You Are A Theologian
Because all Christians answer questions like, “Who is God?” and “Who is Jesus?”, we’re all theologians to some degree.
R.C. Sproul states the following in Knowing Scripture
“No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not a theologian in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nevertheless. The issue for Christians is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are going to be good theologians or bad ones.“
5 Kinds of Theologians
I don’t recommend Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson’s Who Needs Theology?
Adapted from Grenz and Olson’s
Read the list and assess what kind of theologian you are.
1. Folk Theologian
The folk theologian doesn’t think about what they believe. They’re enthusiastic about what they believe, but it’s largely made up of Christian cliches. The folk theologian isn’t reflective and their beliefs have often been uncritically inherited from friends, family, and tradition.
2. Lay Theologian
The lay theologian thinks about what they believe. They’re enthusiastic about what they believe, and despite not having all the skills of one who is seminary trained, they seek to have a whole and coherent understanding of their faith. The lay theologian critically evaluates their beliefs and doesn’t simply hold them because they’re the beliefs of friends, family, or tradition.
3. Ministerial Theologian
The ministerial theologian thinks about what they believe. They’re enthusiastic about it, and as they’re likely involved in pastoral and / or preaching ministry they’re practically aware of the value of knowing what they believe so as to pass it onto others. Unlike the lay theologian, they have working knowledge of the biblical languages, the history of theological development, and can find their way around commentaries, lexicons, journals, etc. More than simply critically evaluating their own beliefs, the ministerial theologian also has a strong grasp of other competing theological beliefs.
4. Professional Theologian
The professional theologian thinks about what they believe. They’re enthusiastic about it and have a strong working knowledge of such tools as the biblical languages, the history of theological development, and a wide spectrum of exegetical and research tools. The professional theologian’s vocation is to teach and train all Christians, and especially pastors, in the use of the aforementioned tools.
5. Academic Theologian
The academic theologian thinks about what they believe and beliefs in general. However, their study often remains in the realm of thinking, that is extreme reflection and speculation. The academic theologian’s work is often directed predominately to other academic theologians. Like the professional theologian, the academic theologian has a strong working knowledge of the biblical languages, the history of theological development, and a wide spectrum of exegetical and research tools. Although there may be some benefit to the professional theologian studying academic theology, their work rarely benefits the individual Christian or the church at large.
The Two Extremes & The Two Dangers
Of the above list of kinds of theologians, there are two extremes, folk theologian and academic theologian. Many would agree and see the danger of academic theology. In fact, when many hear the word “theologian” an image of an academic theologian comes to mind.
What is often missed is that folk theology can be just as dangerous as academic theology. Both, according to Grenz and Olson
If your understanding of the Christian faith can be summed up on a bumper sticker, printed on a tee shirt, or could make its way into a Hallmark greeting card, you could be in very dangerous place. How do you know if what you believe is actually Christianity, “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3)?
Your average church member isn’t likely to wake up one day and discover they’re an academic theologian, but sadly in my experience, far too many Christians today do fall into the category of folk theologian.
The Need for Theologians
My prayer is that the church of Jesus Christ would be made up of a united front of lay, ministerial, and professional theologians. All of which are helpful, God glorifying, and in desperate need of each other.
So, what kind of theologian are you?
Leave a comment, discuss it on Facebook, or send me on a tweet on Twitter.
I wonder, if we teased the idea out a little more, would we get more useful categories. It seems to me that you’re evaluating theologians along one axis, with ignorance at one end, and knowledge at the other. I wonder if multiple axes wouldn’t be useful. The ones that spring to mind are:
- Interest
- Knowledge
- Helpfulness (to others; professionals are, as a category, more helpful, because they have more time to help)
- Application (to life)
So, if there’s never any interest, the knowledge will be haphazard and sparse, unsystematic, and just plain wrong. If the application to life is absent, then you end up with your “Academic Theologian”, but if the wrong knowledge is applied to life, then you end up with your “Folk Theologian”-type results. But the possibility for lack of application to life is not constrained to those with high levels of knowledge (as may be implied in your term “Academic Theolgian”).
