Seduction of Seminary

Doctor, Bishop, Elder Johnson has just received his doctorate in theology!!!  He begins to DEMAND everyone to call him Dr. Johnson!  He is now clad in his black suits with his white collar everywhere he goes.  He has become a bona fide ‘legend in his own mind.”  He boasts everywhere he goes of his ‘academic’ accomplishments.  He takes up ten minutes of every service time to bask in his glory, especially when he is the guest speaker…..Oh’!   Get ready! This is going to take at least 15-20 minutes!!!  He is arrogant! He is haughty!

This is the epidemic we have in the American church like never before! 

 Seminary and theological colleges (online especially) are bursting at the seams.  Everyone is claiming they have the “credentials” to be a preacher of some kind, educated oracles, masters of Bible stories, and methods on how to orate their memorized Bible verses and stories before a crowd.  It’s a ‘fad’ like we have never seen before.

 Education can no doubt make us look good and ‘feel’ important; but when it comes to knowing God and walking with him, SORRY to be the bearer of bad news, IT MEANS ZERO!!  In fact, it can corrupted “the call” of God on your life if you do not understand the Scriptures.

If God hates pride, and he does, how can so many boast of their education (exchange of knowledge) about God and mistreat his people with their smug, elitist attitudes?

Make no mistake in my presenting this argument, Seminary can be a great enhancement for exposition and knowledge, but it cannot, and will not ever produce ‘experience’ with Jesus. There are some things that cannot be expounded at all! Not even by the most noted theologian or scholar, but rather, they MUSTbe experienced with Him. Peace being one of those things. Who can really articulate this basic truth and attribute of the Prince of Peace? It must be experienced.

Every man that God has ever laid his hand on for service, was stripped!  Moses was a prince with power.  Elisha was a wealthy herdsman.  Paul, the apostle was a religious scholar, AND Jesus!  He was the Son of God sitting on the right hand of God!  All stripped to serve!!!!!  All of them suffered!!  ALL OF THEM!!!  No seminary, no ceremonial rituals to lift them up before their peers.  NOTHING, but pain, pain and more PAIN!!!  By the way, wasn’t it the educated Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Teachers of the Law that crucified Jesus??

Knowledge of principles and methods of interpreting the Bible, does not mean one knows Jesus or God.  When we allow the purpose of our study of the Bible to become a ‘method’ for finding sermons rather than finding Jesus, we have been deceived.

 When Jesus ‘called’ Peter and his brother James, He said, Matthew 4:19, “Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This was their invitation to the ministry. This was their ‘calling’. Now, we must understand this, Peter and James were not ready for ministry… yet! They had to walk with Jesus and learn of HIM. Peter and his brother ate with Jesus and talked with Jesus. These men were with Jesus for three intense years of study ~ not academia, but Jesus! They were being taught and prepared by the Word Himself. It is very important for us to note that Jesus has not changed the way He prepares “His servants” for ministry in this generation. We have! 

Regardless of how much theology we can boast that we know, it does not qualify us to be servants of Christ. Jesus knows who we are and it is He that gives authority to His servants, not man! Jesus gives the authorization in your spirit and then He will have man give you a confirmation in the earth. Just as He did with Paul the apostle, who spent fourteen years being downloaded with ‘revelation’ of Jesus.  Not formula’s, methods of interpretation and sermons on how to be blessed, but rather, revelation of Jesus.

Peter was the first of the disciples to acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. Jesus told him “that flesh and blood had not revealed this truth to him, but rather His father in Heaven” had revealed it to Peter, Matthew 16:17.  When Paul was called to become a servant of Jesus, he tells us in Galatians 1:16, that he “did not confer with flesh and blood.” Instead he went away and spent time with the Spirit of Christ that taught him and prepared him to later become an apostle (messenger) to the gentiles. 

 Being a graduate of the most prestigious seminary school in the nation does not and will never qualify any of us to speak for Christ. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!  In fact, Paul the apostle of Jesus, who by some estimation has been one of the most influential persons to impact history, was a very educated man.  Paul considered his previous learning by one of the best scholars of his time, Gamaliel, “dung”! He declared all of his accomplishments before Christ as “worthless”!  (Chapter 3 of Philippians, a must read)

We have become “dung” diggers in this generation like never before. We are going after what our early church forefather considered worthless! We have become educated professionals in the pulpits of America. Polished, performing pulpiteers! Workers for hire. Puffed up! Stuck up!  And messed up! Having minds that are filled with the pride of life. Nothing short of modern day Pharisee’s ~ big heads with empty hearts. Great is some of our exegesis of text.  Great is our hermeneutics. However, depression and anxiety has become the portion of many that boast of their ‘degrees’ in theology, which many erroneously believe qualifies them to start ministries while demanding acknowledgement from those that they have been called to protect and lead. 

 Saints of God, education, or shall I say, the exchange of knowledge about scripture and church history does not qualify us for ministry, especially as a pastor! Jesus knows each of His sheep. He knows who is ready and when we are ready just as a parent knows when to release the car keys to their children. Though some may be of legal age to drive, it does not mean they are yet mature enough to drive.  The same is true for ministers who have been 'called' by God, but they have yet to be 'commissioned' by God for the work of ministry.

When a minister serves without the authorization or the commission of the Spirit of Christ, you are illegal in the heavens and in the earth. It does not matter who ‘ordains’ you, how many college degrees you acquire, and who gives you an opportunity to preach your first trial sermon. Unless Christ has been revealed to you, and you know that He, and HE ALONE has sanctioned your ministry, you are out of order!  Your are dangerous to others and to yourself. 

God bless us all to know the difference between a 'big head' lofty oracle, and a "big hearted" lowly servant for the Most High God.  Which one are you?