That department of study whose purpose is to assist the Christian minister in applying the truths of the gospel to the hearts and lives of men is called **Pastoral Theology**. It is “theology” because it is concerned primarily with the things of God and with His Word. It is “pastoral” because it treats these divine matters from the standpoint that belongs to the pastor. It is practical because it is related to the pastor’s work, since he is called to influence men by applying to them the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.
En su forma más estricta y definida, ocupa un campo peculiar propio; y es conveniente tener claramente presente cuál es ese campo. La provincia especial de este estudio no es la teología sistemática, ni la exégesis de la Escritura, ni la historia eclesiástica, ni los sacramentos, ni la homilética, ni siquiera la teoría del oficio pastoral como institución de designio divino. Se da por sentado que todas estas ramas de la formación ministerial ya han sido cultivadas, y la Teología Pastoral procura enseñar cómo pueden aplicarse de la mejor manera al trabajo de suma importancia de reunir a los hombres en el redil de Cristo y nutrirlos allí con el alimento provisto por el gran Pastor.
Assuming that the pastor has been called by God to the sacred office; that his mind has been instructed in the science of theology as a system of doctrines; that he has learned the proper methods for correctly interpreting the Word of God; that he is versed in the laws established by Christ for the government of His Church; and that he has studied the art of sacred rhetoric—assuming all this, Pastoral Theology would assist him in the great practical work of applying all his preparation to the edification of the Lord’s people and to the salvation of men. Its aim is not to make ministers complete scholars, nor even to guide them in the pursuit of ordinary literature and science; but, regarding them as men already well educated, it would aid them in the sacred art of bringing souls to Christ and training them for the glory of God.
In a broader sense, Pastoral Theology could include the art of preaching. However, this is so large and important a department in itself that it has been treated as a distinct branch of ministerial training. Therefore, Pastoral Theology deals with preaching only in its most general aspects and at the point of its immediate contact with the hearts of men.
The pastoral office is of such overwhelming importance and holiness that it cannot be exercised successfully unless it engages the pastor’s heart. His heart—his whole heart—filled with love for God and for men, is one of the chief elements of his power. Therefore, the cultivation of his heart, his personal piety, is the first thing that must be studied in this science of the ministry of the gospel.
Así, podemos considerar esta como una descripción general del tema de la Teología Pastoral. Coloca al pastor directamente frente a su trabajo y le enseña cómo mantener su corazón en la disposición adecuada para sus solemnes deberes. Le muestra cómo puede tener éxito como embajador de Dios ante los hombres, como maestro de los santos oráculos, como guía en la santa cena*, como gobernante en la casa de Dios, como orientador y consolador de almas atribuladas, como centinela en los muros de Sion, y como responsable estrictamente en todas las relaciones y deberes de su oficio.
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* La expresión literal que el autor utiliza es: “hostia sacramental”. Para el Presbiteriano, esta frase no se refiere tanto al pan en sí mismo como un objeto físico (como los católicos ven la hostia), sino más bien al pan y al vino como símbolo de la presencia de Cristo y la Gracia de Dios, en la que Dios, el verdadero anfitrión, invita a todos a una fiesta espiritual, que subraya la memoria y el agradecimiento, no la transustanciación sino una convicción espiritual. El pan no se ve como el cuerpo literal de Cristo, sino como un símbolo poderoso de la presencia de Jesús y su sacrificio.
