The Pastor as Public Theologian

The pastor as public theologian was an incredible read and left me encouraged, focused on my ministry, and was extremely helpful the way it gave instruction. In summary this book discussed the downfall of a pastor, methods to go against the grain, and how a pastor can get back on track finding balance the way leaders of the church were intended to do. The pastor as public theologian claimed that pastors have separated their work as a pastor and their professional study as a theologian. Vanhoozer claims this is the downfall of pastors in ministry. The book uses history, practical writings from pastors, and other studies to support their claim. The book leaves the reader charged to go after a balance between the deep, taxing, robust study of theology and the practical work, walking along side people, teaching, counseling, and leading people through life. The book leaves the reader with the charge to not be a pastor whop leads heavy in one direction or the other, but instead encouraged to lead people practically by being someone who is well studied.

I believe the authors are right in thinking the majority of pastors have shifted to lean heavily into one side or another. Personally, this hit me, because I often times I forget the need to be the smartest person in the room, to lead people to the best of my ability, but instead I naturally lean into leading people the best I can from where I am at. I think the best thing I can do for my ministry and my future as a pastor is to continue to study hard. To keep rhythms in my life where my study never stops. Once I finish this degree my plan is to begin an ordination program and then from there, I may pursue my masters of divinity. This book has right sided my mind to realize my great need to keep studying, so that my lack of education will never debilitate my ability to lead people through life.

A Pastor should be someone who studies the Word of God alongside the world to allow the people entrusted to them to live a completely encompassed life devoted to following Christ. The idea of the pastor being the leading thinker in the congregation is a sobering thought, and not often the case. What we can do is work to incorporate high views of scripture and theology to the daily, weekly, and annual rhythms of our congregations.

What does “pastor as public theologian” mean? I interpret it meaning that a pastor is someone who is an extremely deep well of experience, and study of who God is, how the world works, and how to navigate the world using the Word of God and bringing that deep knowledge and understanding into others’ lives, the congregations, and helping them understand God and the world and navigate life and sin. I think of Paul, Paul was incredibly deep, he studied the word of God day and night and in return the words he wrote down are still guiding millions of Christians through this life daily. If Paul did not study the Tora with such conviction our ability to follow Jesus with the clarity of his writings would be debilitating for so many. Jesus himself committed 30 years of his life to study the world and the Word and in return he taught like no one’s business and led people by the thousands in following after Him.

Personally, I think this view is extremely beneficial to my ministry. As a youth pastor I see the large amount of voices speaking to my students, claiming truth. My ability to be deep, well studied, and grounded in truth will directly relate to my ability to lead the students God has entrusted to my care through life. I believe that God is truth, and with so many voices claiming truth there has to be so much clarity in how I lead students to true understanding. The more rigorous the studies the more breadth my ministry will gain. As I continue to study the Word of God, continue to pursue higher education, the more that I allow theological studies to stretch my mind the longer I will be able to lead a ministry, and the longer I will be able to lead a person. For my current situation God has blessed me with the ability to learn and become a theologian while working in a church doing full time ministry. This is a gift I do not want to take for granted, instead I am praying God uses it to take my ministry deeper than ever before.

The concept of a pastor having the role of a public theologian is beautiful to me and I believe it is not only possible for, but required of those who are called to lead the body of Christ. The church is the hope of the world and the pastor is the hope of the church. For the world to find Jesus the pastor must be someone who is fully engulfed with leading people towards truth, and for the pastor to know truth means the pastor must be devoted to a life of study. It is a sacrificial life, that of a pastors, because their life is lived in a way of service, and a life of service requires one to find what others need and become it. To Find what people need a pastor has to be one who is committed to study, study of people and study of what will help people find and follow Jesus.

I am thankful for the Vanhoozers’ writings as it has helped me greatly in my own ministry philosophy development.