Do You Believe Pastors Have To Have A College Education?

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Timothy

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My pastor started as a layman (after 8 or so years leading the youth), and his pay was collage tuition. Once he graduated, he quit his secular job and now gets a full-time salary from the Church.

Some Churches wouldn't take that road to get a pastor, but I believe we got a well rounded man of God to lead us.

But, what about college education? Is it mandatory?

Do you believe pastors have to have a college education?
 
No! But if he has had some education great but it's not what makes a pastor. What is his activity in church,what is his family like, etc.
 
Simple. What qualification for the pastorate did Jesus lay out? Wait...

8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Not sure if Jesus had a "college education"...
 
Smellin Coffee said:
Simple. What qualification for the pastorate did Jesus lay out? Wait...

8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Not sure if Jesus had a "college education"...
Click to expand...

This Jesus?

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

(Funny aside: That second sentence always amuses me.)
 
I would say no also. But I do think a pastor should have an interest in reading and studying in order to teach well.
 
Timothy said:
My pastor started as a layman (after 8 or so years leading the youth), and his pay was collage tuition. Once he graduated, he quit his secular job and now gets a full-time salary from the Church.

Some Churches wouldn't take that road to get a pastor, but I believe we got a well rounded man of God to lead us.

But, what about college education? Is it mandatory?

Do you believe pastors have to have a college education?
Click to expand...

Is it mandatory? No. Is it wise? Perhaps.

What capacity is the pastor serving in the church? Is he counseling? Is he teaching? Is he administrating?

With that said, one of the most alarming things I ever heard a teaching pastor say after I asked him what he was currently reading, "I don't ever read anything but the Bible."
 
"Have to have?"  NO.

Would it hurt? No, if from a quality institution.
 
All other things being equal, is it better to have an educated or an uneducated clergy?
 
No, the Bible is against education, ad it says book learnin' will make you crazy....

.... Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
And the godly people were ignorant....

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled


Nuff said.















:D
 
rsc2a said:
Smellin Coffee said:
Simple. What qualification for the pastorate did Jesus lay out? Wait...

8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Not sure if Jesus had a "college education"...
Click to expand...

This Jesus?

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

(Funny aside: That second sentence always amuses me.)
Click to expand...

Yep. That same Jesus. The disciples were to testify to the world exactly what He taught them, not out of a position of authority but as eyewitnesses (example: Acts 2:32).

FYI, I used the wrong reference. "Pastor" means "Shepherd" and John 10 clearly indicates that Jesus should be THE "Shepherd" with verse 16 indicating only one, not multiple. Nor is there mention of "under-shepherds".
 
ALAYMAN said:
No, the Bible is against education, ad it says book learnin' will make you crazy....

.... Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
And the godly people were ignorant....
Click to expand...

I do recognize the humerous overtones in your post but would like to add this.

Paul had just given his so-called salvation testimony. It held an eery semblance from Euripides (The Bacchae) where the deistic/human being Dionysus says that opposition is useless. The quote used in the play is, “You are mortal, he is a god. If I were you, I would control my rage and sacrifice to him, rather than kick against the pricks.” Context would seem to point at the idea that Festus recognized the semblance between the two stories and no doubt considered Paul to be "mad".

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled


Nuff said. 
Click to expand...

I do agree here. Jesus did not teach about the role of a pastor so any leadership is to be of the laity, equal without official authority, all under the authority of Christ alone.












 
Ransom said:
All other things being equal, is it better to have an educated or an uneducated clergy?
Click to expand...

Depends on what you perceive as educated Ransom. I am sure no one is as educated as you are; therefore you are the ultimate standard.
 
Smellin Coffee said:
ALAYMAN said:
No, the Bible is against education, ad it says book learnin' will make you crazy....

.... Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
And the godly people were ignorant....
Click to expand...

I do recognize the humerous overtones in your post but would like to add this.

Paul had just given his so-called salvation testimony. It held an eery semblance from Euripides (The Bacchae) where the deistic/human being Dionysus says that opposition is useless. The quote used in the play is, “You are mortal, he is a god. If I were you, I would control my rage and sacrifice to him, rather than kick against the pricks.” Context would seem to point at the idea that Festus recognized the semblance between the two stories and no doubt considered Paul to be "mad".

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled


Nuff said. 
Click to expand...

I do agree here. Jesus did not teach about the role of a pastor so any leadership is to be of the laity, equal without official authority, all under the authority of Christ alone.
Click to expand...


