There have never been this many Christians around the world, yet few
know much about God, the actual contents of the Bible, or the ways in
which God's people have interpreted and applied the Bible historically.
Many Americans, at least, still go to church and read the Bible--as
their social lives permit. Even more in the Global South do so with
fervency and zeal. Still, despite our apparent esteem for the Bible's
status and authority, few believers know as much about its contents as
they do about Hollywood movies, popular music, or athletics.
Indeed, as anyone who teaches in our churches can attest, few today
know the Ten Commandments (I mean all ten, in proper order), the twelve
apostles, the letters of Paul, or even the titles of the books included
within the biblical canon. A basic grasp of Bible doctrine is also hard
to find today. How many Christians do you know who can articulate what
Scripture teaches about our Lord's two natures, the ministry of the
Spirit, or the nature of the church? Even first-year seminarians have
trouble with these things.
The church wants education and needs theological leaders. In this day
when many pastors lead non-theologically, and academics work in a way
that is lost on the people of God, we need pastor-theologians who can
minister the Word in ways that edify the saints and offer a winsome
public witness to the goodness, truth, and beauty of the Lord and his
will for us.
The time is ripe for dialogue, even charitable debate, regarding the
best way forward. So I offer the following theses in the hope that they
will incite a large number of church leaders--in congregations and
divinity schools--to think together with me about how we can serve God's
people more effectively as preachers, teachers, and Christian
educators.
1. Our churches and our world desperately need pastors to lead and teach theologically. Continue at Douglas A. Sweeney
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