Preaching Half Truths of Christianity
I have been a Christian since 1982, I am 51 years old. It was not until about 15 to 25
years ago that Christianity began to be taken seriously as a legitimate theistic belief
system. There are two groups of people who oppose philosophical and any strong
academic understanding of the bible to be legitimate and or valid. Atheists obviously
do not and continue to not view Christianity as legitimate or valid which does not
surprise me, but what does surprise me is the there are some in the Christian
community who opposes anything that does not relate to a salvific ideology. In other
words, some Christians, meaning, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and bible
teacher’s focus on “winning” people to Christ, or do not think that academic or
scholarly study of the scriptures is a valid notion to leading people to Christ. First off,
no one “wins” people to Christ, it is the Holy Spirit that leads people to Christ. So, we
can see right from the get-go, that those who adhere to that mindset lack theological
and doctrinal understanding of how the Holy Spirit intercedes the calling from God. I
believe that “Ministering the Word of God to the people of God is the pastor’s
lifeblood.” (Vanhoozer and Strachan 2015, 2).
I currently teach apologetics in my town of Maryville TN as a chapter director for
reasonable faith ministries and one of the heart-breaking discussions is the fact that
pastors simply do not want any thing to do with philosophical studies or any discipline
of apologetics as part of their church’s ministry. In one sense I can understand if it
seems intimidating and too much reading but on the other hand, that is what God has
mandated for us to do in order to be part of Christ’s ministries. Clearly, we see the
results of no teaching of the deeper things of God. Many ignorant Christians have
been struggling in their faith, their relationship with God and also with their worldview
of Christianity as a whole. Why? Because those in leadership in their church’s do not
lead and teach true Christianity, only half truths of Christianity. I love this statement
which truly nails the point straight to the heart of pastoral ministry. “Let me say it
bluntly; Preachers who spend their sermon time on telling cute anecdotes or
reviewing the news or commenting on the World Series are guilty of pastoral
malpractice. You are commissioned by the Lord Jesus to be the minister of the Word.
So minister it.” (Wilson and Hiestand 2016, 19). Wells said.
Bibliography:
Vanhoozer Kevin J. j and Owen Strachan. The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming
a Lost j j j j j Vision (Michigan: Backer Academy, 2015.
Wilson, Todd and Gerald Hiestand. Becoming a Pastor Theologian: New Possibilities
for Church Leadership. Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2016.
