Walking down the hall of my university

Walking down the hallway to my office at the university is a lesson in itself.  The lesson lies in the sign at the door.  It reads, "Departments of Bible and Theology and The Pastoral Department".  I have found that the two exist very well together. 

In a recent commentary, R. Albert Mohler talks about the vital theological task performed by the pastor within the local church:

"The pastoral calling is inherently theological. Given the fact that the pastor is to be the teacher of the Word of God and the teacher of the Gospel, it cannot be otherwise. That teaching is done on both the congregational setting and a personal one as the body watches the pastor and his faith in action.  The idea of the pastorate as a non-theological office is inconceivable in light of the New Testament.”

The pastor's stewardship of the theological task requires a clear sense of pastoral priority, a keen pastoral ear, and careful attention to the theological dimensions of the Spirit, church life, and Christian discipleship trends. This must be foundational to the ministry of the local church, and ministry must emerge from a fundamentally theological foundation.

In a very real sense, Christians live out their most fundamental beliefs in everyday life. One essential task of the pastor is to feed the congregation and to assist Christians to think theologically, in order to demonstrate discernment and authentic discipleship.

I would like to see everyone value the relationship between Theory and Prax.  Afterall, we live in a very practical world in need of great theological application. 

Comments