A Case for Theological Depth in a Shallow World
Perhaps you’ve heard the statistic that the average adult has a shorter attention span than a goldfish. (In case you’re wondering, the average adult attention span is 8.25 seconds, while a goldfish can stay focused for a whole 9 seconds.)
And the reason is obvious to anyone who’s been paying attention (yes, pun intended): Screens and social media are wreaking havoc on our ability to focus on one thing for an extended period of time. The average person scrolls through over 300 feet of newsfeed on their phone per day. That's equivalent to a football field worth of phone scrolling every day.
Because everything has been reduced to tweets, memes, and 30-second clips, our society has become increasingly simplistic and shallow.
The church has been affected by these changes as well. Whether its shorter sermons, concert level productions, or publicity stunts, churches appear to be on the hunt for ways to keep people’s attention occupied.
But the antidote to cultural superficiality isn’t shorter sermons, concert level productions, or publicity stunts – its theological depth. After all, a deep, meaningful walk with God will help you navigate a perpetually confused and distracted world.
The Problem of a Shallow World
Cultivating a deep, meaningful walk with God isn’t easy, especially as more and more of our time is being spent on smartphones, tablets, and computers, and less and less time is being spent reading books. After all, the primary way to know who God is by reading the Bible. Which presents a unique challenge when a 2021 study found that 23% of Americans aren’t reading anything at all.
And that’s because the work of reading has to compete with the passivity and ease that comes through social media, video games, and watching television. Reading (or even listening) requires you to pay attention and comprehend the words on the page, while scrolling on a screen is mindless and easy.
All of this would suggest something that we all know to be true: Fewer people are reading the Bible. So, it shouldn’t be a tremendous surprise that more and more studies are finding that Christians lack foundational Biblical knowledge.
All of this has contributed to the rise of shallow Christianity.
Shallow Christianity is less concerned with “teach[ing] what accords with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1), and is more concerned with gathering an audience and keeping them entertained.
When the church teaches shallow Christianity, it will inevitably produce shallow Christians. And shallow Christians are more vulnerable to false teaching, more susceptible to compromise on cultural pressures, and more likely to walk away from the faith altogether. It’s precisely what Jesus warned about in the parable of the sower when he said, “...when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.”
The Christian faith must not reflect the shallow entertainment that is all around us. Rather, Christians must seek to be men and women of Biblical and theological depth.
Why Theological Depth Matters
1. It Anchors You in Truth
To a certain extent who cannot sympathize with Pontinus Pilate when he asked Jesus, “what is truth?” Defining the truth seems to have become an increasingly difficult task. After all, there are countless conflicting ideologies and cultural norms that all claim to represent what is true and good!
But only God can define what is true and good, and he does so in his Word. When the storms of doubt or false teaching arise, those with a shallow understanding of God’s Word may find themselves adrift being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, new trend, or popular opinion. While on the other hand, theological depth equips believers to stand firm, discerning truth from error and holding fast to the unshakable promises of God.
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of being rooted in truth.
Psalm 1:2-3: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
Colossians 2:6-7: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
The tree metaphor is regularly used in the Bible because without strong roots even the mightiest-looking tree will fall under pressure. Similarly, a faith that lacks depth cannot withstand the winds of cultural compromise, personal trials, or intellectual challenges.
2. It Provides a Clear Moral Compass
Shallow Christianity will often compromise on culturally sensitive moral issues. How many pastors are unable or unwilling to take clear Biblical stances on moral issues like abortion or homosexuality?
This adds to the confusion that is rampant among shallow Christians on moral issues. Again, the more familiar you are with God’s Word, issues that are dismissed as a “gray area” or “secondary issue” suddenly become crystal clear in light of God’s Word.
When a Christian becomes a man or woman of theological depth, they will be better equipped to navigate sensitive cultural topics and the inevitable ethical dilemmas because their decisions will be grounded in God’s Word rather than the ever-shifting moral landscape of our culture.
This is exactly what Jesus meant in the Sermon on the Mount when he instructed his followers to build their houses upon the solid rock (Matt. 7:24-25).
Knowing what God’s Word says about today’s moral issues will provide clarity, conviction, and confidence to navigate a world of confusion, enabling you to stand firm in truth and live in a way that honors God.
3. It Shapes Your Identity and Purpose
Every professing Christian understands that they were created for a purpose. However, there is often tremendous confusion over what exactly it means to find your identity and purpose in the Lord.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism famously says that our created purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. However, it’s not exactly clear what that means in terms of day-to-day living. Does that mean I need to spend all my nights and weekends working in a soup kitchen?
Of course there are some people who are called to devote their lives to feeding the poor. For most of us, that isn’t our life’s calling. Ordinarily, men and women get married and start families. And so fulfilling the grand marching orders of Scripture like the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 16-20) and the Creation Mandate (Gen. 1:26-27) don’t always begin on the mission field of a foreign country, but within the walls of our own home. Fathers are to provide, protect, and lead their wives and children before the throne of grace. Wives are to care and nurture their families.
And so, finding your identity in Christ often means that you take seriously the things that God has placed right in front of you - like your family. A man or woman of theological depth understands that fulfillment, purpose, and happiness in life are found in submission to God’s created order.
Practical Steps to Cultivate Theological Depth
So, what are a few ways you can move from shallow Christianity to becoming a man or woman of theological depth?
Join a Faithful Church
The first step to becoming a man or woman of theological depth is to be a member at a church that doesn’t promote shallow teaching. Join a church that reads God’s Word, prays God’s Word, sings God’s Word and of course, preaches God’s Word.
A church that shares your commitment to God’s Word is the first, and probably most important step to becoming a man or woman of theological depth.
Commit to Bible Study
Make it part of your daily routine to read a portion of God’s Word. Purchase a good study Bible like the Reformation Study Bible. Make use of various reading plans, try to read through the New Testament or even the entire Bible in a year. Knowing, loving, and understanding God’s Word is crucial to growing theologically.
Read Theologically Rich Books
Read helpful introductions to Reformed Theology like Reformed Theology by Jonathan Master and What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul. If you’re interested in learning more about Reformed Theology, start here.
A man or woman of theological depth is someone who understands and embraces their God-given roles and responsibilities. That’s not to say that your life suddenly becomes easier, but that you gain tremendous peace when you embrace who God calls you to be.
John Calvin began his magnus opus, the Institutes of the Christian Religion by saying, “Nearly all wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves” (Inst. I.1.i). That is to say, in order to better understand yourself and who you are you must first understand God and who He is. And the way you better understand who he is, is through the Scriptures.
A man or woman of theological depth is like the Bereans: they study and examine the Scriptures for themselves (Acts 17:11). The truth of God’s Word will not only give the armor necessary to resist the shallowness of our world, but it will anchor you in the truth, provide you with a clear moral compass, and shape your identity and purpose.
