on education and ministry.
this is the second question that i was asked to answer for my modern and contemporary Christian history discussion board:
“in the wake of the liberal/fundamentalist tensions that began after the civil war and continued until the 1920s, the older divinity schools such as harvard and yale, and even princeton theological seminary, were being lost to liberalism. a new network of conservative educational institutions arose beginning with the bible institute movement whose emphasis was more theological and ministry-oriented than in the arts and sciences. reflect on the relationship between faith and education. do you think higher education is detrimental to your faith? reflect on the spiritual and theological challenges faced by the Christian student who is seeking a higher education.”
my response:
“i love education. the theological training that i have received has impacted my spirituality greatly. i believe that the more you learn about God and Jesus (theological training) the more you fall in love with Him and are better able to minister in the church and bring people to know Him. there is also no substitute for good, faithful, biblical, accurate teaching and preaching. such means are the most beneficial for Christians attending church as well as for people that Jesus has not yet saved. there is no substitute.
that being said, there is a dangerous overcompensation that can come from isolated theological training. such training can separate the minister from those he should be reaching out to. he can end up speaking in a language that they don’t understand (and i don’t just mean greek and hebrew). it’s possible to get caught up in the affairs of academia and to lose sight of those perishing on the margins of society with needles in their arms and knives at their throats.
higher education needs to be done in closer association with the local church. it is extremely valuable for pastors and elders and deacons and anyone else in authority in Christian ministry to participate in higher education. it will help them to know God better and to teach more accurately about Him. this will help the people to know God for who He really is. it will enable them to transmit what they have learned to their congreagations so that the laity is able to devote their energies to studying more about theology on their own. being more closely connected to with the local church helps to keep the student from becoming isolated and keeps him a part of the work God is doing in people’s lives. he can then see the relationship between the participle and the drug addict, the history books and the single mom.
this connection to the local church could look like elders and pastors being able to take cheaper or even free classes at seminary. there could be extended and specialized programs of study by which a pastor can acquire a master’s degree or even a doctorate while still devoting sufficient time to his congreation. these programs may take more time in order to meet the educational standards of the respective institutions, but they offer a way for the church and higher ed. to be more closely connected.”
thoughts?
mark
Filed under: meaningless jabber, school | 1 Comment
agreed. more tracks made for ministers in the field are sorely needed (or maybe i am unaware of them?)