Practical Theology

Practical theology is the branch of Christian theology dealing with modern implications of Christian theological beliefs. It is often called Christian living, everyday Christianity, and pastoral care, among other terms. Practical theology involves considering what Christians and their leaders do and how it relates to God’s teachings. Christian education directors, students of pastoral ministry programs, missionaries, and others often focus on this area of study. In some ways, practical theology has been influenced by social sciences such as psychology and social work, as faith leaders have worked to address modern problems including addiction, mental health problems, and family dysfunction.

Background

Questions as to what Scripture means in everyday life are at least as old as Christianity. Jesus’s disciples and many of those who heard him speak asked what they needed to do to get into Heaven. Jesus and his Apostles spent a great deal of time explaining to others the meaning of the Torah, or what is known as the Old Testament in Christianity. It was not enough to know the laws, Jesus said. One had to live the faith. This dichotomy was not a new idea. Ancient Greek philosophers discussed the value of devoting oneself to theory rather than action. Jesus clearly advocated for a life of action for his followers. To do God’s will, one had to first understand what he was asking of them and then take action.

The New Testament was written in a form of Greek long after Jesus’s death. Translations into other languages were often questionable and led to various interpretations of the Christian teachings. A great deal of time and effort has been put into deciphering the message and applying it to modern times—modern being each century and era in recorded human history since approximately the first century. Such interpretation and application has been influenced by education, politics, and other concerns.

At various times, Christian leaders have called into question others’ beliefs when individuals have interpreted the Scriptures. This has happened when faith leaders felt their power was being challenged. Some religious leaders have used their religious knowledge to prevent others from interpreting religious teachings. Conflict with the Roman Catholic Church arose when people challenged the notion that religious leaders were the only ones who could interpret Scripture, a conflict that helped give rise to the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century. Many individuals, in earlier centuries especially, asked how a minister or priest could understand their lives and help them when religious leaders lived apart from ordinary people and did not have the same problems or concerns as most in their communities.

The term practical theology originated in European universities. Puritan Richard Baxter introduced it in the seventeenth century when he wrote an influential four-volume book called A Christian Directory of Practical Theology. During the early nineteenth century, theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, often called the founder of modern Protestant theology, wrote a Brief Outline of the Study of Theology, which includes his ideas about practical theology.

Schleiermacher described practical theology as an academic discipline. He compared theology to a tree; philosophical theology is the roots of the tree; historical theology is the body or trunk of the tree; and practical theology is the crown of the theological tree.

Individuals seeking church ministry have traditionally studied the Bible. They learned about the Church’s history, doctrine, and philosophy. When they had completed their studies, all that was left to learn, according to the leadership at divinity schools, was the practical, hands-on work of how to lead, worship, preach, and teach others about Christianity. They were expected to learn much of this on the job, working with congregations. Only in modern times, since the later twentieth century, have these practical aspects of ministry been incorporated as standard topics of study in curricula.

Overview

Leaders in faith organizations in modern times must consider a wide range of situations, problems, and types of people in their work. They may be working in unfamiliar territory, such as a rural or an urban area with which they have no experience. They may need to provide pastoral care to people of different cultural traditions, who speak other languages, or who have life situations such as single parenthood or a history of addiction that the pastor has not encountered before. Those in need of ministry may be grieving, dying, or questioning their faith. They may be refugees, homeless, or undocumented immigrants.

Practical theology includes the subdivisions of homiletics, catechetics, and pastoral theology. Homiletics is the art of preaching or writing sermons. Catechetics refers to the instruction given to individuals before they are baptized or receive the sacrament of confirmation. Practical theology draws from fields outside theology, such as education and psychology. Advocates maintain that human experience can be a bridge to faith, in particular when addressing changes in living conditions.

Practical theology can be viewed as empirical-analytical, hermeneutical, political-critical, and pastoral-theological. Many of the social sciences rely on empirical data, such as statistics, surveys, and other clinical information. Some theologians wish to apply these methods, used in psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other fields, to practical theology. Hermeneutics, which refers to the interpretation of the Bible, applies Scripture or Christian tradition to modern life. A political-critical perspective takes into account both the current situation and the ideal situation for the individual seeking care. Pastoral-theological practical theology refers to pastoral care, a ministry that provides counseling and guidance, and usually involves pastors, counselors, chaplains, and leaders of community organizations who are trained in listening with empathy.

An area in which practical theology has grown in modern times is in addressing addiction, particularly alcohol and other substance abuses. Until the mid-twentieth century, substance abuse was regarded as a moral issue. The alcoholic or drug addict was blamed for his or her weakness, and from a theological perspective, addiction was immoral because the abused substance enslaved free will. Medical and genetic research, however, has shown that dependence is not simply about individuals making poor choices. Some people are predisposed to addiction. Practitioners of practical theology understand the medical, social, and mental health aspects of addiction and counsel individuals accordingly. Alcoholics Anonymous, for example, is a spiritual self-help group. Many ministers and spiritual counselors, as well as professional treatment centers, have adopted some of its core beliefs in treating individuals.

Bibliography

Anim, Emmanuel. “Mission in the Diaspora: The Role of Migrants (Refugees) as Principal Bearers of the Christian Faith.” Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology, col. 4, no. 1, 2019.

“A Brief History of Practical Theology.” Abilene Christian Academy, 24 June 2013, blogs.acu.edu/acugst/a-brief-history-of-practical-theology/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.

Cahalan, Kathleen A. “Three Approaches to Practical Theology, Theological Education, and the Church’s Ministry.” International Journal of Practical Theology, vol. 9, no. 1, 2006, DOI: doi.org/10.1515/IJPT.2005.005. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.

Hemmings, Olive J. “Jesus and the Apostles’ View of Scriptures.” Spectrum Magazine, 16 Apr. 2020, spectrummagazine.org/sabbath-school/2020/jesus-and-apostles-view-scriptures. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.

Peña, Madeline. “Practical Theology: Definition, Viewpoints, Why It Matters.” Just Disciple, 3 Apr. 2020, justdisciple.com/practical-theology/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2020.

“Practical Theology—What Is It?” Compelling Truth, www.compellingtruth.org/practical-theology.html. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.

Wilson, Cory. “The Importance of Theology in a Global Pandemic.” Center for Pastor Theologians, 18 Mar. 2020, www.pastortheologians.com/articles/2020/3/18/the-importance-of-theology-in-moments-of-crisis?gclid=CjwKCAjwps75BRAcEiwAEiACMd‗JR0KmUCzMRjMbC8mp-Jh5Wio‗yq9GFNCb7PNIDvowlS‗VGSxGARoC‗mQQAvD‗BwE. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.

Zirschky, Andrew. “Practical Theology as the Foundation of Youth Ministry.” Center for Youth Ministry Training, www.cymt.org/practical-theology-as-the-foundation-of-youth-ministry/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2020.