Pastor as Public Theologian

THE PASTOR AS PUBLIC THEOLOGIAN, Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan, (Grand Rapids MI, Baker Academic, 2015) 221 pages.

It was great expectation that I read this book. In recent years I have been concern about if we were really teaching our people the divine perspective about life and the Christian world view. Neither can be done properly without teaching theology. I have observed that many pulpits are sacrificing good theology on the altar of relevance. I agree whole heartedly with the authors that to many Pastors have a wrong perspective on ministry—substituting their office to that of counselors, leaders, and motivators, instead of teachers, preachers, and theologians.  Their proposal is threefold: First, Pastors are and always have been theologians. Second, every theologian is in some sense a public theologian. Third, the purpose of the pastor-theologian being a public intellectual is to serve the people of God by building them up in faith (pages 15-16). Their purpose is to build up people of Christ.

However, the methodology of the book is interesting and helpful. The authors write a chapter and then they have Pastoral perspectives on what they wrote. I found this especially helpful and practical. After the introduction, the book is divided into two parts: (1) Biblical theology and Historical Theology. This is a overview of history of ministry from the Old Testament to modern times. First, he correlates the ministry of theologian to that of the three-fold office found in the Old Testament: prophet, priest, and king. The author sees the Pastor as priest in being set apart for a set apart people (ministering grace); prophet as proclaiming of truth (ministering truth) ; and king as a personification of divine wisdom (ministering wisdom). In the early church, there was a strong emphasis on the Pastor as teacher and the pastorate as a theological office. That view shifted during the medieval times more from the pew to the scholastic, it took the reformation to revive it back to the local pastor and the pew. The preaching became more expository in nature (which seems to me is the real power behind the pastor as theologian). In modern times the pastor theologian has been compromised by populism, professional, and taming of the Pastorate.  “Theology has become a specialist’s discipline, not a generalist” (page 89). This book certainly calls us back to be pastor theologians.

(2) Systematic Theology and Practical Theology. Throughout the book are some 55 theses on the Pastor as Theologian, which are brought together in the conclusion. He sees being a Pastor-Theologian in very practical terms. The purpose is for cultivating life and for coping with death. To communicate this to our people means we understand God, the world, and ourselves in relation to what we are in Christ. The purpose is to confront people with words, thoughts, and actions of God in their life. The purpose is also to proclaim Christ through the word by preaching and teaching.

The book is filled with wisdom, thoughtful insights, and encouragement. It is a timely book and one needed in today’s world. It is reader friendly, clear, and helpful.

  I received this book free from Baker Academic through the Baker Academic Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255