Why study theology?
The value of a theology degree.
Yesterday I was listening to “The Interview” episode of the New York Times Daily podcast featuring a conversation with Ramy Youssef. The interviewer asked the comedian and content creator if he saw himself and other comedians as having more political power now than they used to. In his answer, he points to the reality that more people are watching TikTok and Instagram reels than they are standup comedians or even sitcoms (thus gesturing toward the conclusion that these people have more political power than he does). He said:
“The individual voice has like more outlets than ever, and is in a way trusted more than ever. So it’s like the individual, whether it’s the individual podcaster, the individual comedian or the individual online content creator, is having their moment right now.”
This observation resonated with me. We’ve seen for several years the rise of the individual voice such that the individual—whether or not she or he has the degree, the backing of an organization or institution, or the professional experience—is the expert. Through social platforms — even one such as this! — individuals have the ability to influence swaths of people on anything as harmless as fashion and hair styles to more serious subjects such as medical advice and politics.
The individual is having his or her moment right now, such that, with some exceptions, degrees are devalued. The expert is the one with the greatest number of followers, the most charisma, the loudest, the one who can wax eloquently, the most attractive, etc.
How does this relate to the questions I posed in my last post? (How does theology help people? Is theology necessary? Why study theology if it doesn’t have a worldly, monetary payoff?)
What Ramy describes is true in the world of religion and theology, too. Fewer people are going into the pastorate or full-time ministry and now even fewer are going to seminary. With the rise of online religious content one doesn’t need to study Bible and theology in the traditional way anymore. The individual Christian influencer is having his or her moment. For those who do care about or feel the need to gain some kind of knowledge to be able to put out content, there is a temptation to view theology like any other discipline: transactional and informational not transformational.
Theology is a living enterprise because its subject is a living God and its matter is a living faith. Theology is not a static discipline whose subject matter can be placed under a microscope or calculated on a chalkboard; theology is inherently personal and dynamic because its subject matter—the Trinity—determines it to be so. As Denys Turner put it, “all theology starts with the divine love,” who is God (1 John 4:8, 16).
So while theology does include a quest for knowledge and understanding, the student only gains this understanding through the process of transformation. It’s in our becoming more like Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection and by the Spirit that we understand who he is more clearly(“being transformed into the same image,” see 2 Cor. 3:18).
One of our metrics for determining if something is worth our time and money is the payoff. What is the return on our investment? This is a wise question to be sure. But if pursuit of academic theology is solely determined by the type of career and salary it will produce, then we may never do it. It would be like deciding to have children—there’s never a good time! There’s never enough money! What are you thinking?
Having children is a good analogy. If you base the value of having children on how much money you will make from them, then no one will have children. In fact, if you really think through how much money children will cost you, not to mention how high the cost is in time, stress, pain, emotional pressure, etc, then certainly we would not have children. The value in having children is not in a material payoff. The value is felt deeply at a personal level. The value is intrisic to who they are and who they make you to become. Being loved and giving love is priceless. And when it’s time to die, it’s not money or career who will come to comfort you at your bedside or hold your hand or wipe the sweat from your brow; hopefully it will be your son or daughter.
What is the value of theology and being a student of it? The ultimate value is communing with its subject matter; its goal is to love God more deeply and to know his love more fully.
What is the value of someone else’s theology degree (which includes their academic studies) for others?
We were not created for ourselves (this is a tenet of the Judeo-Christian faith). We were created by God for God. We were not created to be used by God like what we find in other Ancient Near Eastern religions or even later in Greek religions that taught that humans were even used for sexual purposes by the gods. Rather, we were created by God for communion with God. God is love, and he first loved us.
Thus, we were created for and born with a need to be oriented to our creator, the Triune God. Simultaneously we were born into a conflict (also known as the curse) which tempts us to live in opposition to our created purpose. Evil is an aberration of the good (what St. Augustine calls privatio boni). This conflict created by evil leaves us in need and in pain. A proper theology (view of God) not only provides answers but the solution to our need and pain; a proper theology leads one back to God and proclaims the truth about God and who he is for humanity as found in Scripture.
