The Role of the Seminary

Seminary presidents Albert Mohler and Peter Lillback discuss the role of the seminary in today’s world. Dr. Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dr. Lillback, President of Westminster Theological Seminary were interviewed in Reformed Forum’s Christ The Center program. Here is the video :

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Jesus On Justification By Faith Alone

It is contended by some that the Reformers and much of Evangelical Protestantism is based on an unbalanced understanding of Pauline teachings and that the balance would be found only if considerable attention is given to the message of Jesus also. This pitting of Paul’s teachings with Jesus and creating a false dichotomy between them is no longer the sole property of liberals or Catholics, but alarmingly even some well known Evangelicals have made such statements too. 

The Evangelical response to all such attacks is that, if rightly understood, all the teachings of Jesus and Paul are one and the same. The right understanding of the gospels is only possible if one is well versed in the doctrine of Christianity, which is laid mostly, though not exclusively in the Epistles.  The question that is often raised against Evangelicals is regarding their understanding of justification by faith alone. Did Jesus teach that? Did Jesus teach propitiation, imputation and faith alone?

One answer to such queries is this rich sermon by Dr. Albert Mohler Jr., the president of Southern Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.  Dr. Mohler takes the parable of Jesus in Luke 18:9-14 and teaches how Jesus did teach justification is by faith alone.  The key to understanding how this sermon defends the Reformers’ understanding of justification comes from understanding the meaning of a Greek term, used in the passage.  Outside Reformed circles, this parable is never taught properly. This parable is often misunderstood, or lightly understood.  Often it is just used to teach some moralistic sense of humility  the need for broken-hearted prayer. It is more than an exhortation to prayer and humility; it also deals with our justification.  The passage when exegeted faithfully brings out the gospel in bright colors. It is also noteworthy that it is in this context of justification by faith alone, that true humility is to be understood and practiced.  Dr. Mohler does a fine job, both as an exegete and as a preacher.  Preached on the Reformation Day last year at Capitol Hill Baptist church, this sermon is highly recommended for all Christians.

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Living Dangerously For the Glory of God

Albert Mohler Jr. serves as the President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Here is an excerpt from a recent convocation message, Mohler preached  at Southern Seminary, entitled "The Year of Living Dangerously". 

The Pastor As Theologian

“The health of the church depends upon its pastors functioning as faithful theologians — teaching, preaching, defending and applying the great doctrines of the faith.” says Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in his booklet The Pastor As Theologian.  The booklet aims to encourage pastors to consider their “calling as inherently theological” and to believe that “the pastor who is no theologian is no pastor”.

In the introduction, Mohler laments over the fact that in the last several centuries, theology as an academic discipline has been more associated with the university rather than the church. He shows how this was not the case in history. Whether it is the patristic era or during the Reformation, the great theologians were all pastors. Mohler reasons that this disjunction between the church and serious theology has affected both the church and theological studies. The severing of church and theology, Mohler says lead to “the redefinition of theology as “religious studies” separated from ecclesiastical control or concern.” Whereas for the church, it lead to “separating ministries from theology, preaching from doctrine and Christian care from conviction.” Thus today “the pastor’s ministry has been evacuated of serious doctrinal content and many pastors seem to have little connection to any sense of theological vocation.”  Mohler therefore concludes his introduction by suggesting a reversal “if the church is to remain true to God’s Word and the Gospel.”  He calls attention specifically to the role of the pastor for “Unless the pastor functions as a theologian, theology is left in the hands of those who, in many cases, have little or no connection or commitment to the local church.”

Mohler then sets his attention on four aspects of the pastor as a theologian – the pastor’s calling “as inherently theological”, the pastor and the theological triage as developing “the ability to isolate what is most important in terms of theological gravity from that which is less important.”, the pastor as teacher, where he infuses the “congregations with deep biblical and theological conviction. The means of this transfer of conviction is the preaching of the Word of God.” and the pastor’s confession or of being “a man who is possessed by deep theological passion, specific theological convictions and an eagerness to see these convictions shared by his congregation.”

May pastors take heed to the words of Dr. Mohler and may the Lord bless His church with theologian pastors for His Name’s sake.

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