The Pastor as Theologian

Been thinking recently about the importance of a pastor having a good understanding of theology. I was recently reading a ffew entries in a blog written by individuals who were involved with the emergent church. Unfortunately, the writers were fogged on salvation and future judgment along with other significant issues suggesting that Biblical statements were merely metaphorical. Paul declares the church is "...the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15 NASB). We cannot delegate the responsibility of the theological integrity of the church to anyone else. It is our responsibility. Al Mohler (President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) has written a challenge to pastors to be theologians (Click here for: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). He declares that the "health of the church depends upon its pastors functioning as faithful theologians teaching, preaching, defending, and applying the great doctrines of the faith." In the earliest centuries of the church, the pastors were the main theologians.

Mohler goes on to write that in far too many cases, the ministry of the pastor has been devoid of serious doctrinal content and many pastors seem to have little interest or understanding in taking theology seriously. The pastoral calling is basically theological. Much in the Pastoral Epistles emphasizes maintaining sound doctrine, guarding the treasure, etc. The Pastor must be able to defend the faith and identify false teaching and make corrections to aberrant theology. Preaching is primarily theological it is the transfer of Biblical conviction. "Congregations that are fed nothing more than ambiguous 'principles' supposedly drawn from God's Word are doomed to spiritual immaturity which will become visible in compromise, complacency, and a host of other spiritual ills," writes Mohler. Evangelism is theological - we must be able to give a clear statement of the gospel if a person is to be saved. Counseling is primarily theological. The vast majority of pastoral ministry is theological.

Pastoral ministry assumes that the pastor has theological convictions. True preaching is not giving the congregation a set of theological choices. The pastor must stand ready to "define, defend, and document his own deep convictions, drawn from his careful study of God's Word and his knowledge of the faithful teaching of the church."

Mohler illustrates the importance of theology when he states that in the "history of Christian theology, the difference between orthodoxy and heresy has often hung on a single word, or even a syllable." And so Mohler challenges pastors, "...we are the stewards of sound words and the guardians of doctrinal treasure which has been entrusted to us at the very core of our calling as pastors. The pastor who is no theologian is no pastor."

The challenge to us as pastors is to continue to grow in our theological understanding.

The challenge to those who are training the next generation of pastors is to maintain a high level theological education, rather than reducing theological education in favor of more "relevant" matters such as learning powerpoint, etc.

Breathing New Life into Dying Churches

Pastor David Stertzbach has given some very helpful information on helping to bring health back to a church that has suffered trauma. He uses the analogy of an accident victim who has suffered trauma, and compares that to the church. He recommends 1. Assessing the Trauma, 2. Addressing the Trauma, 3. Attending to the Trauma, 4. Achieving the Healing. His seminar is entitled: "Breathing New Life into Dying Congregations: Changes that Enable a Local Church to Become Vital & Relevant Again." (click here and go to Wednesday, Feb 22 2006 - GA2 / audio can be ordered from the site)

Dale has been involved in ministry for 34 years and has been called of God to focus on churches that have experienced trauma.

One of the side notes which he mentioned was that sometimes the trauma is beyond abilities of a pastor to be able to address. This is similar for those involved in emergency services - and EMT as compared to an Emergency Room Doctor. Seems to me that too often there are young pastors who are pretty fresh out of seminary with little pastoral experience that are called upon to try and address some severe traumas in churches. Often the perception is that this is where you start off -- maybe it is the only perceived opportunity available. Sometimes God does call the young, inexperienced pastor into such situations to give them an accelerated educational course. But it is absolutely critical that there are seasoned pastors who make themselves available to mentor these young men, and these young men need to be teachable and willing to accept advice rather than thinking they have it all figured out because they have the diploma hanging on the wall.

Note: I don't write this because I feel that I am currently in a dying church. My goal is to continue to learn how to keep the church body healthy. I have served in a church that was gasping for life. There is information contained in this seminar that is helpful for a pastor of a healthy church, as well as for those changing churches, and of course, those in churches that have experienced a trauma.