My friends who are doctors, nurses, fitness instructors, physical therapists, etc, are such because they want to help people physically. They care for their physical needs. My friends who are psychologists and therapists are such because they want to help people emotionally and mentally. They care for their mental and emotional needs. My friends who are lawyers are such because they want to help people who suffer injustice. They care for people’s rights. My friends who are accountants and financial advisers are such because they want to help people financially. They care for their financial health and well-being. Of course, they sense God’s pleasure when they do practice their professions and they also enjoy their professions as such.
You get the point.
Those of us who are theologians and biblical scholars (at least in my case, this is what I feel called to be and that’s why I’m pursuing a PhD) are such because we feel a call from God to do this (a vocatio) and because we want to help people spiritually. Theologians and biblical scholars are like pastors, missionaries, and other ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ (although they aren’t often viewed in this way) whose calling is directed to care for souls. If we’ve done our work well, then we will have a comforting word from the Lord for those who are facing the reality of sin, failures, shame, loss, diagnoses, doubt, fear, loneliness, spiritual anxiety, and death.
Yes, my career goals are to use my degree in publishing, the academy, classroom, and church. I pray that the work I do benefits others. But like having children, I recognize it doesn’t make sense (monetarily or otherwise) to many people. We will sacrifice moving to a bigger and nicer home; we will sacrifice vacations; we will sacrifice nice cars; we will sacrifice other material things I’d love to buy myself and family all so that I can pay for this degree. Why? Because the value of knowing God and being transformed into his likeness is invaluable. And like Julian of Norwich I desire my studies to benefit all my fellow Christians:
“And this learning (or teaching) and this true comfort, it is general to(or it is for) all my evencristen (fellow Christian).”
”For I wish God were known and my fellow Christians helped, as I would like to be myself, toward greater hatred of sin and love for God.”
Allow me to give a short update and word of thanks.
First, thank you for praying for me. I was able to finish another chapter for my book on women of the Reformation with Timothy George. We are meeting this week to discuss the chapter and make edits. I will be talking with our editor soon about our progress. I am especially excited because in my writing and research for this chapter I had something new to say, and I think there is the potential for an academic conference paper.
Second, thank you to the wonderful response to my last post on my PhD application process and challenges. I had friends reach out with other scholarship ideas and possibilities. I’ve heard from several women that this post was especially helpful in their own desire to pursue a PhD. This is one of my goals in sharing about my experience.
Third, thank you to a friend who reached out and bought me three books I need for my research. Even though I have given this option to those who want to tangibly help me, I still struggle with guilt in the asking and in the receiving. And yet, this friend has blessed me. As soon as I received my books, I began reading, finishing one chapter in one book and starting a chapter in a different book. Thank you for your generosity (you know who you are!).
For those who are asking how you can best support or help me, the following are several ways:
Pray. I have a 30-page assignment to turn around by October for PhD, and I am still writing a book with Dr. Timothy George. Pray for me to stay focused, that I won’t self-sabotage by being overcome by thoughts of imposter syndrome or can-nots. Pray for me to have energy. Pray for me to be self-disciplined and not distracted. Pray for me to continue to trust God (there’s much struggle with faith that God will provide in various ways). Pray for my family as they support me. Pray for God to provide for my tuition. I have failed to find any scholarships that will apply to students studying part-time and from a distance. Also, I am not eligible for a FAFSA loan since I will not be studying in person.
Help me build my library. I do not like to ask for financial help or fundraise. It feels awkward. And yet, the cost of this degree is great and will be paid out of pocket for the next six years. Some of you are asking how you can help in addition to praying. If that is you, then, one small way that you can help me is with the cost of books I need for research. I’ve begun making a book list on Amazon.
This is so lovely Kristen. As somebody who is applying for grad school to get their MA in spiritual formation and soul care this deeply spoke to me. While I may not profit from this by the standards of the world, I know that it will be deeply enriching for me and for others. I loved your comparison to having kids, it’s such a helpful analogy.
Thank you for this, Kristen. This pastor appreciates the challenge for us to view our work rightly: as an act of care for the church, love for the Lord, and growth in walking with Jesus. Thank you for the caution against making it self-serving.