Abstract
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew, 28: 19–20). The premise of You are a theologian by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English is that the Great Commission has been viewed as primarily an evangelistic charge, leading to the neglect of the command to make disciples by teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded. This neglect has created many professing Christians who are unsure of or ignorant about the basic tenets of the faith. Therefore, we need theology. This theology will not only be found in the minds of scholars or written in textbooks. “Theology” is literally “words about God,” and everyone has some. In this sense, everyone is a theologian. This is the central claim of the book. A disciple of Christ is, the authors write, “a theologian learning to be a Christian theologian. A person with words about God learning to have true words about God and to live in light of them” (p. 12). The author's charge to readers is, “You already are a theologian. Be the best one you can” (p. 14). You are a theologian exists to this end, to help readers know that they are theologians and to lead them to worship by growing in their knowledge of and love for God through theology.
The book's first chapter argues for the importance of theology for everyone in everyday life. The authors ask and answer questions about how the Bible and theology play together and how theology ought to be done, stating and unpacking the claim, “Theology is done biblically, prayerfully, worshipfully, humbly, and together in community” (p. 22). First, this chapter shows that to grow as faithful theologians, our pursuit must be biblical: centered on and under the authority of Scripture. Next, our theology will be prayerful, beginning and ending in prayer because we depend on God's revelation of Himself to know Him. Third, the end of our theology is worship as we love and praise God more. Fourth, the theologian is always a learner, knowing that the more we learn, the humbler we ought to become. The final point of this chapter is to show the unique benefits of doing theology within the contexts of the local church, the global church, and the historic church.
The remaining chapters each tackle a different question about God, beginning with a definition of the doctrinal topic and then providing both explanation and application of the doctrine. Chapter 2 discusses the doctrine of the Trinity. It reveals the necessity of understanding God as one and God as three, and it outlines the unique acts of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in redemptive history. Chapter 3 asks, “What is God like?” and walks through the communicable and incommunicable attributes of God. While the authors do not deeply delve into any particular attribute, they give a working list of attributes along with a brief definition and Scripture references for each. This chapter also discusses the importance of God's knowability. Chapter 4 defines revelation: the doctrine of Scripture. It briefly explains general and special revelation and then discusses Scripture's inspiration, authority, inerrancy, infallibility, necessity, sufficiency, and clarity. Chapter 5 discusses anthropology: the doctrine of humanity, unpacking the implications of humans as creatures, image bearers, embodied beings, male and female, and representatives and rulers. Chapter 6 traces the gospel metanarrative through the fall with the doctrine of sin, and Chapter 7 tackles the doctrines of Christology, atonement, and justification. Chapters 7 and 8 both seek to answer the question “What has God done?” with Chapter 8 dealing with the doctrine of pneumatology. Through their discussion on the Holy Spirit, the authors explain the Spirit's work in a believer's life through regeneration and glorification. Chapter 9 centers on ecclesiology, discussing necessary aspects of the universal and local churches. The final chapter is on eschatology, ending on a hopeful and anticipatory note of our comfort in death and resurrection.
Each chapter begins with a question, such as “Who is God?,” and gives a brief definition. Throughout the rest of the chapter, the authors unpack the definition from Scripture, giving helpful explanations in accessible terms and summarizing why each doctrine matters for both what we believe and how we live as Christians. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and prompts for prayer.
The conclusion restates the authors’ aims and acknowledges that because this book is designed to whet the reader's appetite for theology, readers ought to feel “hungry” for more at the end. It urges readers to pursue theology in humility through reading and teaching, reminding them that the Great Commission is for everyone, just as the book states at its beginning.
Given that the book aims to help all Christians become better theologians, You are a theologian is directed at a popular audience. It is accessible and practical, with implications for individuals in the church and church pastors, leaders, and teachers who desire to better equip their people to know and love God well (the subtitle of the book).
There is much to commend Wilkin and English for in writing this book. First, the book fills a need within literature designed for and aimed at church members with varying formal education and theological training levels. While it is not the only recent book to walk through Christian doctrines in an accessible way, it anticipates the objection of a church member who may say, “That kind of theology is just for the pastors.” Out of that anticipation, the authors provide a convincing and convincing argument for why their book is needed. It is not because the church needs more theologians but rather because the church is filled with theologians who are ill equipped and ignorant. You are a theologian builds conviction that God and the things of God are worthy to be studied and pursued by every Christian.
Second, the book is accessible and clear. Within each doctrine, the authors do not shy away from terminology like “hamartiology” and “eschatology.” Still, they explain them thoroughly at a foundational level, using examples that illustrate their main ideas. In addition to explaining what each doctrine is, they show how one doctrine relates to the others, discuss why each doctrine is essential, and give the consequences of ignoring it.
Third, the book's format is excellently tailored for use within the church. The questions that open each chapter will resonate with many and create a longing to know how to answer them correctly and faithfully. The discussion questions that close each chapter make it helpful for small groups, classes, or one-on-one discipleship relationships. Finally, the prayers and prompts at the end of each chapter serve to turn the reader's focus back to not just knowledge but knowledge for the sake of more excellent worship.
Lastly, the book does what it sets out to do. Its subtitle is An invitation to know and love God well. While it is an invitation, it is not only an invitation. It is also a resource to that end. Once the invitation has been accepted, this book is then a tool that will help Christians know and love God more.
There are many potential uses for this book within ecclesial educational ministry. Church leaders and teachers can use this book to help grow awareness and conviction in their church members that words about God are worth studying and pursuing. They can use this book as a starting place to give new or growing believers a foundation of crucial doctrines. Additionally, church leaders can commend this to their people as a resource to help them practice the Great Commission by teaching others all Christ has commanded. This work will be a much-needed challenge for all who read it, as well as a helpful catalyst for every reader’s growth as a Jesus follower.