Why Every Subject is Theological

Image Credit: Media from Wix

Image Credit: Media from Wix

One of the most pervasive assumptions in the professing Christian community (whether genuine or nominal) is what has been called the "sacred-secular dichotomy." Essentially, it's the idea that there are "religious" parts of life and "secular" (i.e., nonreligious) parts of life. As with all ideas, we must check this notion against what God's Word says to see if it is true or false (Acts 17:10-11). But how can we do this? First, we need to consider what "religious" means? Second, by implication, we'll briefly establish what it means to be "secular" or "nonreligious." Third, given our definition of religion, we'll consider what, Biblically speaking, religious things are. So, let's begin!

First, what does "religious" mean? It means "relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity." [1] In other words, "religious" means anything having to do with devotion to God. Since theology is the study of God, or the doctrine of God, it is an element of religion. So, religion and theology are distinct but similar concepts. Religion is devotion to God, while theology is the study, or the doctrine, of God. This is how we'll come to see, as this post's title says, that every subject is theological.

Second, what does "secular" mean? As mentioned previously, "secular" means "nonreligious." Therefore, another way to say something is secular is "nontheological." You'll see then how this ties in to this post's subject.

Third, we'll now consider what, Biblically speaking, religious things, or theological things are. Remember how religious essentially means anything to do with God and how theology is essentially the study of God and/or teaching about God? Well, God reveals Himself to be the Creator of all things (Genesis chs. 1 and 2; John 1:1-3) Therefore, God is related to literally every single thing as its Creator and Lord. Also, since He is the Creator, and obviously the sole Creator, of everything, God alone knows all things about every thing. Even further, He is the Sustainer of all things, being the only reason things exist and work (Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3). Since one of God's attributes is Creator, and all things are His creations, all things are religious. And, if we are to study or teach any of these subjects (truthfully and rightly, that is), it will inevitably be theological, since these are God's works.

Remember that, Christian, whenever you're tempted to think that any "secular" subject will take your heart's focus off of Christ! All subjects are, in reality, theological! So, if you study anything through the mind and eyes of Christ, as revealed by the Holy Spirit in Holy Scripture, you will meditate on God!

[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religious