Do you have a degree?

[just-want-peace]

Following is my response to this topic on another board, and several comments here seem to agree in different verbage.

I can still remember when I was about 13, a local boy that was several years older than me was preaching in my church. He had obtained his degree from the seminary and was quite the intellectual.

The one thing that stands out for me was a closing comment while praying:

"And Lord, bless this, thy constituency ---"

My mind almost stripped gears as I stopped listening to figure what he had just said.

I always heard that the most educated (truly educated, not just a lot of book learning) could speak to so that the smartest would not be bored, yet the simplest could understand.

I think one could say that education that is "used" is fine, but that same education "flaunted" is an insult to God

 

[exscentric]

JWP I find a lot of truth in your post. I had a good friend in Bible School and he was one of the best down to earth preachers I've ever known. He went to seminary and over the months you could see the seminary doing it work - he became a blithering idiot in the pulpit. He took a pastorate and finally outgrew some of his learning :tongue3:

There are sour grapes on all sides.

However the danger of the educated is looking down their noses at the uneducated but this has an evil twin called the uneducated looking up their noses at the educated.

I've experienced some that have little education feeling superior to those that have more education and the smell is not much different that the educated that feel superior to the lessor.

A balance is for each individual to gain the education that GOD directs them to be it lots or little and accept other folks as God had prepared them.

 

[just-want-peace]

JWP I find a lot of truth in your post. I had a good friend in Bible School and he was one of the best down to earth preachers I've ever known. He went to seminary and over the months you could see the seminary doing it work - he became a blithering idiot in the pulpit. He took a pastorate and finally outgrew some of his learning :tongue3:

There are sour grapes on all sides.

However the danger of the educated is looking down their noses at the uneducated but this has an evil twin called the uneducated looking up their noses at the educated.

I've experienced some that have little education feeling superior to those that have more education and the smell is not much different that the educated that feel superior to the lessor.

A balance is for each individual to gain the education that GOD directs them to be it lots or little and accept other folks as God had prepared them.

Somewhere, sometime, in the dim dark past, I read/heard a statement that kinda sums up what you are saying regarding the "uppity" feeling of some from gaining a lot of formal education: --

He has been educated beyond his intelligence!

Unfortunately, there seem to be many who call themselves "PREACHER" that fit this category; along with many other professions I might add.

A true pity too, because they are in a position to be of help to so many others if they could just get "PRIDE" out of the way!

I would venture to say that your last statement would solve this problem if applied!!!!!!:godisgood:

 

[Speedpass]

BSEd in Mathematics and an MAEd in Education. Now that I am no longer teaching, neither of these degrees really relate to my current job.

 

[Havensdad]

Somewhere, sometime, in the dim dark past, I read/heard a statement that kinda sums up what you are saying regarding the "uppity" feeling of some from gaining a lot of formal education: --Unfortunately, there seem to be many who call themselves "PREACHER" that fit this category; along with many other professions I might add.

A true pity too, because they are in a position to be of help to so many others if they could just get "PRIDE" out of the way!

I would venture to say that your last statement would solve this problem if applied!!!!!!:godisgood:

What a load of ....

If God calls a person to the Ministry, it behooves that individual to prepare himself through study. An uneducated man has no business in the pulpit. Of course, his education can be through Seminary, internship under another Pastor, or both.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Bought a coffee mug years ago.

I got a B.A.
I got a M.A.
I got a Ph.D.
Now all I need is a J.O.B.
:laugh:

I have heard that Ph.D stands for either Post Hole Digger or Pizza Hut Delivery. :thumbsup:

 

[TomVols]

this has an evil twin called the uneducated looking up their noses at the educated.

I've seen overwhelming amounts of this and scant amounts of the opposite.

 

[Dr. Bob]

BS
BA
MA
Certification in Counseling
License to Preach
Ordination
D.Min.
Ed.D.
Ph.D. (in progress, but suspended due to health issues)

This makes me very similar to the temperature in Wyoming. 5 degrees above zero.

(BTW, Ph.D. = Piled Higher and Deeper)

 

[Havensdad]

BA in Religious Studies
BTh, which I am finishing the last little bit of writing for.
Some Biology stuff (no degree)
MA in Religious Studies
M.Div. in Biblical Studies, currently in progress.

I also have a couple of certificates from various things:

Certificate in Creationist World View from the Institute for Creation Research (CEU)
Way of The Master Diploma in Biblical Evangelism
Certificate in Leadership from FEMA

I also have some construction related things: Scaffolding certification, etc.

Seriously, I believe a Minister should be a lifetime student. It is easy for a Pastor to become "stale" when all he does is teach others. DE is great, as is several Pastors conferences (my personal favorite being Together for the Gospel, of course), J terms at many Seminaries etc.

 

[Rhetorician]

Rhetorician Response

I guess the main issues are to me;

1. Will your education open doors where you think your calling and gifts are; &

2. What education does God what you to have to open those doors where you fell called?

And as many here at the Bb can testify, our education has been an unfolding thing over many many years. :smilewinkgrin:

"That is all!?

 

[Victorious]

It's interesting...

I have tech training...I have two years of college but opted careerwise for a tech school although I have taken courses on systematic Theology and others related to the books of the Bible.

My husband has severl degrees...B.S., Doctorate, and is working on his Th.D now. YET...

We are pretty equal in our scriptural knowledge and scriptural interpretation in our various "specialties" and he loves it. (He is a widower and he told me just last night that he prayed for a wife he didn't have to constantly teach. lol.) We have gleaned insight from each other. My point?

It doesn't matter what you have posted on the wall. It's how diligently you've sought God's answers from His Word on your own.

Secret formula: Learn about God - don't try to become one. Stay pliable.raying: