It is significant for believers to be theologically sound and knowledgeable
for the sake of the edification of the church, so that the church can be
more effective in reaching the lost. There tends to be two extremes where
the leadership within a church is so theologically focused that their entire
emphasis is on studies and pontification rather than equipping the saints.
The other side of the extreme is church leadership having no emphasis on
theology and therefore have no understanding of disciple making –
creating context where truth is not being shared because truth is not
known. There must be a balance to both notions so that the church can
have a healthy dynamic of teaching and practicing the gospel.
Being well read in theology is important for the believer because it is how
one edifies oneself, other believers, and defend the faith against those
who speak against it. Todd Wilson, describes Chrysostom’s sentiment to
the importance pastors knowing theology by stating that “ultimately the
pastor must teach and must answer ‘gainsayers’ who would train the
people to doubt biblical teaching.”[1]+This speaks to the role of the pastor
and how it is ultimately the role of the leadership of the church to teach
theology to its congregants because it is easy for followers of Christ to be
led astray by the world if they are not tended to by the pastor.
Theology is important to know but also within the context of other
dimensions of study such as history, philosophy, and science. God is
infinite and therefore is infinitely involved within every context of our
reality, including science, history, philosophy, etc. Kevin J Vanhoozer
describes that the Bible is “No longer considered revelation from outside
this world, the Bible was ‘reconstituted as a piece of the heritage of the
West’ and “transformed from a work of theology to a work of
culture”[2]+Although this may be true, it is important for the believer to
understand the other facets of study so that they may be able to explain
and express the difference between the biblical perspective and the
secular – proving that the word of God supersedes the wisdom of man.
Furthermore, the obtaining of knowledge should always be done for the
edification of the church not for one’s arrogance. The knowledge of God
should draw people into His presence. not move them further from it.
+
[1]+Kevin J Vanhoozer, and Owen Strachan.+The Pastor as Public
Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic
2019) 73
[2]+Todd Wilson, and Gerald Heistad.+Becoming a Pastor Theologian: New
Possibilities for Church Leadership. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press,
2016) 8
