"We want to help people know who God is." Chris Larson, CEO, Ligonier Ministries
We love hanging out in Florida. And we love theology. So recently, in the middle of the palm trees, heat and sandy soil, we spent a few moments with the very gracious Chris Larson, CEO of Ligonier Ministries. We also got a great tour of the ministry campus, as well as the adjacent Reformation Bible College (watch for our interview with Dr. Stephen Nichols, RBC President, coming soon). It was very humbling and inspiring seeing the late Dr. R.C. Sproul’s personal study, an early edition of Calvin’s Institutes under glass, and then having a bit of prayer.
We are grateful for the time and care Ligonier gave us, and we want Theology Project folks to be engaged with this great ministry. Here’s an interview with Chris, which was conducted by email after our visit.
The Theology Project often reaches audiences that may not be aware of Ligonier Ministries. Can you tell us a bit about who Ligonier is, what you do, and what makes Ligonier’s message compelling in today’s world?
We want to help people know who God is. Ligonier Ministries is a teaching ministry founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971. The name “Ligonier” stems from the original location where Dr. Sproul opened the doors to a small, unassuming study center in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. He intended the ministry to teach Christians how to go deeper in their study of God and the Bible. Simply put, Ligonier Ministries exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. The Lord blessed the work of R.C. through the years, as we have witnessed remarkable growth by means of additional Ligonier teaching fellows and resources even after his passing. By the kindness of the Lord, this summer marks my 15th year at Ligonier where I currently serve as President and CEO.
We continue today as an international discipleship ministry adhering to the five solas of the Reformation and the theological consensus that comes from the great Reformation and post-Reformation creeds and confessions. Ligonier seeks to connect trusted teachers to students who are looking for a place of refuge amidst the onslaught of wavering doctrine surrounding local churches. Our aim is not to be a replacement for the local church, but to come underneath her by providing theologically precise resources that bolster Christ’s Church. In confusing times, Ligonier Ministries concentrates on providing what Christians need: time-tested, gospel-centered theology focused on the character of God. By God’s grace, Ligonier remains steadfast in this work.
You joined Ligonier in 2004. What changes have you seen in the Body of Christ between then and now?
Even in the midst of turmoil we know that Christ will build his Church. In one sense nothing has changed. In his faithfulness, our Lord continues to protect his bride by raising up leaders in every generation who are faithful to Scripture. One thing I have learned from serving at Ligonier Ministries is the Lord continues to shape his Church, despite the culture around us. We must not despair by narrowly observing morality shifts. Even in the midst of theological confusion I have witnessed stories of God’s grace working in and through Ligonier students. Just as Dr. Sproul devoted his life to proclaiming biblical inerrancy, Ligonier Ministries also firmly stands on this foundation; it is encouraging that our students love Scripture and want to be instructed by the full counsel of God.
Despite this, in another sense, theological confusion reigns supreme in many circles of the larger evangelical society. In the past five years we have witnessed the sexual and gender revolution redefine marriage and what it means to be a man and woman. As Christians, we live in the culture that surrounds us and we have been hard pressed to make biblical exceptions to our beliefs in order to accommodate the culture in the name of “tolerance.” Thankfully, we know the true body of Christ will not make these accommodations, but we must carefully heed the apostle Peter’s words, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” With these worldly pressures we have seen (and I believe will continue to see) the mushy middle inside the church fall away. The future of the church belongs to Christians of conviction.
Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research partnered for a study about America and God. Tell us a bit about the State of Theology Report and why it should interest believers (both pastors and their congregation members).
We have conducted our biennial State of Theology (SOT) survey three times since 2014. This has been an opportunity for us take the “theological temperature” of Americans, with our newest 2018 survey also focusing on the UK. The SOT study has allowed us to differentiate between the man on the street and the average church-going, professing Christian by asking basic biblical and theological questions. The survey ranges from questions regarding justification by faith alone to the importance of weekly church attendance. Furthermore, we are able to use this data to categorize the answers by age, gender, region, and a host of other variables. Our aim is to continually keep some of the same questions in the survey each time as a control agent so we can tangibly track changes.
Based on what the data is showing, what conclusions can you draw about how the church is equipping people to be theologically informed in their daily life?
As you can imagine, it is heartbreaking to see those who are lost in a sea of cultural influence and are persuaded by poor interpretations of Scripture. There are significant theological awareness gaps in the church. Our prayer is that Ligonier can use this information to address cultural lapses, which are manifestations of bad theology, with our trusted discipleship resources. More importantly, the SOT survey is intended to be a tool for faithful pastors to proclaim the truth from the pulpit by informing their preaching ministry and outreach efforts. We have specifically heard from pastors who have benefitted from the study, as it has had somewhat of a sobering affect on their individual ministry.
Is the issue, the challenge, solvable? In your opinion, what are some steps it will it take to solve it.
Yes, because we serve a sovereign God who is building His church through the faithful proclamation of the gospel. In the local church, many of the problems we are noticing stem not from what “is” being communicated to congregants, but more often from what “is not.” Throughout his ministry, Dr. Sproul fervently communicated that the problems we encounter with vapid biblical awareness in churches both start and end with an absence of proclaiming the character of God. When the Church emphasizes the nature and holiness of God, we are compelled to view ourselves and the culture around us through a correct theological lens. Placing God’s glory above all will, by His grace, lead to a widespread awakening in the church.