The call of Pastor is a call to be a Theologian!

Tuesday is Pastor's day at Resolve07. We hope that what comes out on Tuesdays will be a help and encouragement to you as you serve your church. Today we have an extract from and article by Tom Ascol who's book 'Dear Timothy' is one of our favourites on the calling and working out of pastoral ministry. This is what he says:

'Every pastor is called to be a theologian. And both pastors and churches need to begin thinking again in these terms. This will happen when the Bible is regarded as sufficient for defining and directing pastoral ministry. All pastoral practice should extend from theological understanding which is rooted in the Bible. The primary question for a pastor's self-understanding is this: What does God say a pastor should be and do?

• He is to charge people that they teach only apostolic doctrine. (1 Timothy 1:3)
• He is to beware that some professing believers will depart from the faith and will be taken in by deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).
• He will be a good minister of Jesus Christ if he teaches his brethren to see through ascetic gnosticism and he himself continues to carefully feed on good doctrine (1 Timothy 4:6).
• He is to give careful attention to doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13).
• He is continuously to take heed to himself and to the doctrine, with the assurance that by doing so he will save both himself and his hearers (1 Timothy 4:16).
• He is to aspire to become worthy of double honor by ruling well and laboring in word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17).
• He is to regard the Scriptures as being profitable for doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16).
• He is to preach the word because he knows that the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
• He is be so doctrinally grounded that he can refute false teaching by sound doctrine (Titus 1:9).
• Everything which he teaches is to be consistent with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).
• In doctrinal convictions he is to have integrity, be reverent and incorruptible (Titus 2:7).
How in the world can any man hope to pass the apostle's admission test to pastoral ministry if he is not committed to being a careful theologian?

To aid in this process, a pastor should regard the study of theology and the discipline of thinking theologically ongoing responsibilities of his calling.

Following are a few suggestions which can contribute to this.

1. Become confessional in life and ministry. Study time-tested confessions of faith, such as the Second London Baptist, the New Hampshire, or the Abstract of Principles. There is a long tradition in Baptist life of pastors adopting or even writing their own personal confessions. Such an exercise will sensitize one to reading the Bible theologically (rather than merely narratively). Make a point to know the key biblical passages that teach justification; regeneration; sanctification; election; etc.
2. Use catechisms. Baptists, along with other protestant evangelical groups, have a rich catechetical tradition. Teach the children in your home and congregation a good catechism. Teach your church a catechism. A good catechism provides a theological framework for one's thinking.
3. Familiarize yourself with good pastor-theologian models. Read Martyn Lloyd-Jones' biography and sermons. Do the same with Charles Spurgeon. On the contemporary scene, among those who are writing significantly, John MacArthur, John Piper, Brian Edwards, Joel Beeke, Sinclair Ferguson and the late James Boice are worth noting.
4. Read theology. The recent reprinting of older works makes the Puritans and their heirs more accessible today than at any time in the previous century. Get on the mailing lists of trusted publishers of such works, like Banner of Truth and Soli Deo Gloria. Talk to fellow pastors and discover what books they are finding helpful. Read good theological journals and don't skip the book reviews!

Read the whole article at http://www.founders.org/FJ43/editorial.html