I wonder if a major reason is that they just don't think it's important! My own pastor (in my old charismatic church) was actually offended by my interest in theology! "Oh doctrine doctrine doctrine. Can't you just love the Lord?" It was suppposed to be about feelings and motivation, not about "mere facts."

I think lots of men don't participate because they are not told why it's important to study theology. And/or, in the case of my old charismatic church, the study of theology was considered "dead works," and held in low regard compared to "living worship" which was all touchy-feely stuff, and their version of spiritual warfare wasn't sound doctrine opposed to false (and thus damaging) doctrine. Rather it was "binding Satan" and "taking dominion" - through prayer, music, "body ministry," etc. The Bible was just a source for "proof-texting" whatever the "Spirit" led the Pastor to do.

When I left that church I wrote the pastor a letter about why doctrine matters so much to me - and why it should matter to everyone who claims to belong to God. Can anyone "just love the Lord" without doctrine? Impossible.

Churches need to get their people to see why the study of doctrine is so vitally important - not just to those who teach and to synods and councils, but to every individual believer.

-Robin