The Theologically Informed Christian
h h h For the sake of the gospel, churches seek an increasingly
secular society.[1] Therefore, it is important for ministers in every area
of church life to be able to provide accurate, biblically sound, and
informative answers on a variety of ethical matters, in their teaching
and preaching, and in one-on-one situations. Christian ethics considers all
of God’s Word, interprets it honestly and carefully, and recognizes it as
the final authority in all matters pertaining to life.[2] In the Pastoral
Epistles, Paul underscores five directives of the pastor theologian: (1) a
call to guard and protect the gospel; (2) a call to teach, exhort and
pass on; (3) a call to pursue godliness with exemplary living; (4) a call
to share in suffering; and (5) a call to provide active oversight for the
church.[3] Pastors are shepherds of the people of God and ecclesial
biblical theology demands the development of habits towards the
attentive study of the unified canon.[4] Ezra is described as the ideal
priest in Israel whose task was to lead God’s people in worship and
holiness of life. The good hand of God was upon him, “For Ezra had
set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach
his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
h h h For much of church history, the pastorate has unleashed godly
and gifted leaders to declare and demonstrate the riches of God’s Word
to people.[5] However, some modern Christians and ministers do not feel
it is important to be informed or studied in scripture, philosophy, history,
etc. Rebecca McLaughlin posits, “We are inclined to assume that we are
more sophisticated than a text written thousands of years ago. But the
more we read the Bible, the more we will find we are not.”[6] More
than ever, Christians in the ministry and in general are lacking the
theological and philosophical knowledge to reach and speak to society
and the church. Peter the Apostle admonishes, “But in your hearts
honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in
you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (I Peter 3:15).[7] All
theology should lead to practical application as we strive together to
grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Public theologians help people understand the world in which they live
and, what is more important, how to follow Christ in everyday as well
as extraordinary situations they encounter.[8] Such persons must be “wise
unto salvation” (2 Tim 3:15 KJV). Theology is the attempt to speak
well of God, and to live to God’s glory, on the basis of God recounted
in the written Word of God (the Old and New Testaments).[9] The
pastor’s passion is not simply the love of God or love of people, but
rather the love introducing the one (people) to the other (God).[10]
(Word Count: 492)
[1] Robertson McQuilkin, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking In the
Way of Wisdom. 3rd Ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014), 213.
[2] Fred Smith, Presentation: “Dimensions of Christian Ethics,” Liberty
University, n.d., 20120 Spring 2021 THEO h 650-D01 LUO, accessed March
24, 2021, at
https://libertyuniversity.instructure.com/courses/68950/pages/watch-dimensions-
of-christian-ethics?module_item_id=7734462
[3] Todd Wilson and Gerald Hiestand, Becoming A Pastor Theologian: New
Possibilities for Church Leadership (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2016), 152.
[4] Ibid., 15.
[5] Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan, The Pastor As Public
Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic,
2015), 93.
[6] Rebecca McLaughlin, Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the
World's Largest Religion (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 101.
[7] Unless otherwise noted all biblical passages are in the English
Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).
[8] Vanhoozer and Strachan, The Pastor As Public, 23.
[9] Ibid., 16.
[10] Ibid., 23.
Bibliography
McLaughlin, Rebecca. Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the
World's Largest Religion. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.
McQuilkin, Robertson. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking In the
Way of Wisdom. 3rd Ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014.
Vanhoozer, Kevin J., and Owen Strachan. The Pastor As Public
Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic,
2015.
Wilson, Todd, and Gerald Hiestand. Becoming A Pastor Theologian: New
Possibilities for Church Leadership. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2016.
