Featured Seminary degrees and the call of God

The church does do alot of that "healing, signs and wonders" stuff, but not, I think, the way it should be done - the way it happens in the bible, always pointing only to Jesus (not the pastor, not "our own faith"), always with a purpose, and always permanent. I've seen some of those guys on TV (Benny Hinn) and I really don't think that's biblical. It's so showy and full of pageantry and drama. I never picture Jesus being that way when He healed people.

I hate that I could be in trouble already at my very first church, but that's part of the reason I'm here on the Baptist Board. I don't think I can last long at my church just sitting there thinking, "This is sooooo fake! Why am I even here?" But what if I'm wrong and in danger of losing my salvation because of all my doubts?

A Penny, Saved?

 

Would really advise you to try to study the bible, and read/listen to some good non Charasmatics, and to go check out another local baptsit church in your area that is teaching sounder doctrines!

 

The "few and far between" to whom I refer are those who are called and equipped directly by the Holy Spirit. They are exceptionally few in number.

 

Here i thought the O{ was about why there are some groups within the church that place emphasis on a pastor education, while others group, not so much, if at all!

Why some would say unless the pastor is a PHD not qualified, and others that he just needs the ole "Holy ghost annoiting!"

 

Ah, the old "twist-what-he-says-and-put-words-in-his-mouth" routine.

Thankfully, you redeemed yourself ...

Seriously (removing my tongue from my cheek), I guess someone could have read my post and thought I was saying, "If the Holy Spirit doesn't equip you, go to seminary!" Obviously, that isn't what I meant. To even apply to a seminary must presuppose one is called, yes. If not called, the candidate is applying to the wrong kind of school.

 

And much of that preparation comes everything but classroom studying!

Its called the "school of life!"

 

Get out of that church and start listening to Grace to You on your computer at home.

 

There are too many today just as there was in the days of Jesus who have many degrees but little or no temperature. God wants people who are on fire. You cannot build a fire with no temperature, but study may help to fuel an existing fire.

There are churches who want someone with degrees because they want to portray an image in the community. If a man has not been through the fire of affliction then he knows little of God. All he comes with is his head knowledge theology and not the theology of the God who is. Good churches want good pastors, and godly churches want godly pastors.

The prophets knew God. They did not wait for a committee, church, or seminary to give them passion and fire. I have personally seen a few who threw in the towel on God because God did not deliver what they wanted or expected. They denied God.

Ministry is not about me, but about God. It is not about what I expect from him but what He expects from me. It is not about my success but about Him.

Serious study and education with a fire burning bright will give you tools to keep from being content with laziness and give you a humility that penetrates deep. The man who plumbs the depths of scripture is not content with just something. He is not content until he has studied to give the people his very best from what God gives. He does not just gives sermons but gives the people a passion for God.

I once pastored a congregation that was dying and a young man who was just out of college told me about how I was doing most everything wrong. He was a pastor's son. About two years later he wrote on his blog about how God does not exist. He was proud of being a leader in his dad's church when he was younger and thought I should give him a leadership position.I told him that leaders prove themselves in the disciples they make. He was argumentative and never reached anyone.

 

Percent of pastors who know that are probably under 3%. I missed those requirements in 1 Timothy 3, btw.

 

I did too. They were cuss words without knowing what they meant until someone told me.

 

Not really. They were conversations about how the church was started and they were reaching people who were different. Rather basic discussions. That was about three years ago. I do not remember seeing anything on their website like what I see now.

 

some of the most lessons God has to train His people were NOT ina classroom, nut out in real life...

that is where you deal with not just know theology, but practicing it!

think most recent graduates shocked that many members not so much into discussing Greek Grammar as their teachers were, but much more into how to pray, how to apply scriptures, help for the sick in midst etc!

 

I would hate to have an undertaker operate on me if I needed heart surgery. Most likely he has seen more hearts than a heart surgeon but he knows little of the details of how a heart works. That is how it is with ignorance.

The ignorant know some basics and can have a repeat after me theology which repeats what others say but will not become knowledgeable as those who understand the details of the historical context of scripture (which includes much more than translating Greek and Hebrew words). I have followed two pastors who did understand that and I had to deal with issues in the church he led. The people saw the difference but did not know who to believe at first.