Small Rural Churches Need More Curators of Applied Practical Theology
Practical theology is an academic discipline that examines and reflects on religious practices in order to understand the theology enacted in those practices and in order to consider how theological theory and theological practices can be more fully aligned, changed, or improved. Practical theology has often sought to address a perceived disconnection between dogmatics or theology as an academic discipline on the one hand, and the life and practice of the church on the other.
This great divide between the two has become wider as time passes on. Our heads know what and how we should think and our hearts feel for the lost and the needy but there is the disconnect of putting action to our words.
As articulated by Richard Osmer, the four key tasks or questions to be asked by practical theology are:
What is going on? (the descriptive-empirical task)
Why is this going on? (the interpretative task)
What ought to be going on? (the normative task)
How might we respond? (the pragmatic task)
The characteristics of an effective Christian ministry start with a clear vision. Every minister and church need to develop a sound and concise philosophy for Christian ministry based on the Scriptures given by God. It is not enough to have a sound philosophical statement alone but to experience the transformation of lives in our churches and congregation as well. What is on paper must match our actions for it to make a difference. All church’s and every congregation is called to reach out to people and to have intentional relationships with them, help them to build and find that relationship with God through Jesus Christ, to nurture them, and to send them into the world to live as disciples showing the love of Christ to even more.
The Culture in Which We Live and Appropriate Church Response
The culture that we live in is a day of Relativism which thinks that life and truth are based on each individual’s perspective and experiences of life. There is the view that there are no absolute truths and that this life is all there is and should be lived to the fullest regardless of consequences or moral regard. All this leads to a life led by self-gratification, self-centeredness and selfishness that has no regard for others-ness.
Action Is The Greatest Need
Many are the needs of our day...The need for peace in war-torn areas around the world. The need for food and clothing in our poverty-stricken communities and countries around the world. The need for loving families, civil rights, good paying jobs, etc.
These needs are certainly noble and very important, yet I suggest that the greatest need for our world is the church to not only talk about our needs in committees and board meetings but to go and put hands and feet to our words with evangelism. Sharing the gospel with every person (Mark 16:15). Preaching the word everywhere (Acts 8:5). A need that was met aggressively in the first century Church (Collossians 1:23). Why evangelism is "The Greatest Need" may not be apparent to some, so a reminder of why the need is so great.
The trend in the local church today is need-based, consumer driven, and culturally defined by a “what can you do for me” attender? The church is on a path, a wrong path led by culture that is accommodating to the spirit of the age, lacking true theology or doctrine, moved by humanistic endeavors, and is very similar to the ways of the world. The church, if it is not careful, does not know who she is, what she is supposed to do, where she is going and what her purpose is because she has taken on the mind of the world rather than the Spirit (Col 2:9-16).
The Condition of the Church.
Many congregations have lost their focus. They have become little more than a social club. Meeting only the social and emotional needs of its members. They have become burdened by that which is the responsibility of others (1 Timothy 5:16). Many congregations are declining in number. As Christians die or fall away, little is being done to convert others. Where numerical growth occurs, it is often by Christians moving into the area. Unless we do something to meet this need, many churches will cease to exist!
So, the need is great, for to save others and to save ourselves we need to put our plans into action and to move out and serve and evangelize! Yet consider why the need is not being met. For some, it is a lack of concern. Not concerned for the Lord's cause, who came to seek and save those who were lost (Luke 19:10). Not concerned for those lost and dying in sin, unlike Paul (Romans 10:1). Not concerned for their own welfare, endangered by failing to bear fruit (John 15:1-2). Have we become so hardened, that we no longer care?
Stewardship in the church is essential for the church to not only to be effective in its resources but effective in its ministry to the people around them. Stewardship is not only money, which is important, but in the whole person spiritually. Giving is satisfying in resources and of ourselves to God first and other second. It satisfies the soul, edifies the church and magnifies the Lord. Faithfulness in Christian giving creates faithfulness in the Christian community.
The task at hand for the body of believers, that is the church, is to glorify God in word and deed. In the OT, the Lord declared through Isaiah that He created, formed and called by name His people for His own glory (Isa 43:7). This truth is summarized by Paul in Ephesians when he constantly gave God the glory for the church (Eph vv. 6, 12 & 14). Developing a biblical philosophy of ministry that leads the church to be applicable and relevant in its being and practice is the answer to the culture that we live.
My goal and God-given purpose are to lead the people that I have been entrusted with to the fullness of God that our Lord Jesus promised we could experience. This is achieved through careful study of Scripture, meaningful prayer, faithful administration of the sacraments, and intentional devotion to God. With God’s help we can put our boots to the ground and make what we believe to translate into what we do.
What can we do?
To ask that question indicates concern, that is good!
To the one asking they need to add knowledge and learn!
To knowledge one needs to add courage and pray!
Then with faith and focus we can work together to fulfill "The Greatest Need"
I want to be known as a curator of “Applied Practical Theology.”
