The Theologically Informed Christian
d d d d 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).
d d d d 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 d 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.
