The Theologically Informed Christian
f f f f 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).
f f f f 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 f 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.
