Kevin Vanhoozer quotes Terry Eagleton in his book The Pastor as Public Theologian:
Reclaiming a Lost Vision, noting “Societies become secular not when they dispense with
religion altogether, but when they are no longer especially agitated by it.”[1] Specifically
in the West, the church is becoming indistinguishable from society. The enemy convinces
the church to move acceptable doctrine a little closer to society’s values until over time,
the spiritual tenet is destroyed and empty of any theological substance. This is one of
Satan’s active strategies and unless the Christian community has a strong foundational
theology to resist the attacks, the church will lose God’s vision and purpose. It is therefore
imperative that all Christians continually strive to understand the theological principles
provided in God’s Word.
d d d d d d d d d d There are plenty of examples that include divorce, sexuality, abortion and many
others. To help demonstrate the spiritual impact that can occur if that theological
foundation is absent, Vanhoozer has provided several examples, but this discourse will
focus on two.
d d d d d d d d d d Todd Wilson discusses a situation at his church where the lead pastor believed
that human origins were consistent with the theory of evolution. This resulted in a
significant emotional response on both sides of the issue. Ultimately Wilson as part of the
elder board and after much research issued “a series of short and succinct statements, how
to live together as Bible-affirming believers who hold different views on this issue yet
stand together within a particular stream of evangelical Christianity.”[2] The ability to
maintain unity in the face of a potential church split was a spiritual success in the face of
the enemy’s opposition. Wilson’s theological foundation and passion for biblical truth
avoided division.
d d d d d d d d d d The other example comes from Jim Samra and deals with technology and
specifically social media. Researching the scriptures, Samra determined that technology is
just another tool that can lead us to coveting and idolatry. Our human nature is manifest by
“speaking evil of others (James 4:11–12), making plans without God (4:12–17), being
financially selfish (5:1–6), being impatient with God (5:7–12), and being individualistic
rather than community oriented (5:13–20).”[3] d Somewhat surprisingly, he doesn’t tell us
to abstain from technology, but use it like all other tools that God has provided. “The
dangers inherent in technology require the same solutions that James gives us regarding the
things of this world in general: humility, submitting to God’s law (the second and the
fourth commandments are especially relevant to technology), and drawing near to God in
prayer, because prayer is in many ways the opposite of technology.”[4] Without his
theological foundation, Samra would either boycott social media or be frustrated by its
inefficiency. Either way, his kingdom work would be hampered versus the solution he
discovered in God’s Word.
d d d d d d d d d d We as Christians cannot be passive and let others do the heavy lifting of
theological discovery. Dr. Fred Smith in the course video stated “We have ethical
obligations to one another in community …[and] as a community to the world.”[5] This is
God’s marketing plan to the lost, for the church to utilize biblical truths to show others
who God is and what he has done for them.
Word Count: 537
[1] Kevin J. Vanhoozer, The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic, 2019), 1.
[2] Ibid., 65.
[3] Vanhoozer, Public Theologian, 68.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Dr. Fred Smith, “Dimensions of Christian Ethics”, Course Video.
Bibliography
Smith, Fred, Dr. “Dimensions of Christian Ethics.” Course Video.
Vanhoozer, Kevin J. The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019.
