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.
h h h h h h h h 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.
h h h h h h h h 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.
h h h h h h h 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] h 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.
h h h h h h h h 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.