Anyway, it’s past my bedtime, so I’ll quit now
Some good thoughts Tim. The axis, according to Grenz and Olson, was how reflective the person is. Folk theology has little to no reflection, whereas academic theology is almost purely in the realm of reflection, speculation, etc. I’d say someone with no interest falls into the “folk theologian” category of having no reflection.
An important point which I only briefly picked up in my closing statement was this, “…in desperate need of each other.”
Lay, ministerial, and professional theologians need to be in contact with each other. For example, if a lay theologian avoids ministerial and professional theologians, he may inevitably wind up in folk theology. Also, if a professional theologian has no contact with ministerial and lay theologians, his work may inevitably wind up as academic theology, devoid of practical life application and usefulness to the church.
Thanks again Tim. Get some sleep!
Nathan u had not expressed to which category you fit in. It won’t make any difference u recommend or not Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson’s books. By saying this u had labeled yourself indirectly that you are right and convinced enough what you believe about your doctrinal stand is the only “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3)?. Even u had not said to which category Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson’s falls under.
Philip Lazar, Pastor
India.
Philip, thanks for stopping by. I’d say I’m a Ministerial Theologian as I’m preparing for full-time pastoral ministry. Olson and the late Grenz would be Professional Theologians and both would be thoroughly aware of any theological differences we may have.
Ministerial here, but you’re right, far too many people fall into the folk theologian category. Many people take the easy path, which is usually folk theologian. They don’t want to take the time and energy needed to evaluate their beliefs. They tend to accept the faith as forever settled. These people also find change very hard and tend to dig their heels in in light of new information.
As to the comment about Grenz and Olson, generally if I cannot recommend someone, I don’t quote them rather than quote them and use a disclaimer or disqualifier. It just takes on an unnecessarily negative/critical tone, in my opinion unless one is doing an actual review.
Welcome to the blog Pat. It’s a good point you raise re: quoting someone you have disagreements with. I felt I had to say who they were, otherwise I’d be taking their work. It’s been a while since I read this particular book, so I’d want to read it again before I said something concrete, but I know that the first two chapters were brilliant and really helpful. This post essentially summarises their points in chapter 2. I wanted to give credit where credit was due, and at least in my thinking saying I didn’t recommend it as the “best book on theology” (not that I didn’t recommend it in totality) wasn’t too negative. That can be one of the problems with blog posts / comments, you can’t hear the tone of the author.
Thanks again for stopping by!
Nathan It’s not your job to read your opinion on which is the Best or Bad Theology book . You are making a categorical mistake here making assessment by your theological presupposition. I think it’s not negative but prejudice on your part. Let me ask u if only 2 chapters must be given credit, i must buy the book and read it personally. Without going through point by point I can not come/make conclusive thought on that book???? your conclusion about it cannot be taken arbitrarily by everyone who reads your blog. I got much knowledge thru there writings which your camp is believing is been challenged. To my knowledge Olson and Grenz book are eye opener to many and are good and the best ones. When u call it Bad but to the others it is good when u call some thing good to others it is bad both the parties had there defense by quoting the bible. Still now, nobody has the answer what they say is the only “faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3)?
I think I fall under lay theologian. This was nifty!
Welcome Mrs. Erven, glad you enjoyed the post and even happier to read you’re a lay theologian.
I like that the list which includes the lay, ministerial, and professional doesn’t judge the depth or effectiveness of the person based on academic credentials. I think that you can do a lot of reading and writing and thinking and go a long ways without becoming academic. On the other hand, I think we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to academic scholars and theologians, it is at our peril that we dismiss all of them as too preoccupied with theoretical impracticalities. We would not have the excellent array of translations and resources we now enjoy without them, and we would not have the tremendous foundation for the faith without some of these gifted people. Thanks for sharing this!
I fall under the lay category but in the last few years I have grown toward the ministerial category.
Thanks Louis for sharing how you’ve changed as a “theologian” over time. God is indeed very gracious, and as He grows us and matures us we desire more and more for others to know the deep riches of Christ.