For some reason, I am troubled by the thought of going off to school. I feel a bit apprehensive about leaving my church, my community, and my family to receive a piece of paper proving that I've learned something. Especially something as broad a subject as biblical and theological studies. I wholly believe in higher education, but I think school ought to be for a certain trade/skill. If I am to learn the bible, what better place to learn it than the church? If I am to learn theology, what better place to learn it than the church? I think if the church wants somebody who is committed to the community and the body, knowing their needs and their strengths and weaknesses, they ought to look in the body itself. Why outsource to some seminary to find someone who may not fully understand what the local church needs until he's been there for an extended time?
Certainly there are credentials and requirements one must have in order to obtain a certain position, but why can't they come from the church themselves, and not an outside source? Shouldn't the Church have some kind of system of communication that allows an established church to vouch for a particular person to another church regarding a particular area of study and devotion?
I am rambling, I know. And I'm sure I haven't thought this through logically or exhaustively, but it's weighing me down. If it's not necessary for me to leave, then why leave? I could be getting hands-on training and education, all the while studying the same things another man is in some seminary or other bible college.
I guess what I'm saying is that I'm looking for an institution, implemented by the church, to train and raise individuals up in the ministry for the purpose of the spiritual growth of the Church (locally). Then, if God wills, one may take that experience, accredited by the church, not a piece of paper, and pursue further education from a non-ecclesiastical organization pertaining to a more narrow and defined ministry field.
I don't want to say that a seminary or bible college is not Church-affiliated, but I just don't like the system. Maybe, someday, I will get the chance to make a move toward this re-structuring. But until now, I will continue to pray and seek God's wisdom concerning this matter. I know He calls me to learn, I just don't know where or by what means.
Any thoughts or comments or even rebuttles would be greatly appreiciated, as this post is more from a state of confusion than frustration. I need direction, soon.
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As the days go by, and as I age, let it be known; the things I wasted my time with, and those things with which I did not.
6 comments:
Have you been talking to Pastor Bill. He talked to Josh and I about this same thing.
I believe in what you are saying... Before the belief that to be educated, you had to go to college, was the belief of apprenticeship and on the job training. who better to teach something? A person who studys something or a person who practices it on a day-to-day basis?
Why don't you get the best of both worlds. Come on at Lakeside for the next two years...get paid for it, and get free schooling.
This is what I've been telling you from the get-go. There is not better training than OJT. (on-the-job-training)
But most importantly you must seek the Lord on this one brother. I'll be praying for you.
JD
Bobby, I know we spoke earlier about this, and while I would agree with that OJT can be a great way to learn, it is not the best way to expand your thinking. Don't get me wrong - what SBC, Pillar, Quantico (and I presume Lakeside) have going on are great things; the purpose these churches are working toward is a great one, but we are one community with finite ideas, finite focus, and sometimes it takes people going out, learning from others, gathering new ideas, stretching our comfort zone, and allowing God to use those experiences to grow us into a more complete person for him. I mentioned while we talked tonight that going away to school is certainly not the only way to achieve these things, but when one stays in their safe confines of familiar environment, familiar ideas, and familiar setting, it's easy to grow stagnate in one's approach to ministry.
If the church had the resources available to present the education you want to pursue, then the setting would be slightly different, but you're still left with the things I mentioned above. I don't want to put God in a box, but it's hard not to run down a list of intangibles you could gain by going to school. Getting a diploma is, in my opinion, the least important thing about education (though the world says otherwise); it's the process that's the most important part - being forced to learn new things we wouldn't otherwise study, hammering out tough theological issues with people who may have opposing ideas, and most importantly gaining some conviction in things you've spent in the trenches debating inside yourself and with others.
Most often God uses what's outside the box to affect what's inside the box.
Unfortunately, the idea of educational institutions has received a bad rep over the years, and of course sometimes for good reason. It's easy to grow cynical about schools who seem preoccupied with numbers and appear to be diploma mills, and attach that image to all schools. On the upside, even in the worst of these examples, a great education can still be had because what one gets out is almost directly proportional to what one puts in.
Whatever you decide, I know with your motivation and conviction, God will help you learn what you need to learn, and those around you will help in that process by challenging you, teaching you, and inspiring you to continue pressing toward the high calling to which He calls each of us.
We're all praying for you, buddy. In the end, it's your decision, and I'm sure you'll seek God to help you make it.
OT....this is a Bobby kind of quote
You and I were created to tell the truth about God by reflecting His likeness. That is normality. How many lies have you told about God today?
Iam Thomas
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