Kevin Vanhoozer quotes Terry Eagleton in his book The Pastor as Public Theologian:
Reclaiming a Lost Vision, noting “Societies become secular not when they dispense with
religion altogether, but when they are no longer especially agitated by it.”[1] Specifically
in the West, the church is becoming indistinguishable from society. The enemy
convinces the church to move acceptable doctrine a little closer to society’s values until
over time, the spiritual tenet is destroyed and empty of any theological substance. This
is one of Satan’s active strategies and unless the Christian community has a strong
foundational theology to resist the attacks, the church will lose God’s vision and
purpose. It is therefore imperative that all Christians continually strive to understand the
theological principles provided in God’s Word.
c c c c c c c c c c There are plenty of examples that include divorce, sexuality, abortion and
many others. To help demonstrate the spiritual impact that can occur if that theological
foundation is absent, Vanhoozer has provided several examples, but this discourse will
focus on two.
c c c c c c c c c c Todd Wilson discusses a situation at his church where the lead pastor
believed that human origins were consistent with the theory of evolution. This resulted
in a significant emotional response on both sides of the issue. Ultimately Wilson as part
of the elder board and after much research issued “a series of short and succinct
statements, how to live together as Bible-affirming believers who hold different views
on this issue yet stand together within a particular stream of evangelical Christianity.”[2]
The ability to maintain unity in the face of a potential church split was a spiritual
success in the face of the enemy’s opposition. Wilson’s theological foundation and
passion for biblical truth avoided division.
c c c c c c c c c c The other example comes from Jim Samra and deals with technology and
specifically social media. Researching the scriptures, Samra determined that technology
is just another tool that can lead us to coveting and idolatry. Our human nature is
manifest by “speaking evil of others (James 4:11–12), making plans without God (4:12–
17), being financially selfish (5:1–6), being impatient with God (5:7–12), and being
individualistic rather than community oriented (5:13–20).”[3] Somewhat surprisingly, he
doesn’t tell us to abstain from technology, but use it like all other tools that God has
provided. “The dangers inherent in technology require the same solutions that James
gives us regarding the things of this world in general: humility, submitting to God’s law
(the second and the fourth commandments are especially relevant to technology), and
drawing near to God in prayer, because prayer is in many ways the opposite of
technology.”[4] Without his theological foundation, Samra would either boycott social
media or be frustrated by its inefficiency. Either way, his kingdom work would be
hampered versus the solution he discovered in God’s Word.
c c c c c c c c c c We as Christians cannot be passive and let others do the heavy lifting of
theological discovery. Dr. Fred Smith in the course video stated “We have ethical
obligations to one another in community …[and] as a community to the world.”[5] This
is God’s marketing plan to the lost, for the church to utilize biblical truths to show
others who God is and what he has done for them.
Word Count: 537
[1] Kevin J. Vanhoozer, The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision (Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic, 2019), 1.
[2] Ibid., 65.
[3] Vanhoozer, Public Theologian, 68.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Dr. Fred Smith, “Dimensions of Christian Ethics”, Course Video.
Bibliography
Smith, Fred, Dr. “Dimensions of Christian Ethics.” Course Video.
Vanhoozer, Kevin J. The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019.
