Who has more education?

Why does that matter? What's the point? lol
There are many great men of God out there that don't have a ton of "education" from schools.

 

Amen Rachael. It doesn't matter. If a man is called and not educated to the task, he should get the education needed. God uses the weak and the simple to fulfill His purpose. Not many noble are called.

 

My dog's vet, but I wouldn't go to him if I needed help with a ministry issue.

 

...but the wisest man I ever knew only had a high school diploma.

 

Reading this board convinces me that far too many are educated beyond their intelligence.

When education convinces you that the Word is wrong, or just written so the ignorant Hebrews can understand it, or that God is speaking allegorically when He says (paraphrased) "I spoke ---into being", then education has ceased to be an ally, and is now your enemy.

Education is a poor substitute, but often used for "wisdom"!

 

The measure of the education you allude to is established by this world (university, degrees, etc) and is related to the agendae of this world.

Granted that a vet may have spent more time according to this world in an education typified by "rote" than a typical pastor, but who can measure the education of any given individual spent at the feet of Jesus?

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.

That is not to say that a worldy education is of no value. It is of great value in the proper setting and there are those even within the Scripture itself such as Paul who are proof of that, but without the first kind of "education" mentioned above it is IMO useless as to one who can guide the babes in Christ through the green pastures and to the still waters.

Of course the sheep having been led must then eat and drink of themselves.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you...

HankD

 

Anyone can be educated in this or that, formally or informally. It is how that education is used which is important. That requires wisdom, and wisdom comes from God.

There has been only one pastor in my life whose education I not only respected but stood in awe of. That is Pastor Derek Matsunaka of Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks, California. I was a deaf interpreter there for awhile.

I NEVER left a service without having learned something. He has this incredible ability to pick up everyone during a sermon, from the least educated to the most, interest them all, and teach us all.

Sadly, though, that is also the church where the youth pastor asked us to not bring our retarded son anymore as they felt they could not deal with him. So, as the older kids left home one by one with the onset of adulthood, we could no longer attend church, for there was no one who could stay home and watch Chris (we did this on a rotating basis while the family was still large enough).

Also sadly, in every other church we have attended, my husband, and sometimes I, have more Bible knowledge than the pastor who is teaching. Our vet definitely knows more about her field than many pastors we have met know about theirs.

I would prefer solid Bible knowledge in terms of education than a lot of education from some institution regarding what other famous and not famous people have written about the Bible.

 

Sometimes schooling =education and sometimes schooling just = schooling and not much education has taken place.It is sad when that occurrs.
A highly schooled person can become a technically proficient veteranarian,chemist,biologist,engineer or any other vocation you might imagine.The truly educated whether from a school,mentor,or one who is self educated gets knowledge and WISDOM.Without wisdom one can never clain to be truly educated.

 

Mine are probably about equal, although my veterinary orthopedic surgeon probably has my pastor beat.

 

LOL, Ours is a member of our church,a nd is very active in church.

 

and whats the point of the OP in this thread? To cast doubt on the intelligence or worthiness of our respective pastors?

Come on!

This is just rude.

 

Well, bapmom, practically everyone who replied has implied that education has little inherent value, thus casting doubt on the worthiness of my vet!

 

What do's it matter, no how????

I am educated to handle exegesis of scripture---the vet I know cannot "do" exegesis of scripture with the rule book sittin' right in front of him---I don't want him doing any of my preaching----on the other hand---he doesn't want me doing any of his "vet'in'"!!! I'm educated at what I do---he's educated at what he does----it ain't no big deal!!

 

I am afraid, bapmom---that you "hit the nail right on the head!!"

 

Education is a poor substitute, but often used for "wisdom"! [/QUOTE]

That is well put! Is that your quote or someone else's?

 

The reason I answered the way I did earlier was simply because I knew he was referring to schooling.I have'nt had many pastors but the of the last two one had a DMin and the other a PhD,both with the MDiv's and Ba's.Then it seems to me they kept in tune with Dr. MaGhees concept of it's what you learn after you know it all that counts and they kept studying.Most SB pastors have at least a MDiv. that I know of.So I would'nt say they were unschooled at minimum.I would also say that most pastors must develop really good people skills if they are to survive.That sounds more like an educated person to me.

 

Do you really want to know?

My pastor has more education than my veterinarian!

Both men are extremely qualified for their positions.

 

Most pastors in my area have very little or no educationunder their belts, and it shows.

The premise of the OP intrigues me. We wouldn't take our pet to a vet who hadn't gone throguh the proper schooling, but many willing sit under an ignorant pastor.

Not that all who have not gone to college/seminary are ignorant, but most who have not gone through with a formal education can honestly be called ignorant in that they parrot what they have seen and heard from the ignorant pastors and preachers they themselves have sat under.

I've sat under both, and the difference is telling.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

Blackbird and Bapmom,

because you don't like the topic does not mean you hit the nail on the head. The point of this thread was not to cast doubt on a Pastor's intelligence, but to discuss the education factor as it applies in ministry. The discussion that has gone on in this thread has in no way belittled those with education, so please don't create a view point that says it has.

I have known some great men who have zero higher learning education, but some how could divide scripture correctly and love as God has called them to love. To be a Pastor/Shepherd or serve as an overseeier you don't have to hold a M.Div degree, but for some odd reason in America this is most of the times a must.

In the bible I don't see "one must hold master's degree in Divinity" as a qualification to be an elder. Nope it talks about Character, Love and how that person leads those around him.

Reading my above words may make you think I am against education but in no way am I like that ... I value so very much the education of Godly leaders, preachers and pastors. Education though should be secondary to God's equiping work within the believer.