(Updated Below)
My good friend Kevin Carroll has posted a summary of the first day of the Twin Lakes Fellowship pastors’ conference (held near Jackson, Mississippi) on his blog. He provided a link for a lecture by Ligon Duncan on “Systematic Theology and Pastoral Ministry.” Dr. Duncan’s notes for the lecture are posted here. The audio for the lecture will be posted at a later time, and I plan to link it here as well. Judging by the topic and the comments, this seems similar to Dr. Duncan’s lecture on the need for systematic theology which he gave at the Together for the Gospel conference in May of 2008.
Another blog has also posted more detailed notes on the lecture, and I will include some excerpts below:
Dr. Duncan argues that systematic theology or propositional theology is in distress at this time. As faithful shepherd we need to resist to the death falling into this mindset. Some are saying that we need to meet post-modernism by entertaining post-modern vagueness. … We must show that doctrine is necessary, important and unavoidable. Many believe that systematic theology, in addition to being a useless philosophical process, is useless. Dr. Duncan stressed that he wants us to see the value of systematic theology. It out to be our aim to outlive, out joy and out adorn the critics of systematic theology. Finally, the Bible makes it clear that doctrine is for living. Doctrine out not to be a speculative practice. Doctrine is for life. If our lives do not reflect this the the truth has gone bad on us.
I thought this was a telling statement with regard to the “anti-doctrine” crowd:
We hear even evangelicals around us saying things like “Christianity is a life not a doctrine.” It is saying the same thing that liberals said at the turn of the 20th Century. Duncan recommended that everyone read Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism.
Very helpful in these notes are Scriptural passages which speak of the importance of sound Biblical doctrine:
Scripture shows us the truth that truth, doctrine and theology are necessary for the Christian Life and simply unavoidable.
1. John 17:13-17
In this context truth is not faithfulness. Truth is God’s word.
2. Matthew 28:18-20
In the Great Commission Jesus tells the church to teach all of His truth to His people who are seeking to live out that truth.
3. 1 Timothy 1:3-5
Paul tells Timonthy negatively not to listen to bad theology and positively that good theology leads to godliness.
4. 1 Timothy 1:8-11
Paul tells Timothy that doctrine and ethics are inseparately connected.
5. 1 Tim. 6:2-4
Paul here shows not only a concern for orthodox doctrine, but he even cares about retaining the pattern of sounds words of Jesus’ teaching.
6. Titus 1:1
Paul connects truth and godliness. Knowledge of the truth is vital to godliness. Paul barely gets out of his salutation in this letter before he breaks out into an exposition of the value of truth.
May the Lord’s church profit from such godly teaching by such godly men.
UPDATE: Here is an audio file of Duncan’s presentation:
The people who label themselves “anti-doctrine” or “anti-theology” are fooling themselves and others with their misnomers. They are not “anti-doctrine” or “anti-theology” . . . they simply do not embrace healthy doctrine that is according to the gospel (1 Timothy 1:10-11) or the truth that is according to godliness (Titus 1:2).
“Theological” vs. “anti-theological” is a false dichotomy. Everyone is “theological” because whenever one thinks about God and the “things of God” he is doing the work of theology. The question is whether we are doing theology well . . . according to the truth of the Scriptures.
Even the most vague expressions of the postmodernist are still theology . . . maybe even “systematic” in a sense. Yet the reality is that those expressions are not done well . . . again, according to the Scriptures.
I agree 100%, Stu.
Stu, you nailed it. Dr. Duncan made the same point during his introduction. Everyone one is doctrinal and theological. Some just don’t realize it. And their antipathy towards what the perceive as ivory-tower intellectualism tends to the spiritual starvation of those to whom they minister.
You guys are just making too much sense. I’m going to have to post something controversial again. We can’t have Presbyterians agreeing so much. 😉