Do You Believe Pastors Have To Have A College Education?

[christundivided]

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".

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.

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

Did you really just try and discredit the obvious by trying to say God wouldn't use a phrase anyone can understand simply because it found its way into a pagan play? Really? It existed before the play. It was in wide use. That's probably the reason it found its way into a play.

By your argument God wouldn't even say "hello" if it made its way into a "pagan play". You're finding meaning where none exists and you're arbitrarily abandoning common sense for NOTHING.

I read the article. Its a shame you didn't really pay attention to it. The evidence is "flimsy". However, we do have the Syriac version that helps define the issue. As well as translations in Latin. Care to study this a little further?

 

[HereIStand]

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....

I would say that people are indicating that an actual degree for a pastor isn't a must have, not that there's virtue in ignorance on a pastor's part.
Really if someone has a disdainful attitude towards learning than that person shouldn't be in ministry. It wouldn't be fair to the congregation.
Even if a pastor isn't in a teaching role, there needs to be a desire to continually learn to better serve.

 

[christundivided]

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....

I would say that people are indicating that an actual degree for a pastor isn't a must have, not that there's virtue in ignorance on a pastor's part.
Really if someone has a disdainful attitude towards learning than that person shouldn't be in ministry. It wouldn't be fair to the congregation.
Even if a pastor isn't in a teaching role, there needs to be a desire to continually learn to better serve.

I'm one of those that believe College doesn't really teach the average person......much of anything. The one thing it can teach you is how to study. How to be methodical. How to establish proper methods and collect evidence to support theories/beliefs. If you believe something just because you learned it in college, then you really shouldn't be a Pastor. You have to make things your own. If you don't make them your own, then you'll eventually be talked out of it.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

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....

I would say that people are indicating that an actual degree for a pastor isn't a must have, not that there's virtue in ignorance on a pastor's part.
Really if someone has a disdainful attitude towards learning than that person shouldn't be in ministry. It wouldn't be fair to the congregation.
Even if a pastor isn't in a teaching role, there needs to be a desire to continually learn to better serve.

I'm one of those that believe College doesn't really teach the average person......much of anything. The one thing it can teach you is how to study. How to be methodical. How to establish proper methods and collect evidence to support theories/beliefs. If you believe something just because you learned it in college, then you really shouldn't be a Pastor. You have to make things your own. If you don't make them your own, then you'll eventually be talked out of it.

Agreed.

Bible college mainly teaches what isn't taught.  Strange, huh?  The student will mature into adulthood (Assuming they arrive as 18 yr olds), learn character, study techniques and have his ideas challenged.  Mainly, he ought to be learning what he chooses to take away, not just what is stated by the teacher.  He learns the character of the instructors and will hopefully develop a passion for Truth and helping others find truth.  If the student is lucky, he will find a good counselor who will help him learn how to counsel others, but most students learn through trial and error of their bus kids. 

Some emerge well rounded, with experience helping people, highly charactered and given to study, apt to teach.  Others emerge with a bag full of stories, some hype and nonsense and a good amount of debt.

 

[HereIStand]

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....

I would say that people are indicating that an actual degree for a pastor isn't a must have, not that there's virtue in ignorance on a pastor's part.
Really if someone has a disdainful attitude towards learning than that person shouldn't be in ministry. It wouldn't be fair to the congregation.
Even if a pastor isn't in a teaching role, there needs to be a desire to continually learn to better serve.

I'm one of those that believe College doesn't really teach the average person......much of anything. The one thing it can teach you is how to study. How to be methodical. How to establish proper methods and collect evidence to support theories/beliefs. If you believe something just because you learned it in college, then you really shouldn't be a Pastor. You have to make things your own. If you don't make them your own, then you'll eventually be talked out of it.

I agree. I don't think knowledge is only acquired within college. By learning, I'm referring to study and preparation that a pastor would do on his own.
If a pastor took a disdainful attitude toward sermon preparation, then I don't see how he could have a place in ministry.

As a layman (at least for me) it can require a fair amount of study to put together a ten to fifteen minute devotional for church. But I've
always learned a good deal by doing it. And I feel like a grow in faith as I do it.

One comment I read in passing on a pastor's blog was that he viewed studying as a form of worship. I thought that was a good way of looking at it, because
it places study outside of a dry academic context into a desire to draw closer to God, and then to share that with other people.

 

[Ransom]

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.

I'll just put you down on the "educated or uneducated, no way" list since you are clearly some sort of dullard.

 

[FSSL]

Spurgeon was not college educated, yet he saw the need to start a college for men in ministry.

There are very few people who are gifted enough to self-teach.

I would press this question further... Not only do I believe pastors have to have a college education, they must complete seminary.
They at least need the following:

1) Full systematic theology course with position papers
2) Learn both Greek and Hebrew
3) Comprehensive testing

I know this sounds a bit rugged. I do not look down on those who have not completed seminary, but if the opportunity is there, take it.

The qualification of "apt to teach" requires that you have the ability to teach. Unless you are gifted like Spurgeon, without an education, you will lack the ability to teach.

 

[Frag]

Do you believe pastors have to have a college education?

Hope not.  I graduated from HAC, so I would have to resign!  8)