Theology is not a private reserve of theologians

This is another required reading for the Theology of Work class at Bakke Graduate University. The author is also the Professor at BGU and Regents College.


From the back cover......"Stevens challenges the idea that a select few are called to minister to others and argues that the clergy-laity division is not only biblically wrong but practically counterproductive. "Professor Stevens lays out the complete argument that a person's 'calling' is a call to salvation, holiness, and to service. He also insists that "calling" is to before do."

Anyone wrestling with whether or not their work is their ministry will want to read this book and consider, even challenge, Stevens' points and references.


In this 255 page read, scripture is referenced over 800 times and at least 50 different pages mentions the Holy Spirit.


Chapter 2, Reinventing Laity and Clergy is a must read. He starts the chapter out with this provocative quote from Karl Barth....


Theology is not a private reserve of theologians. It is not a private affair for professors....Nor is it a private affair for pastors...Theology is a matter for the church. It does not get on well without professors and pastors. But its problem, the purity of the church's service, is put to the whole church. The term 'laity' is one of the worst in the vocabulary of religion and ought to be banished from Christian conversation.


From post on Reading Blog