen, the fact that He exists is clearly perceived from His works (lit. His workmanship), being apprehended by the mind (Rom.1:20). The phenomenal intelligence with which all creations are designed testifies of a yet so much more intelligent Creator. Whoever does not want to know this, well… will find out eventually.

Secondly, it is logical that God is GOD. It may sound like stating the obvious, but this is precisely the core of the matter. Where God is not GOD, all reasoning is, from the outset, doomed to end in… nonsense. That, in a nutshell, is the debacle of ’the’ theology. People may speak about God, but that God is not GOD. That is to say: He does not truly control everything (> free will), many things went wrong with Him in the past (> fall of man), and He also appears unable to bring everything to a good conclusion (> hell and damnation). Such a one may be called God, but is not GOD.

From the language of the New Testament, God (theos = Placer) is the One who places all things in His place. With Whom nothing goes wrong, because He is in control of everything. A God who is truly almighty and all-knowing, and “what His love wills to effect is not denied by His ability.” Where God is not GOD, all theology is entirely worthless. And it becomes dark in the foolish heart, as the apostle adds. For there, man becomes a doom-thinker.

How different it is in the theologika, where the truth stands: God = GOD! There, thinking becomes effective because it proceeds from the one true premise (presupposition). There, nothing is impossible, for “is any matter too marvelous for YHWH?” There, there is peace, for nothing goes wrong. Everything (good and evil) proceeds minutely according to His plan. There, there is hope and joy, because God will bring all and everyone to where His heart wants them to be. Without a single exception.

Believe it and take it to heart: God = GOD.
And… pass it on!

Delen: