HKBTS Saved My Pastoring Life!
Lam Tien-you
(MCS)
While the title may sound like singing the praises of HKBTS, it is absolutely true.
Hail, Biblical Studies! Down with Useless Theology!
I completed my bachelor’s degree in biblical studies at a bible college in the States in 2008 and have been pastoring ever since. During my studies, I took courses typically required for the bachelor’s degree in theology (i.e. the “four pillars”: biblical studies, church history, systematic theology, and practical theology). Biblical studies was the area that I took the most courses in. What was in my mind at that time was “Hail, biblical studies! Down with useless theology!” Though I took three semesters of systematic theology, theology meant nothing more to me than empty discussions. I did not care much for the discipline when I graduated.
And so, I became a pastor who cared only for biblical studies. From 2008 until 2012, the following questions were bothering me: What makes Christians special? How do we live out the Bible? Is systematic theology merely a set of tools to make sure believers do not turn to heresy? Does it have anything to do with the Christian life? All these questions confused me even more after the Express Rail Link controversy when many young people asked me about the relationship between the Church and society. Though I had read Stanley Hauerwas in my leisure time during my undergraduate studies and his conclusion (“the church being church”) convinced me, I did not fully understand his theological ideas.
On the whole, I was faced with two problems: (1) without the guidance of theology, I could only apply what I had learnt in general or principle terms, and my ethical view was human-centered; (2) while I had a growing appreciation for the uniqueness of the Church and Hauerwas’ ideas, I was, without theological backing, torn between biblical studies and ethics as I could not find a way to bridge the gulf.
The Turning Point of My Pastoring Life
A couple of years ago during the admission interview at HKBTS, I was a little unsure when the President told me, “You should have no problem with biblical studies considering your background, but there should be a lot for you to learn in theology.” In 2012 when my first semester at HKBTS started with a biblical studies class, I was of course excited. In fact, biblical studies teachers at HKBTS helped me improve my methodology, but what really transformed me was the faith thinking class in spring 2013. No, you did not hear me wrong. The formidable faith thinking class at HKBTS was the turning point in my pastoring life. It enlightened me and solved all my previous problems. I came to understand the uniqueness of the Christian faith, and that when I looked for absolute certainty I was unknowingly influenced by Immanuel Kant. From then on, I fell in love with theology and worked even harder to overcome my weaknesses in pastoring.
The theology and ethics courses at HKBTS are arranged along the same lines as the book Faith Thinking, introducing me step-by-step to different aspects of the uniqueness of the Church under the Triune God. In this way, my pastoring life was gradually transformed and my spirituality nourished. In the Baptist Church history class, I learnt about the Baptist spirit of non-conformity; in the systematic theology class I came to understand that the doctrine of the Trinity, which is closely related to the Christian life, is the most practical doctrine; in the ethics class, I realized what I had held as Christian ethics was an ethics without God. I started getting rid of the idea of pastors’ (especially my own) heroism. From Samuel Wells and Dietrich Bonhoeffer I learnt to recognize the riches of God’s grace and the limits and sin of man. Through the two figures I realized my weaknesses as a pastor. These weaknesses include the emphasis on will power over the work of the Holy Spirit, teaching of sola fide without my pastoral work manifesting this teaching (lack of grace), manipulative love (being more controlling than God), etc.
All these showed me that I am the one who most needs salvation and repentance when it comes to pastoring. All these changes helped me to understand God’s love more and enabled me to live out His love. As I learnt to let God be God, I barely felt any signs of burnout. Only then did I truly realize that being a pastor is the best job in the world. My transformation is evident to my family and my brothers and sisters in Christ.
HKBTS has saved my pastoring life. Who says its theology is far removed from reality?