Mark 2: A Healthy Church Member is a Biblical Theologian
16. Oct, 2008 
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This chapter may scare the average church member. The word theology scares a lot of people, so why should healthy church members be biblical theologians? Isn’t that what seminaries and ministers are for?
The book says plenty about what and how but perhaps there’s another question before these. I think the first question to answer is “why?” Why do members need to be theologians? Primarily and simply because it will strengthen them in the faith, I think there should be a bit of selfishness here, my spiritual health is largely measured and enjoyed by my knowledge of God. Maybe a bit more Piper-esque way of saying it would be to say, I am more deeply satisfied in God as I know Him. So first things first, biblical theology will strengthen the believer.
The book gives great definition of biblical theology as knowing God Himself and the macro story of redemption. I like the emphasis of the larger story being a part of theology. Theology has some of the same pitfalls of other sciences and the macro story helps us keep perspective and practice theology holistically.
The book then gives a few other reasons of how biblical theology promotes health in a church member.
1. Grow in reverence for God
2. Overcome wrong ideas
3. Inoculates the church against doctrinal controversies
4. Necessary for fulfilling the Great Commission
5. Deepens our understanding of and facility with the gospel
All great points for why we need this mark. In a day when Christians seem to know more about their hobbies than God and His story, these reasons are great reminders.
The practical steps for becoming a biblical theologian are also helpful, and if practiced, no doubt would produce biblical theologians. The elephant in the room however is that it takes effort to be a biblical theologian just as it takes effort to be a healthy church member. In order to put in the effort, we first have to be convinced that the effort will be fun and worth it. Theology is rarely associated with anything fun, however it is worth it and will help us redefine what really is fun.
10 years ago I’m the last guy anyone would have probably pegged as a person who would like theology. I feel in love with theology a year after receiving Christ, maybe even to the point of idolatry which is a bit tough to understand, but I probably lost some of the macro story of theology in my initial studies and obsession with it. However, once released from my Calvinist cage (and no I didn’t loose my Calvinism I just set it free), I’ve been able to see more of the beauty of God that I would never have seen without studying theology. God makes more sense and thus the world makes more sense with a healthy dose. Some of my greatest friends are those who are able to carry on a theological discussion, there is something unique that binds people when they talk about knowing God and understanding His story of redemption. That binding that takes place helps us in unity around the purpose and calling of God. And perhaps that’s another reason why church members should engage in biblical theology.
What’s more important? Word or deed? How do we avoid the social gospel, which isn’t concerned with eternity, only the temporary context? View this 1st (out of 6) discussion between John Piper, D.A. Carson, and Tim Keller: 
