A couple of weeks ago I posted a brief reflection on a blog piece written by Tim Keller, lead pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York.
Keller characterised various emphases of different churches, and described his (and my) tradition as distinctively having: ‘a ‘prophetic’ emphasis on preaching, teaching, and doctrine. The danger there is that we can have a naïve and unBiblical view that, if we just expound the Word faithfully, everything else in the church – leader development, community building, stewardship of resources, unified vision – will just happen by themselves.’ His full post can be read here.
I thought it was a fair description of many situations I have experienced. I generally try to focus on the situation of the church that I am able to do something about, the one that I am a part of. I wasn’t so interested in his characterisations of the other churches.
Keller was using a form of philosophy which is labelled ‘triperspectivalism’. He contrasted what he termed the ‘prophetic’ (Word) emphasis of the Reformed, the ‘kingly’ (purposeful leadership) emphasis of the Willow Creek connection, and the ‘prophetic’ (community) emphasis of the emergent movement.
On the Reformation 21 website Richard Philips provided a helpful critique of Keller’s comments. While also noting that there are examples of Reformed churches that are strong on teaching and weak on purposeful leadership and community, he questions whether this is endemic, or a direct product of their Word emphasis.
He also questions whether the contrasting point of Keller’s comments stand, that setting aside doctrinal clarity is really something that can be weighed against leadership and community. The use of ‘triperspectivalism’ is suspect in that it creates generalisations that are suspect on deeper evaluation.
Keller continues to expand on his original comment with another post. In it he contends that their can be an unbalanced emphasis on the preaching role of a pastor at the expense of leadership and nurture.
I think it is helpful not to over generalise his words or to pretend that he is putting forward an ‘either/or’ scenario.
I went to a theological college that placed great emphasis on interpreting and preaching the Bible. Preaching was the only course in which failure would automatically prevent graduation. Pastoral care was a very minor stream in that. We received no training in how to thoughtfully and intentionally lead and convince people to follow. I’m sure things are very different today. To be perfectly honest, at the time I would probably have resented it if there had been a greater emphasis on the disciplines I’ve just described.
Preaching and teaching the Bible are formative of good leadership and essential for pastoral care. I can’t present myself as some sort of super-pastor either.
But the long I go on, the more I can see the connections and the need. It is not a choice between faithful teaching and skillfull leading and compassionate shepherding. All are needed.
R. Scott Clark, who was also critical of aspects of Keller’s original post, including the use of ‘triperspectivalism’, writes a more sympathetic and appreciative set of comments on Keller’s second post here at the (very helpful and thought-provoking) Heidelblog.
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