I remember a statement by CS Lewis where he says that right after he has successfully defended Christianity is when Christ is least real to him. I think it is a good point to remember if we end up having to deal with theological issues.

Hey, maybe a theologian is some who is attempting to disect God

It is supposed to be one who studies (the ‘ology’ part) God (theos). Which technically could be anyone interested in knowing more about Him. However, while studying theology is fascinating and even helpful sometimes, it can never take the place of relationship. I wouldn’t say that in trying to develop a deeper relationship with my husband, Frank, that I have benefited much from my ’studies’ (Frank-ology? spouse-ology?) Honestly, I am not trying to get ‘cute’ here. I really desire to know as much about Him as I can–but I desire more to simply know Him.

Note that the greatest theologians have also generally been bishops: lifetimes spent grappling with God in prayer and sacrament, and feeding and caring for the sheep through preaching and spiritual fatherhood. Those are the sorts of theologians that impress me. Lay academics in ivory towers with big ideas generally don’t.

Let’s believe the best, man. What’s the point of prophesying the irrelevance of a movement (SBC theologians) that is currently doing much good? Your predictions certainly COULD come true, but it seems to me that your tone is pretty negative and critical in a way that you would not appreciate if it were directed against you!

I’d rather be a voice of hope.

aaron: The current theologion class is LEADING the charge into the culture war, and are part of the reason the conservative “resurgence” hasn’t resulted in much evangelism.

I recently graduated from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. As recently as two years ago. Now, I am a pastor in a little city in Lousiana, barely 2 miles from the Bayou and the mighty Mississippi. Cajuns and french cooking are the order of the day.

Let me say that I think that you have seriously underestimated the value of the “conservative resurgence.” If you take Southeastern as a test sample, then I think that you find it has grown by leaps and bounds, that the Bible is being taught faithfully as true, and that missions work has increased a hundredfold. I am normally content to sit in the shadows and enjoy the dialouge, but that comment about the resurgence not leading to much evangelism is total garbage.

I realize that the grand ole SBC has her problems. And I know that we would do just as well as a denomination to lose a million members this year as well as have a million folks be saved. I am appalled at the often shallow tactics that we use for evangelism and “growth” just as you seem to be.

But, and I must be frank, to go and judge the wonderful, godly theologians that molded my thirst for God and His Word by Al Mohler alone makes my blood run hot. I think of the hours that these men labored to teach me “theology”. I remember the tears of exhortation, and I remember their earnest prayers on my behalf. I remember being rooted and grounded in the faith. At Southeastern, that is about as radical a change as you will find in any institution over the last 20 years, I guarantee you that.

Furthermore, I remember friend after friend leaving to do missionary work for 2 years or more in “closed” countries. Essentially, my good friends risked their lives to carry the gospel to North Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. They did so because they learned of the power of God to save in their classes with theologians.

I could go on and on. But let me tell you, what you see Al Mohler doing is not what is going on in each Seminary. While Dr. Mohler labors for engagment in society, others are laboring quietly to instill a thirst for God in the next generations leaders. If you see a change in the “young” SBC, who do you think that they learned it from? From culture? If you see them walking more faithfully to the Word of God, do you think that they got it from blogs? Give me a break.

I am not defending the hype that usually happens at the SBC conventions, don’t misunderstand me. If you want to jump on that, then hit it with both feet. If you want to argue that the SBC’s theme ought to have been, “Teach the 16.4 million theology so that they can be disciples!” Instead of a million more converts, I agree. But to level the accusation that those devout men (who are now belittled for being “theologians”) are somehow ineffective, I just cannot tell you how wrong you are.

I think your comments are misguided, and I will end with that. I am grieved at what I read here. The godly theologians of the SBC are not ineffective; they are the SBC’s hope.