Analytic Theology in Pastoral Ministry

Last week a group of pastors from across denominations gathered at Fuller Seminary to explore the prospects of analytic theology for pastoral ministry. For many of the pastors there, this was their first exposure to analytic theology; so there was a lot of discussion on what exactly analytic theology is. The colloquium on analytic theology and prayer witnessed serveral presentations from Fuller’s AT team, including Oliver Crisp, Jordan Wessling, and James Arcadi. However my favorite presentation was not by anyone on the

AT team, it was by a pastor from Arizona: Bryan Fergus from Calvary Community Church. Bryan presented on the topic of Analytic theology in pastoral ministry. Here are my notes from his talk.

• Why a D.Min?
  • Conviction that we need more middle men – pastor/theologians who can reach down from the academy from the churches and to reach up from the church to the academy w/issues that really face the church.
• How can AT enhance my pastoral ministry?
• Thinking this way theologically is good for us who are in the everday business of pastoral ministry.
  • Characterized by rigorous thinking – this is a good thing!
• What are the benefits of AT for our role as pastors?
  • The precise, rational thinking encouraged by AT facilitates the responsive presentation of truth
    • Isn’t this an obvious given? Couldn’t we engage in any number of intellectual pursuits that hone these skills?
    • AT is uniquely equipped to help us with this part
    • Facilitates the ability to think more critically
      • Helps us grow in responding to “yeah… but what about this?” when we are preaching
      • Learn to anticipate the objections
    • Teach from the pulpit in a more logical and responsive way
  • AT presents a rational path to the faith that many need in our age of skepticism
    • AT is well equipped to walk the middle path between rationalistic faith and experiential faith
  • AT is uniquely equipped to address the “gaps” in our theological understanding.
    • Even those who affirm the authority of scripture, still have to deal with some “gaps” i.e. hell, why would a good, omnipotent, omniscient God create a world with a possibility of hell. We know THAT but we don’t know WHY or HOW of many things in Scripture work.
    • AT is friendly for the exploration of these gaps
    • Why not explore the how/why? Why not invest the same kind of energy we would with friends & family to really get to know God?
    • The endeavor of of exploring these gaps is an act of worship
  • Prayer – Petitionary Prayer and “Gaps”
    • Scripture calls us to pray…
      • Jesus tells his followers to ask their Heavenly Father for things that are important to them.
      • Jesus teaches his disciples a model prayer that includes petitions.
      • Jesus himself prays a prayer of petition.
    • Why or What difference does PP make?
      • God is omniscient… how do our petitions change anything if God already knows it happens?
      • God is perfectly good… why won’t he do the best thing anyway?
      • God is immutable…. How do our prayers make any difference to what God does?