PrTeacher10
New Member
What is the purpose of this degree? Why would someone study for it?
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Ph.d in Leadership
- Thread starter PrTeacher10
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plain_n_simple
Active Member
Some people feel the need to be approved of and by other people and the organizations they represent. In religion, and religious leadership, it comes from no real tangible evidence of their faith, or a true maturity in Christ. No fruit. You could call it "men pleasers rather than pleasers of God", but it's not always their own fault or desire, but becomes it due to a lack of results comparable to the works of Jesus. So they get some degrees to feel just and approved.
A person can be very sincere in their quest for spiritual maturity in Christ, and have an honest desire to help others. Most immediatley turn to higher and higher education to understand the deep mysteries of scripture. That is clearly the way of the world.
The problem is who is teaching them. Is it God? Not always. It is usually a college that had the same desire starting out, but never found the truth or strayed away from it. Most of those who have a higher education presume they know the bible and become puffed up in the mind, but can produce no fruit.
This is where you can apply "the Greeks seek knowledge" but it is not from God. It is flesh. The Holy Spirit teaches you, not a worldly man with a bunch of letters behind his name claiming biblical wisdom. The fruit they claim is the same type of fruit the world can claim. You will know them by their fruit.
You can have alot of head knowledge about Jesus, and quote the scriptures all day and it looks to be impressive to the average Christian. But this head knowledge will fail you when you are tried in the fire. It's about knowing Jesus, not just knowing about Him.
Paul warns us of head knowledge and the impressive letters behind a name (Ph.d, MA etc)
2 Corinthians 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Another example is in Acts 4
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Paul further warns us in many places in scripture about the wisdom of men, that opposes the wisdom of God. Just because it says "Christian" on the school door, does not make it so.
If you want to become a leader, you must first become a true follower.
A person can be very sincere in their quest for spiritual maturity in Christ, and have an honest desire to help others. Most immediatley turn to higher and higher education to understand the deep mysteries of scripture. That is clearly the way of the world.
The problem is who is teaching them. Is it God? Not always. It is usually a college that had the same desire starting out, but never found the truth or strayed away from it. Most of those who have a higher education presume they know the bible and become puffed up in the mind, but can produce no fruit.
This is where you can apply "the Greeks seek knowledge" but it is not from God. It is flesh. The Holy Spirit teaches you, not a worldly man with a bunch of letters behind his name claiming biblical wisdom. The fruit they claim is the same type of fruit the world can claim. You will know them by their fruit.
You can have alot of head knowledge about Jesus, and quote the scriptures all day and it looks to be impressive to the average Christian. But this head knowledge will fail you when you are tried in the fire. It's about knowing Jesus, not just knowing about Him.
Paul warns us of head knowledge and the impressive letters behind a name (Ph.d, MA etc)
2 Corinthians 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Another example is in Acts 4
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Paul further warns us in many places in scripture about the wisdom of men, that opposes the wisdom of God. Just because it says "Christian" on the school door, does not make it so.
If you want to become a leader, you must first become a true follower.
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I am about to begin my PhD in Leadership and Management, so I think I have some qualifications to speak on the issue. As well, I have 3 Masters, two in Religion (MDiv and MAR) and an MBA.
A leadership degree is more of a business and organizational behavior degree while a religion and theology degree is rooted in the Bible. A degree in business should not be construed as a degree to help lead a church. Those qualifications only come from being a proven person of doctrine and character.
Why get a PhD in leadership? I am getting my degree in order to expand my knowledge and teach business management in colleges. Other reasons could include a love for the subject, to help executives, to lead organizations, and to foster better organizational change. I think a degree in leadership is good for most people in business or in other key positions.
Should a Pastor get a Ph.D. in Leadership? Probably not! While I think there are some leadership skills many pastors could utilize, their priorities are to study, preach, and teach God's Word and pray.
Yet, leadership is important. Studying leadership could help any leader to traverse through difficult issues.
Some theories of leadership are unBiblical; however, there are leadership principles from the Bible and some from General Revelation.
As a side, while my passion has been Biblical Theology and Historic Theology, my next couple of loves is the study of leadership. If I could I would get my PhD in historic theology, but that would not help my career. So, I am getting it in Leadership and Management. THough, my wife believes I will go back to get a degree in Historic Theology.
A leadership degree is more of a business and organizational behavior degree while a religion and theology degree is rooted in the Bible. A degree in business should not be construed as a degree to help lead a church. Those qualifications only come from being a proven person of doctrine and character.
Why get a PhD in leadership? I am getting my degree in order to expand my knowledge and teach business management in colleges. Other reasons could include a love for the subject, to help executives, to lead organizations, and to foster better organizational change. I think a degree in leadership is good for most people in business or in other key positions.
Should a Pastor get a Ph.D. in Leadership? Probably not! While I think there are some leadership skills many pastors could utilize, their priorities are to study, preach, and teach God's Word and pray.
Yet, leadership is important. Studying leadership could help any leader to traverse through difficult issues.
Some theories of leadership are unBiblical; however, there are leadership principles from the Bible and some from General Revelation.
As a side, while my passion has been Biblical Theology and Historic Theology, my next couple of loves is the study of leadership. If I could I would get my PhD in historic theology, but that would not help my career. So, I am getting it in Leadership and Management. THough, my wife believes I will go back to get a degree in Historic Theology.
plain_n_simple
Active Member
Sorry Ruiz, I should of noted that education in other areas can be beneficial, if we don't let pride in. Best wishes in your quest.
Greektim
Well-Known Member
I thought you said in another thread you had 3 post-grad degrees. Are you going by European terms???
I have an MA in Religion, an MDiv, and an MBA. Each degree was received from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.
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==I would assume one of two reasons. 1) They work in the area of business or managment and need/desire a PhD but do not wish to pursue it in business. 2) They want to teach at a university/college of some sort in the business or leadership departments.
Of course there are always those who just want the letters "Dr." in front of their name. In my opinion, doctorate degrees are too much work for that. If a degree is not going to push my career forward I am not going to spend the money, effort, and time pursuing it. :laugh:
The problem is that the vast majority have no experience in what they teach. Their experience is from a book.
Bill Gates and Michael Dell could not get a job in teaching business at a university.
I like your two responses. Young men and women should involve themselves with learning and growth, knowing in the process that programs on earth are not guarantees of impartation of wisdom and maturity from God. Carnal men do put too much emphasis on human achievements and yet God encourages us to apply ourselves to wisdom and knowledge in Him.
A Christian who never goes to college may obtain much wisdom and knowledge from God in some areas while those who go to school may also be given wisdom and knowledge as well, possibly in other areas. There is nothing special with God about any path taken by man, since He is no respecter of persons, so neither those who go nor those who don't are to be elevated in His sight.
Young men, however, need to be especially careful of what the Bible calls "falling into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:6), which is becoming proud of achievements and thinking of self more highly than they ought to think. The greatest among God's people will always be those that are at the bottom, the least esteemed among men.
==That has been a problem in various fields. I think many business departments are really looking for people with education and experience now. In fact, it seems to have become a selling point for some schools. Those who teach business, education, ministry, and medicine, etc, who have never practiced are not much good (other than some basic intro courses that everyone must take).