As a Christian and Pastor in the local church, I can honestly say that a
theological foundation is vital for effective communication. Without a
proper theological framework, communicating the Word of God in an ever-
changing culture is going to be a real challenge. According to Vanhoozer
and Strachan, the Pastor used to be highly revered as the best-educated
individual in whatever town or village they were planted in. This social
status has shifted drastically over the past century.[1])Cultural influences
such as tv, novels, and film have created a challenging predicament for
many Pastors. With so many outside voices looking to answer the plethora
of questions and concerns being faced by people in today’s culture, it has
become easier than ever to mislead them in the wrong direction. This is
true for the church body as well.[2]
)
According to McLaughlin, “Our lives can depend on distinguishing literal
truth from metaphor.”[3])The fact is that the Bible is filled with both literal
accounts and metaphorical language to communicate truth and doctrine.
This is why the Pastor and lay Christians alike require a solid foundation of
doctrinal understanding to differentiate between the two. If the church is
called to engage the world with a message of reconciliation through Christ
alone, they must be equipped to do so. This requires a firm understanding
of what they believe and why they believe it. Without this understanding,
they cannot expect to fare well in a world of professionals looking to
answer life’s questions outside of a biblical worldview. Two Sundays ago, I
and another Pastor in our church took to the stage for what we refer to as
Q/A Sunday. It is during this time that we take all of the questions that our
church members submit ahead of time and answer them through biblical
lenses. The types of questions being asked center around topics such as
abortion, the covid19 vaccine, marijuana, cremation, the role and power
of the Holy Spirit in our lives, spiritual gifts, etc. We seek to have a Q/A
Sunday at least once a year because we believe that these are often
difficult answers that people today are being faced with answering. If we
don’t point them to the Scriptures relating to these topics, they will seek
answers elsewhere. That is what we do not want to happen. Before we as
Pastors can be effective in helping our church address these concerns, we
have to develop a solid understanding of doctrine first.
Word Count: 453.
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[1])J. Kevin, Vanhoozer,)Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost
Vision, (Baker, 2015.) 10.
[2])J. Kevin, Vanhoozer,)Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost
Vision, 10.
[3])Rebecca, McLaughlin,)Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for
the World's Largest Religion, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2019.) 95.
