Article Review - "Every Preacher is a Theologian" by R. Albert Mohler

Mohler, R. Albert. “Every preacher is a theologian.” Preaching, vol 24, no 4 (Jan/Feb 2009).


R. Albert Mohler asserted his purpose in the opening line of the article, “Every pastor is called to be a theologian” (23). Mohler’s premise was that theology is not a discipline reserved only for the academicians, but is central to the pastor’s calling. He wrote, “… the health of the church depends upon its pastors functioning as faithful theologians – teaching, preaching, defending and applying the great doctrines of the faith” (23). Mohler showed from church history that the modern-day dichotomy between theological academics and practical pastoral ministry is a more recent phenomenon.

Mohler underscored his concern if the pastor does not recover his theological mandate. Mohler wrote:

In far too many cases, 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. All this must be reversed if the church is to remain true to God’s Word and the gospel. 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 (23).

The tone of Mohler’s argument is encouraging rather than demanding. Mohler, considered a theologian by his role as a seminary president, anchors his position in the biblical model of the apostle Paul. This single fact may be the key to Mohler getting his point across to his audience. His premise is not necessarily his idea as much as it is his understanding of what the Bible teaches is the role of the pastor.

Mohler pressed the argument that the recovering of the role of theologian in the pastorate is the responsibility of the pastor. He wrote:

All this is a betrayal of the pastoral calling as presented in the New Testament. Furthermore, it is a rejection of the apostolic teaching and of the biblical admonition concerning the role and responsibilities of the pastor. Today’s pasts must recover and reclaim the pastoral calling as inherently and cheerfully theological. Otherwise, pastors will be nothing more than communicators, counselors and managers of congregations that have been emptied of the gospel and of biblical truth (24).

Mohler placed the responsibility square on the shoulders of the pastor. His premise for this part of his argument is that “… there is no dimension of the pastor’s calling that is not deeply, inherently and inescapably theological” (24).

Mohler made the challenge for pastors very clear. He wrote, “Being faithful to this theological task will obviously require intense and self-conscious theological thinking, study and concentration” (24). Pastors need to view themselves as theologians and make theology an important part of their ministry. The difficulty is to be theological without being divisive. Mohler wrote, “Part of that thinking is the ability to isolate what is most important in terms of theological gravity from that which is less important” (24). Mohler’s counsel included a helpful paradigm for making the distinction between what is most important and what is less important. He offered a three-prong view of doctrinal subjects. First, “First-order doctrines are those that are fundamental and essential to the Christian faith” (25). Such doctrines would include the deity of Christ, the inerrancy of the Bible, the exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Second, “Second-order doctrines are those that are essential to church life and necessary for the ordering of the local church but that, in themselves, do not define the gospel” (25). Such doctrines would “include those most closely related to ecclesiology and the architecture of theological systems” (25).

Third, “Third-order doctrines are those that may be the ground for fruitful theological discussion and debate but that do not threaten the fellowship of the local congregation or denomination” (25). Such doctrines would include matters such as eschatology.

One of Mohler’s strongest arguments for reclamation of a theological purpose is his emphasis on the discipleship opportunity of the pastor from the pulpit. The pastor needs to be theologically sound in his preaching in order to be relevant and helpful in discipling one’s congregation. Mohler asserted, “Without a proper sense of priority and discernment, the congregation is left to consider every theological issue to be a matter of potential conflict or, at the other extreme, to see no doctrines as worth defending if conflict is in any way possible” (25). This discipleship component is part of the pastor’s responsibility to “the necessity of constant watchfulness” (25). He also asserted, “… faithful preaching cannot consist in the preacher simply presenting a set of theological options to the congregation. Instead, the pastor should stand ready to define, defend and document his own deep convictions drawn from his careful study of God’s Word and his knowledge of the faithful teaching of the church” (26).

Teaching and preaching theology is not institutional. Shepherding a congregation theologically is not to be an ivory tower experience for the pastor or the congregation. Mohler wrote, “The faithful pastor does not teach merely that which has historically been believed by the church and is now believed by faithful Christians. Rather, he teaches out of his own personal confession” (26). This passion in the pulpit allows “the pastor’s confession of his faith and personal example [to] add both authority and authenticity to the pastoral ministry” (26).

Mohler’s challenge to the pastor is both challenging and encouraging. He reminded the pastor of the biblical mandate of his call and the biblical example of the apostle Paul. Theology is critical, yet can be overwhelming to the pastor. Mohler has offered a clear challenge to reclaim a theological tone in pastoral ministry. Yet, his challenge is not without encouragement. He asserted the challenge as, “The pastor who is no theologian is no pastor” (26). He offered the encouragement as, “Every pastor is called to be a theologian” (23).