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What a Doctor does...

Writer's picture: Justin Scoggins, Th.D.Justin Scoggins, Th.D.

Well, I’m officially a doctor now. Dr. Scoggins still sounds odd (I don’t know if I like it, really). And I don’t know exactly what do to with my time now. I have been working, writing, and reading almost non-stop for 2 and a half years. Now, all that has come to an end… so what do I do now? Besides watching Harry Potter and reading stuff I’ve wanted to for a while.


I wish I knew.


When I began this educational journey, I just wanted my life to honor Christ in all areas. I still do, for sure. But education takes time. Especially when you squeeze 4 years of school into 12 and then a Master’s and Doctorate in 4 years. Learning has been amazing. I have loved it and seriously grown throughout the process. I have had the privilege to learn and study with and from those whom I consider giants in the faith. I realize how much I just don’t know, which isn’t intimidating rather it is awe-inspiring at how vast and deep the Christian faith is. It really is quite beautiful. For a faith that has been questioned, persecuted, and under the microscope for 2 thousand years, in miraculous fashion, it remains and grows.


“Why get a doctorate in theology? What are you going to do with it? Why is theology necessary? Does education make you closer to God?”


These are the main questions that I am asked. I jokingly told a gentleman the other day who asked what I planned to do with my newfound degree… “Not feeding my family is one thing.” Again, just a joke. But I do feel these questions deserve answers. As with most questions, the “why” is the most inquisitive and often hardest to answer. However, I will try my best here.


“Does education make you closer to God?”


This one makes me chuckle a little bit. For the most part, I feel like this question comes with the undertones of assumption. Assuming that this is something that I believe for myself and others in academia. It is more of a statement most of the time. “So, you think you are closer to God?” is probably how people should phrase it. I do think there is some general sentiment and curiosity when some folks ask. I respect either approach. The truth is, no, my education doesn’t make me closer to God. It doesn’t make me smarter. It makes me specialized and equipped. I know a whole heap of people who have no formal education, let alone theological training, who can tell you from experience about the steadfast love of Christ with more conviction than I ever could. Others have read scripture backward and forwards over and over and can tell you more about the Bible than I can. Just with these two examples, that question answers itself. Growing closer to God is a personal endeavor. It is something that one desires to do and must do continually. You must make the conscious choice to fill your mind and day with the things of Christ to grow closer to Him. It doesn’t happen by osmosis. It is effort, submission, and yielding every single day. A doctorate doesn’t make this happen. In fact, there is good evidence that when we educate ourselves, we derail from orthodoxy and orthopraxy and find ourselves making up things of who God is instead of allowing God to be the makeup of who we are. Education can foster a deeper dive into God, but it absolutely isn’t necessary.



“Why is theology necessary?”


I believe this is a great and important question. Every person has a theological position. Theology is the study of the divine and religion and those subsequent beliefs and everyone has an opinion on the divine and the beliefs that follow. However, there is a right and wrong way to believe. This is where it gets tricky. Because there are multiple approaches and outcomes, theology is a vast ocean of thought. Some of it is amazing. It points us to the beauty, truth, and goodness of Jesus. It paints a picture that rings true of our existence and the nature of who we are. These great thinkers and leaders allow us to see from different vantage points and drink long from the well of their inquiry and discovery. They have shaped and continue to shape how we think overall. The same is true on the other side. There are some awful things out there. Christian atheism, progressive theologies that make God in our image instead of the other way around, fundamentalist theologies that are more inclined to divide rather than unite, and a host of others out there that make up the landscape of the current theological scene. Theology is necessary because it informs us on how to think and view God in Christ. Whether that is good or bad. It informs our favorite authors, our pastors, and the culture of the church today. Again, whether good or bad. Theology is necessary because we need to know what we know and what we don’t know. Informing ourselves of the theological trends can allow us to get out ahead of things and be ready to answer questions and concerns that haven’t been asked (Artificial Intelligence is a great example of this). Theology is also necessary because we need to know how to think and how to think rightly. This is where theologians come in and debate and argue. This is for the safety and protection of the church (hopefully) and not to massage an ego or the individual and cultural trends of the day. Theology is necessary because, in my standing as a theologian, I desire to care for the church.


“Why get a doctorate in theology? What are you going to do with it?”


Why? Because Th.D. looks better than D.Min. at the end of my name. That’s a joke, by the way. I chose to go the Th.D. route because it is specifically Christian. While a Ph.D. has a broader application and context of usage, I wanted to be decidedly Christian. Point blank, Christ saved me. In that saving, I promised Him that I would give every area of my life to redeem and reclaim. Education has been no different. Theology is also something that I just enjoy. I love reading and learning from multiple disciplines and denominations. Theology is also rich in history and philosophy, which I enjoy. So, I find theology interesting, and Christ opened the door for me. But I have also had people cheering me on and believing in me. The truth is, I suffer from feelings of inadequacy. Those feelings make me shrink back more often than I like to admit. However, these people who have believed in me and cheered me on have made me believe in who I have been called to be in Christ and for the Church.


What am I going to do? Hopefully, write a little more and publish some work. Outside of that, I will continue to work at The Mission of Winter Haven and serve and love my folks there. I will also continue to serve and be on the pastoral staff of Mulberry Church of God. Continue to love my wife and children and care for those relationships. I’ll keep exercising. I’ll keep cleaning and cooking at home (and taking the occasional toy out of a pee-filled toilet #dadlife). Essentially, nothing much will change. Although, I know something that will.


The name doctor comes with a particular connotation. It is immediately associated with the white coats and hospital healers of our time. Physicians, as they are called. As a theologian, I like the metaphor of a doctor. Being a healer for the church. A simple wiki search defines a physician as: “which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments.” Take this definition and apply the work of the theologian to the church. As a theologian, I am concerned with promoting, maintaining, or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments with the body of Christ. In Mark chapter 2:17 we see that Christ came to cure the sick and poor in spirit and to heal our souls and restore our relationship with God. If this was the role of Christ as the Great Physician, then it is the role of the theologian to apply good theology to the healing of the church and care for the body. This is what I want to do. To be a healer of sorts. To show people how truly good and beautiful Jesus is. To remind the body of Christ how important they are and to provide good theology to those who have been hurt by the same church that should be nurturing. As a doctor, I want human flourishing through the abundance of life that is only found in Jesus. I love the Church. I really do. With all the bad, the ugly, and the garbage. It is still the most beautiful organism that has been birthed by God. Being as it is such, I aim to be a healer for her. But also, for those who are outside the church. Those who see the Church and become angry (rightfully so in some instances). Those who have questions. Those who have concerns…I hope to be a healing place for them as well.


It isn’t my job, as a theologian, to do anything more than this. First and foremost, I am supposed to be a healer of thought and mind…and presupposition. This doesn’t separate me from the world around me and those in it… It makes me dive deeper to lift up. And as He is lifted up in my life and work and as I lift up others to the truth, beauty, and goodness in Him… the Great Physician ultimately heals and hides us in His wounds. That is the “why” and the “what”. And man, I am honored to do the work. I look forward to the road ahead. The relationships that will be built and the time that will be spent with others. But most importantly, I look forward to being a healing extension of the Great Physician to the world of the Church and the culture. I’m ready.

GREAT PHYSICIAN ICON

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Artwork credit: The Last Supper, Sadao Watanabe ,1977

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