Word Count: 572
i i i i i i i i i I began studying theology in 2011 through a degree at Liberty. i Since that time, I
have seen in my own life and through personal reading the need for Christians to be
theologically informed and to be able to present their views to the world around them. i
As the world continues to search for morality and ethics, it is the responsibility of
each Christian to be able to publicly present the moral and ethical baseline defined in
the Bible. i Vanhoozer calls this public theology which he defines as “theology in and
for the public square.”[1]
i i i i i i i i i i As the Christian church, we have been called out and separated from the rest of
the world. i This distinction is easy for the world to recognize as the fruits of the Spirit
are counter to the natural reaction expected. i That is why the Apostle Peter wrote
“Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle
as you speak and show respect” (1 Pet 3:15).[2] As the world searches for meaning
and hope, Christians have the opportunity to share God’s design through engaging in
public theological discussions.
Early in my faith, my natural inclination was to keep my faith private. i I did not want to
conflict with the views around me, especially as I felt ill equipped to defend what I
believed in the Bible. i But, as my faith continued to grow, my boldness to share the
Gospel increased as well. i Specifically, I remember two important events in my life
where I was able to present God’s ethics and character in a public forum. i First, I was
asked “How can God be considered good when He allows so much evil?” i While my
response wasn’t elegant, I was able to convey God’s perfect character allowed free
will to humans who have a natural bent toward sin. i Next, an acquaintance of mine
was having an affair with his friend’s wife. i He asked me “As a Christian, why is this a
sin?” i This shocking question allowed me to present God’s design for marriage while
encouraging a response.
i i i i i i i i i i i As church leaders, this responsibility falls immediately upon us. i Todd Wilson
states “(Pastors) are the visible, tangible presence of Christ and the church at every
moment of crisis.”[3] While all Christians must be ready to present these arguments,
pastors are expected to present thorough arguments in the public realm. i One of the
best examples of this is Paul as he spoke to the Athenians about their “Unknown
God.” i In Acts 17:23 Paul says “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your
objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So
you are ignorant of the very thing you worship--and this is what I am going to proclaim
to you.” i Paul engaged with their culture and used what they believed to present God
to those willing to hear. i In the same way, Christians today have been called to “go and
make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19) and to do this, must be theologically
informed and prepared to discuss God’s character and ethics each day.
[1] Kevin J Vanhoozer,
The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision
(Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2019), 17.
[2] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New
International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011).
