Incoming rant. You’ll either get this or be like “whaaat?”
One of the biggest confusions I see among Christians is the way we conflate the roles of pastor, pastor-teacher and academic/professor. We take the biblical word teacher and automatically assume it means “shepherd of souls,” “moral guide,” or “discipler.” And in many passages of the Bible itself, that is indeed the intended meaning (see John 21:15–17; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Peter 5:2–3; Hebrews 13:17).
But that’s not the only kind of teacher there is. And it’s not the lane I’m called to walk in.
You won’t find much, if any, direct biblical support for the academic researcher type of teacher, the kind who focuses on study and instruction without the shepherding or discipling element. And that’s okay. The Bible doesn’t claim to address every vocation or role in life (though Christians often conflate that point too, which can be frustrating). We do however, see this in history and as part of the process of inspiration (think scribes and scholars involved in the process of writing the Bible or sources that the biblical writers used). And so this idea can be derived from Scripture, albeit in a somewhat indirect way.
Many people also assume that biblical studies professors or academics must be skeptics, secularists, or even hostile to the faith. Sometimes that’s true. But in many cases, it isn’t. There are faithful scholars who love Christ and the Church deeply, and their vocation is to research, study, and teach — not to pastor. Their contribution is different but still essential.
That’s where I stand.
I’m not a pastor, nor do I believe I am called to be one. My “ministry” work (which I dislike even calling it a ministry), whether through God Makes New (this personal blog where I write whatever is on my mind) or through Sanctum Priscae Fidei (my forthcoming research and learning project), is not about shepherding souls. It’s not discipleship. It’s not counseling. And honestly, I’m rethinking whether I even want Sanctum to grow into a “community,” because I’ve seen how complicated people can make that.
Instead, I see myself as a teacher in the academic sense. More like a professor. Better yet, I see myself as a fellow student who is excited about what he is learning and wants to share it. I want to discuss it. I want others to learn from me and I want to learn from others.
But my task is not to shepherd your heart.1 It’s to help you engage your mind as a fellow traveler. To research. To probe. To present. To think. And to think better, about the Bible.
That doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in the cross and the resurrection. I’m doing my best, however imperfectly, to follow him. I practice devotional reading, prayer and other spiritual disciplines. I also believe every Christian has a responsibility to disciple others and to be discipled themselves as they grow throughout life. But my way of living this out is not through pastoring. My contribution comes through research, writing, and teaching. It’s the intellectual work that builds up the Church in a different way.
And I’m not a “teacher” in the rabbinic or “master” sense. I don’t claim some hidden spiritual insight or superior moral standing. I’m as flawed and human as anyone else.
On a personal and spiritual level I do want my readers to come to or grow in Christ. But my way of doing that is, at least through this medium, to put a stone in your shoe that makes you stop, wrestle, and seek God more deeply through the use of your mind.
It’s not my job to “close the sale” or impart some wisdom for living. That’s not my focus. But people tend to treat me like that sometimes and it’s annoying as hell. Do not put me on a pedestal.
Furthermore, why must every endeavor in the Church be reduced to evangelism, discipleship, or pastoring? If no one had taken up the work of helping believers think critically about Scripture, we would have no Church fathers, no theologians, no professors in our seminaries. How do you think we came to possess our theology? It was forged by Christians gifted in the use of their minds. Men and women who studied the texts deeply, sought their meaning with rigor, and approached them not only from a spiritual or devotional angle but also with an academically disciplined, emotionally detached lens.
So here’s my request: when you read my blog, talk with me, or hear that I hold a seminary degree, don’t assume I’m your pastor. Writing about God and the Bible doesn’t mean I’m here to serve as your moral compass or spiritual guide. That kind of care and direction belongs to a shepherd. If you’re looking for discipleship, counsel, or pastoral care, seek out your pastor — that’s their calling, not mine.
If you want to learn, to stretch your mind, to explore the strange and beautiful world that shaped the Bible, then I have something to offer. Not as your shepherd, but as your guide into the texts, cultures, religions and histories that make Scripture come alive.
And that’s not because I’m some expert. Yes I have spent a fair amount of time learning and have earned some official credentials. But it’s really because I have joy in learning these things and I want others to share in that joy. People are all at different levels of learning and experience. Fellow travelers, join me to learn from each other as students of the ancient Near East and Scripture.
On a personal note, if a friend came to me in need I would of course shepherd them; pray for them and with them, disciple them, etc. And I need to be shepherded as well. We all do. My point is that that’s not what my organization(s) are about. That’s not the focus.