Rethinking theological education

[ricky]

I have been recently been thinking abut who many pastors are moving from full time ministry to bi-vocational ministry, and the changing needs of the church to meet the ministerial needs of smaller congregations. Many churches require pastors to have a seminary degree. But there is a problem Seminary degrees are masters degrees, and are very extensive, plus someone has to have a bachelor's degree to be admitted. 

Some a slightly older man who doesn't have a college education, but feels a sense of call to pastoral ministry this can be a long an expensive process. While I believe pastors should have strong theological and academic credentials, I also think that there are many people who have the door blocked due to educational and financial consideration. Also how can we expect a young man just out of college, who is called to bi-vocational ministry, with such a low return on investment, compared to other master's degree programs? Churches could potentially be missing out on many good young men because of this.  

I believe that theological education could come from church based groups to prepare people for ministry. Does anyone else have ideas how to solve this problem? I personally an mot against seminary, and do not want this to turn into an anti seminary/institutional church thread. If this happens I will ask the mod to close the thread.   

[Ezra]

59 minutes ago, ricky said:

I believe that theological education could come from church based groups to prepare people for ministry. Does anyone else have ideas how to solve this problem? 

The belief that formal degrees qualify a man to minister the Word is not rooted in Scripture, but comes out of the Roman Catholic Church, which trained its priests to be the sole ministers of the Word of God, and these men were "doctors", e.g. Dr. Martin Luther.  The Protestants did not shake off this belief and required their ministers to also have seminary training and become "Reverends" before they could preach and teach.

On the other hand, Christ and the apostles did not go to the rabbinic "seminaries" and were therefore despised by the spiritual leaders of Israel. The apostles were called "unlearned men".

The New Testament makes it very clear that the Holy Spirit appoints elders within the churches, and one of their qualifications must be the gift of teaching.  Then Paul says that faithful men must teach other faithful men within the local assembly so that sound Bible doctrine is handed down continuously.  Therefore, in effect, every local church must have its own training ministry for those who will minister the Word, provided they have been called and gifted to do so, and have the necessary spiritual qualifications.

Something which should be kept in mind is that many seminaries have become theologically liberal, and would actually undermine the faith of their students.

[missmuffet]

I think a seminary degree for a man to become a pastor is very important.
 

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Question: "Should it be required that a man have formal Bible education before he can serve as a pastor?"

Answer: The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11–12 that, when a man fills the office of evangelist, pastor, and teacher, his calling is actually a gift from God for the work of the church. The purpose of the spiritual gifts is to equip the members of the church for a life of service to God. The purpose of seminary training is to prepare for service those who aspire to the office of leadership in the work of the Lord. Paul instructed Timothy, and likewise us today, to prepare men for such leadership roles in the church: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Formal Bible training helps ensure that the ministry of the Word of God is not only maintained but also flourishes in the church. The first indication that someone who aspires to the office of elder, bishop, or pastor is being called by God to the task is desire. Paul tells us, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1, NKJV). When someone is persuaded that he is being called to the ministry of the Word, he should seek to explore his gifts and prepare himself to answer that call. This is one of the reasons seminaries and Christian universities exist and why seeking a formal education may be consistent with a person’s call. At the same time, while formal Bible education is important and valuable, God can enable a man with no formal Bible education to also be an excellent pastor or elder.

The Lord’s calling to the work of the ministry is not only for the church; it is also through the church. Young men should be encouraged to seek such a call, as Paul tells Timothy (1 Timothy 3:1). But, ideally, the final confirmation must be from the church that both trains and tests the gifts required for the ministry. Ministers of the Word are ambassadors of Christ, the Head of the Church. To preach the gospel and call the lost to salvation is to exercise the use of the keys of the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 16:19). This task cannot be done apart from the authority of Christ. It is a vital office of the church and the primary reason to obtain seminary training.

There are other reasons why training in a seminary is important. Without question, increasing one’s education, especially at the graduate level, will add a whole new dimension to one’s overall Bible knowledge. Because the Bible has one unified, coherent network of truth, an intense study of systematic theology is called for, whether or not it takes place in a formal seminary setting. Again, the place of study is not nearly as important as the Teacher—the Spirit of God who infuses the student with knowledge, power, and wisdom.

Seminary training can be valuable in the maturation process, as well. Three or more years of seminary will greatly improve one’s social maturity, his ability to understand and relate to people and their needs. Also, there is a mental maturation necessary for today’s preacher that simply is not present in most people at 21 or 22 years of age. This includes his attitude toward the ministry, his family, and life in general. Effective seminary training will greatly aid one’s decision-making ability and the ability to discern the will of God.

Another reason for obtaining solid seminary training is to be better equipped to face today’s complex issues. The church leader must know when to say “yes” and when to say “no” to the many calls to join hands in common causes of all sorts. Knowledgeable convictions in these areas are necessary if truth is to be maintained, and a good seminary education certainly helps to establish strong, biblical convictions.

Finally, regardless of a pastor’s church affiliation, a thorough education within that church regarding its history, polity, and distinctives is in order. Making a decision to attend a seminary or Christian university requires prayer and godly counsel. Preparation can come in many forms, but some type of preparation is always necessary. Don’t impair your ministry by looking for shortcuts. Study carefully the principle found in Proverbs 24:27: “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house” (ESV).

https://gotquestions.org/pastor-education.html

[OneLight]

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

[Ezra]

14 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

I think a seminary degree for a man to become a pastor is very important

That's exactly why Christianity is such a mess in the West. People actually believe this nonsense.

[ricky]

While I do think there should be an academic side to it, I also believe that it could be more like an apprenticeship than a collage degree. Ezra I see your points, but will remind you of the end of my OP. 

[missmuffet]

34 minutes ago, Ezra said:

That's exactly why Christianity is such a mess in the West. People actually believe this nonsense.

That is your choice. The world is full of them.

[Guest Robert]

15 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

That is your choice. The world is full of them.

The world is also full of people with degrees from seminaries who are full of error. Rob Bell and Mark Driscoll comes prominently to mind.

Edited October 31, 2016 by RobertS

[missmuffet]

4 minutes ago, RobertS said:

The world is also full of people with degrees from seminaries who are full of error. Rob Bell comes prominently to mind.

Yes, and there is a whole list of false teachers and pastors. But that does not rule out the fact that a Pastor should have a substantial Seminary education. I sure have researched a Church and the Pastor at a Church I was interested in attending.

[Guest Robert]

6 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

Yes, and there is a whole list of false teachers and pastors. But that does not rule out the fact that a Pastor should have a substantial Seminary education. I sure have researched a Church and the Pastor at a Church I was interested in attending.

"Should"? Where does it say in Scripture that a Pastor needs a "seminary education"? I agree they should be solidly educated in Scripture and theology, but a seminary no longer guarantees that. It's not like in medicine, where a doctor can be sued for malpractice and even jailed for harming a patient.

When seminaries are changing what they are teaching for the worse and producing a cadre of "pastors" without any discernment or anointing, then I cannot trust those institutions anymore. The recent Barna and other polls testify to the state the Church is in here in the US.

Edited October 31, 2016 by RobertS