i i i It is clear that an understanding of theology, philosophy, history, and other relevant
fields is essential to be a most effective minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our
theology is not fully realized if it stops short at interpretation and illumination but fails
to reach meaningful application. While the importance of the study cannot be
overstated for the minister of the gospel, it is the public world where the great
commission of discipleship is fulfilled through the proclamation of what Christ has
done and is doing in the world (Vanhoozer and Strachan,
The Pastor,
17). If the pastor
is only proficient in administrative duties or business matters, he will hardly differ
from any other man and will have a minimal impact on both his church and his
community. However, if the pastor is to speak to the soul of His congregation
regarding spiritual things, he will necessarily need to be well-versed in both the
Scriptures and philosophy. Additionally, if the pastor is to faithfully parse and
proclaim what God is doing in the world according to His word, it is necessary that the
pastor is historically aware of the past, as well as aware of the current cultural
dealings of the present. This level of theological and cultural understanding is
essential if the pastor is to fulfill His role fully to the glory of God.
i i i i i i i i i i Furthermore, being theologically informed is essential if a pastor wishes to
faithfully apply the counsel of God across all matters of life (as he should). Unlike
many fields that may specialize in a certain aspect of that field, a pastor is asked to be
a master counselor and confidant in all matters of life (Wilson and Hiestand,
Pastor
Theologian
, 22). Without being theologically informed, the pastor will find himself
limited in the depth with which he is able to speak into the lives of both his flock and
his community. The pastor must be equipped to speak regarding all matters
pertaining to and affecting both physical life and death, and spiritual life and death.
i i i i i i i i i i The most compelling reason to pursue being theologically informed in ministry
is the nature of the role itself. If we concur with the Puritans, then we recognize that
the most important role of the minister is to be a physician of souls, seeking to
produce a transformed heart by the work of the Spirit (Vanhoozer and Strachan,
The
Pastor
, 81). The only means by which this type of transformation will come is the
word of God. The pastor must know how to apply the rich theology of Scripture,
experienced in the pastor’s everyday life, to sinners in need of Christ.
Bibliography
Vanhoozer, Kevin J., and Owen Strachan.
The Pastor as Public Theologian:
Reclaiming a Lost Vision
. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, a division of Baker
Publishing Group, 2020.
Wilson, Todd A., and Gerald Hiestand.
Becoming a Pastor Theologian: New
Possibilities for Church Leadership
. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016.