Bro, I hold you in high esteem for the way you conduct yourself on here, so bear that in mind, but it seems like your needle's stuck.  Granted, I don't read all of your posts, and almost none over in the Hyles forum, but you seem to turn every conversation back to your antipathy for Paul.  I don't say this chidingly, but as somebody who knows you have more in your bag of conversation than a one-trick pony, so mix it up with a bit more diversity.


Carry on.


/soapbox
 
Smellin Coffee said:
Paul had just given his so-called salvation testimony. It held an eery semblance from Euripides (The Bacchae) where the deistic/human being Dionysus says that opposition is useless. The quote used in the play is, “You are mortal, he is a god. If I were you, I would control my rage and sacrifice to him, rather than kick against the pricks.” Context would seem to point at the idea that Festus recognized the semblance between the two stories and no doubt considered Paul to be "mad".
Click to expand...

LOL. It was a common proverbial express that did not have its source in "the play" you referenced. Anyone would have understood the reference. That is why it may have ended up in a play and why God Himself might have used it. It was easily understood. You're just looking for something to criticize. You know better.
 
christundivided said:
Smellin Coffee said:
Paul had just given his so-called salvation testimony. It held an eery semblance from Euripides (The Bacchae) where the deistic/human being Dionysus says that opposition is useless. The quote used in the play is, “You are mortal, he is a god. If I were you, I would control my rage and sacrifice to him, rather than kick against the pricks.” Context would seem to point at the idea that Festus recognized the semblance between the two stories and no doubt considered Paul to be "mad".
Click to expand...

LOL. It was a common proverbial express that did not have its source in "the play" you referenced. Anyone would have understood the reference. That is why it may have ended up in a play and why God Himself might have used it. It was easily understood. You're just looking for something to criticize. You know better.
Click to expand...

But it WAS used in the play and his testimony "acted out" in similar fashion to the pagan play, ending in said quote. And why would God, who is a jealous God want to use a quote as used in pagan literature? Do you think it is appropriate to say "Heil, Jesus!"? Though the words themselves might be fitting, the connotation would make it blasphemous.

Paul quoted pagan sources on a couple different occasions so this wasn't the only time he said such. This would give likely cause to determine he might have been a stagehand before his so-called "conversion" which would make sense as to why he referred to Euripedes.

Here is a pro-Pauline piece that makes an argument that "tentmaker" meant "stagehand".

http://www.postost.net/2010/07/paul-maker-theatrical-scenery
 
The irony of this thread is interesting. 

Most people on this thread are against the fundy who:
  • Proudly proclaims his ignorance as if it gives him a higher level of faith
  • Denies his ignorance and promotes himself as the ultimate source of human knowledge and understanding
  • Believes himself to have found an enlightenment attainable only by ignorance
  • Preaches sermons using their own opinion which is not backed by research, knowledge or real understanding

Yet, so many of these same people are decrying the need for an educated clergy.

Hmm....
 
Depends on which College he goes too.
 
Binaca Chugger said:
The irony of this thread is interesting. 

Most people on this thread are against the fundy who:
  • Proudly proclaims his ignorance as if it gives him a higher level of faith
  • Denies his ignorance and promotes himself as the ultimate source of human knowledge and understanding
  • Believes himself to have found an enlightenment attainable only by ignorance
  • Preaches sermons using their own opinion which is not backed by research, knowledge or real understanding

Yet, so many of these same people are decrying the need for an educated clergy.

Hmm....
Click to expand...

Yes. College is not the only place to get an education and sometimes the "education" you get a college is worthless.
 
rsc2a said:
Binaca Chugger said:
The irony of this thread is interesting. 

Most people on this thread are against the fundy who:
  • Proudly proclaims his ignorance as if it gives him a higher level of faith
  • Denies his ignorance and promotes himself as the ultimate source of human knowledge and understanding
  • Believes himself to have found an enlightenment attainable only by ignorance
  • Preaches sermons using their own opinion which is not backed by research, knowledge or real understanding

Yet, so many of these same people are decrying the need for an educated clergy.

Hmm....
Click to expand...

Yes. College is not the only place to get an education and sometimes the "education" you get a college is worthless.
Click to expand...

I see where you are going.  A college whose president boasts of ignorance is not going to deliver a quality education.  I understand.

Here is a very honest statement from a fundy:  "The fundy Bible college education is more about what you discover to take away than what is offered."

Chew on that statement for a while.  It is much deeper than it first reads.
 
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