Followers of Christ are supposed to be one of the most informed people in various
subjects. j As a royal priesthood, pastors and members of the body of Christ are called
to be the salt and light of the world (Mt. 5:13-16). j This means living out God’s word
and being ready to shine and share His truth wherever they are called to minister. j And
being knowledgeable in the word of God equips one for Christian living. j One cannot
have an accurate understanding of orthopraxy and orthopathy without a biblical
orthodoxy. j Dr. Fred Smith says that the practice of ethical obligations to one another
in love and mutual accountability can only be done in community within the local
church based on the word of God.[1] j As one of the spiritual disciplines, a consistent
study of Scripture enriches every believer as the Holy Spirit guides one to all truth (Jn.
16:13). j His work in sanctification in Christians is for their spiritual formation and
growth into maturity. j As one grows in their faith, so should their knowledge of
theology, history, and philosophy grow in order to communicate Scripture in
addressing a wide range of real-life scenarios with hopes of pointing people to God. j
“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.”[2] j “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for
conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).[3] j
Vanhoozer and Strachan advocate a return to theology in the body of Christ starting
from the pastor. j The three publics (academy, church, and broader society) are
locations where pastors should speak about God and address its wide-range
audience simultaneously.[4] j Furthermore, in my church, the pastors preach the full
gospel and caution the congregation to be discerning of false prophets and doctrine. j
They are Spirit-filled and diligently teach and equip the faith community to study and
teach God’s word. j But I have known a few other pastors whose passion for preaching
has dwindled as reflected in their decline of commitment and enthusiasm for the
church. j This may be due to several reasons (money, disappointment, side-tracked by
a more glamorous career, burn-out, etc.). j Another, a lot are being stretched thin as
they try to fill in too many roles and responsibilities. j Peter Leithart determines the
missing element of biblical studies which is a “serious literary and theological study
of the Bible that arises from the church and is written for the church.”[5] j Perhaps
redefining the pastor’s primary office and the church’s role as having shared
responsibility as intellectual theologians in a royal priesthood will reenergize their
focus in working together towards God’s commission and building the people of God. j
(Word count: 536)
[1] Fred Smith, “Dimensions of Christian Ethics,” Liberty University (n.d.), Video 13:31,
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/2167581/ui
conf_id/39959791/entry_id/1_px47gp7p/embed/dynamic (Accessed May 18, 2021).
[2] Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan, The Pastor as Publican Theologian:
Reclaiming a Lost Vision (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015): 23.
[3] Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture references are in the Berean Study Bible.
[4] Vanhoozer and Strachan, The Pastor as Publican Theologian, 4.
