Shepherd the Flock

“…many more…men…would scorn to be thought evil, in practice despise any time spent on Theological study as a fruitless waste of time…

“The chief spring of sloth is indwelling sin, ever itching for the pursuit of pleasure. Any mind that is enslaved to lust, desire, and wantonness is unable to give serious attention to our subject [Biblical Theology]. If you are not temperate and industrious, your labors [to study this work/subject] will be in vain…”

“Considering that a mind which has surrendered to sensuality will shrink from all mental effort, and that the vices of the body hold the mind in the chains of darkness, so by contrast, a man dedicated to a life of study in things divine and spiritual will recoil from flesh and from sloth…”

“Truly, it is impossible for a man to be a lover of God and a lover of pleasure at the same time!…”

“Some men, I know, are willing for the wearisomeness of study out of an excessive lusting for worldly wealth, all the while promising themselves that future ease which will destroy all their potential for useful work.”

“It is for no other reason than a failure to subdue sinful nature and carnal habits before the Spirit and grace of Christ that we see so many men who profess to have committed themselves to the study of liberal arts and, especially theology finally grow weary and fall into the ways of negligence and sloth.”

–All from the Epistle to the Reader in Biblical Theology by John Owen.

Tough words, yes indeed. And from none other than John Owen, the epitome of deep thinkers. So you still want to study theology, my friend?