I am arguing in this paper for the historically-rooted designator “pastor-theologian” to be used in examining the life and ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and, by implication, a useful framework for modern pastoral identity construction. Precisely stated, a pastor-theologian is a biblically-educated, theologically-grounded intellectual who makes disciples in and through the local church by the ministry of the word. In this paper, I will argue for the biblical/historical nature of the pastor-theologian and show how Spurgeon aptly filled the role. Indeed, Spurgeon was a biblically-educated, theologically grounded intellectual who made disciples (quite a few!) by the ministry of the word in and through his local church. Further, I would argue that his pastoral theology was most evident during seasons of controversy.
Modern pastoral controversies cause such shocking damage, I believe, because of an identity crisis. Pastors don’t know who they are. They often succumb to cultural ideologies and congregational expectations and burn out for failure to achieve impossible ideals. Spurgeon is an excellent example of a pastor-theologian certain of his identity. He knew who he was. He understood his task and took it seriously, especially when opposed. He serves as a helpful model, imperfect though he may be, of the pastor-theologian in controversy. Explaining each part of the definition and laying it over the life and ministry of Spurgeon as a sort of transparency is the best way to make the argument and persuade the modern pastor to follow in his steps.