...That's what J.I. Packer suggests:
"Think of theologians as the church's sewage specialists. Their role is to detect and eliminate intellectual pollution, and to ensure, so far as man can, that God's life-giving truth flows pure and unpoisoned into Christian hearts.
"Their calling obliges them to act as the church's water engineers, seeking by their preaching, teaching, and biblical exposition to make the flow of truth strong and steady; but it is particularly as disposers of spiritual sewage that I want to portray them.
"They are to test the water and filter out anything they find that confuses minds, corrupts judgments, and distorts the way that Christians view their own lives. If they see Christians astray, they must haul them back on track; if the see them dithering, they must give them certainty; if they find them confused, they must straighten them out."
-- "Hot Tub Religion" p.13 (Tyndale)
2 comments:
I know theologians are blessed to have such a life work. I also think many theologians even initiate their study simply in an effort to know God intimately. However, I wonder if these same theologians have the same passion to preach noncompliance?
Can the most devout theologian, having a deep understanding of God’s attributes, simply observe society’s life-choices without comment, or are they compelled to speak out? It seems like there is two areas of concern; the study of God and His attributes, and the study of man response to God. I think it is only when a theologian has the passion for both does a compassionate preacher emerges.
I am not a preacher, (nor do I have that bent), but I desperately seek to have a more knowledgeable and intimate relationship of, and with, God. I wonder if my part time theologian status should cause me to start cleansing the sewage of my community? I'd rather leave it to the professionals!
Anonymous,
I think that all Christians -- pastors, theologians and lay people -- share a responsibility for seeking to know God ourselves and for understanding how people respond to God. All of us, too, are to share a commitment to the purity of the truth -- but it's a commitment that we should pursue with humility, carefulness and mutual respect.
Peace,
Doug
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