Theology Taking Shape: J.I. Packer Ends His Formal Ministry

Theology never stays abstract.  What we believe should and must shape who we are.

Earlier this month I posted how theologian Wayne Grudem is one example of "theology taking shape" as he responds to and lives in light of his recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.  Not long after I posted that, I learned that theologian J.I. Packer is ending his "formal ministry" of writing and regular preaching  due to his failing eyesight.

I've posted on J.I. Packer before (check out some of the posts here and here), and his Knowing God is one of the books I return to repeatedly.  Packer is the first formal theologian that gave me a taste for all that the study of theology offers the Church and the individual Christian.  Therefore, I was all ears as I read through a Gospel Coalition interview with J.I. Packer about his failing eyesight and what that means.

Here's a link to the interview.  I encourage you to take some time in the next day or so (or right now) and read through what Packer has to say, and how he's one more example of "theology" taking shape.  And don't just read it.  Reflect on it.  Learn from it.  Absorb it.

Here are a few highlights to whet your appetite:

• Packer, responding to his failing eyesight and his inability to read: “God knows what he’s up to....And I’ve had enough experiences of his goodness in all sorts of ways not to have any doubt about the present circumstances.” He adds, “Some good, something for his glory, is going to come out of it.”
• Packer, on how his habit of memorizing and meditating on the Bible continues to benefit him today: "I find it more possible to concentrate on God himself and his plans, purposes, and performance than I used to do. I suppose that all these things have rooted themselves more deeply in my mind and heart. And I trust there’s less superficiality than there used to be."
• What Packer wants his last words to the Church to be: “Glorify Christ every way.”