Those past days were devoted to read a good deal of resources about evangelicalism for Yann's Introduction to Systematic Theology course. Alister McGrath's Theology and the futures of evangelicalism was a very pleasant article to read.
McGrath states that theologians should be at the service of the local
church. Opposed to the concept of academic scholars or “traditional intellectuals” imposed upon a community of faith by an external authority, he favors the hypothesis of “organic intellectuals” whose authority would emerge naturally and who would be esteemed by the community which regards them as its representatives and thinkers. He develops this idea of respected believers inside a community in proposing three lines of direction:
(1) enhancing the
congregation’s understanding of Christian doctrines,
(2) engaging its emotions
in describing biblical truths,
(3) enabling an appropriate behavior for a
deeper and personal appropriation of the truth of the Gospel.
As for John Stott who enjoyed a great recognition
within the evangelical community without any academic or institutional
authority worth speaking of, “the best intellectuals may exist and operate
outside the academy”, serve locally and favor a strengthened people of God in
enabling each believer to have a deeper comprehension of the Gospel.
It is exactly what is meant in Shai Linne's new single Hypostatic Union*
* 'hypostatic union' is a technical term describing the simultaneous union of Christ's divinity and humanity
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