Ordinary Follower

The need for education is incredibly important when it comes to our ability to be able to discern, disciple, teach, and grow. But there is a form of idolatry that is accepted among many of us today.

This is often over looked and perhaps it will be better understood to say it as the idolatry of training. This can be school, books, mentors, conferences, etc. Many of us, including myself, are putting our hope and faith into our theological training. We are even beginning to quote professors to each other over the Word of God. I think there are many reasons as to why this happens but perhaps much of it may be due to the fact that we do not trust God to use us with the limited knowledge that He will give us. We are instead seeking faith in our “feeling” qualified over recognizing our inability before God and relying on His grace.

The other part is simple: we are making other men our god.

Yet another reason I believe we may be seeing an over-reliance on heavy theological training today is because there are so many unsaved individuals in the ministry. This is a problem not new to our time and I will not address this much further here except to say that, well, this is scary. And knowing this should give you a hunger to seek the Lord above all else, trusting in His grace and not in human wisdom.

There is a lack of power in the ministry which I fear we are replacing with ”education”, or in other words: self reliance.

Lately, the Lord has really convicted me of this sin in my own life. Ministry is becoming a job and not a way of life. Having a proper theological education would seem to make perfect sense if someone were pursuing a “job” rather than following the Great Commission in our local community. If ministry is a way of life and not a job then we should reevaluate the level of importance we put on seminary or college. It seems like once people know you have a degree then you’re already set apart in their mind as “clergy” and they are less likely to be real with you, and vice versa you are more likely to look at yourself as ”clergy” and less likely to be real with them. Not that this is the case for everyone but it does seem to be a common thread among many.

In John 9: 13-34, after Jesus healed a blind man, the Pharisees asked the blind man what He knew about Jesus and the blind man did not know much but shared what he did know….and that was just enough to give the glory to God.

How many of us are waiting until we feel like we know “enough” before we share the good news of Jesus Christ, rather than sharing what we know already?

Now I am certainly not against a theological education and believe it has both its place and purpose but what I don’t understand is why school is so exalted while a real life education is almost shunned upon. I think they can complement one another rather than competing with each other. And while I do believe school is over emphasized, I do not think we can emphasize truth and doctrine enough. So my concern is not with truth, but I think that truth can be easily and effectively taught and spread within the local community by ordinary people and in more ordinary ways.

I’m reminded of the book of Acts:

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

- Acts 4:13

I’ve noticed that my own desire for schooling is a lack of trust in what God can do. I’ve recently needed to bring my trust back to Jesus knowing that what he can do in a moment’s time is worth far more than years of schooling, and will produce far more fruit as well.

Even an apparently good decision, for what appears to be the “ministry”, can be done entirely in vain and branching from sin rather than God. I’ve thought long and hard recently about the idolatry of school in my life and about my lack of trust in God. My thinking that school is absolutely necessary has come from fear. Fear of what people think about me, fear of circumstances, fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of not doing enough, fear of doing too much….anxiety after anxiety without any peace.

It is around this time that I read read an interesting article by J.R. Miller. He talked about our lack of peace being a clear indicator that there is still too much of us and far too little of the Lord. The solution he proposed was to die to self and lose ourselves even more in Christ. So it is through this that I realized the incredible amount of self reliance in my own life. As long as I am relying on myself then my understanding of God will remain distorted.

Before we make any decision about school or training we would be wise to examine ourselves and ensure that we are resting and trusting in God, who is in control, not just trying to do more. But there is a catch to this also: our self reliance could be keeping us from school when God is calling us to go. No matter what, we should not be “trying” to hold on and “gain” but rather we should be dying to ourselves and losing ourselves in Christ…wherever he may take us.

The Christian life is not about gaining more and becoming more. Rather, it’s about losing what you have and becoming less.

Once again: I am certainly not against schooling or theological training. I am against the idolatry of it and the fact that we may be relying on the degree for our power and hope over relying on God for our power and hope. Even with apparent good intentions it is possible to not be putting our trust in God, who in His power, can accomplish far more than we could ever imagine. Many great men of faith, from the Bible and from history, became who they were not because of the education they received but because Christ was their treasure and joy above all things. Out of much time spent with Him, and much time spent enduring persecution and suffering for Him, they became the great teachers, pastors, and servants that they were.

Lastly, through experiences like this and time spent with the Lord, the lessons we learn will be both real and relevant. It is possible to learn things from our books and classes that will never be used in life and truly have no place being taught from a pulpit. So whether it’s school, a book, a mentor, or wherever it is that we pursue our education (which should be pursued) it should absolutely be practical and relevant above all else. I think it goes without say that this matter should be prayed about deeply and wherever the Lord instructs us will be the most fruitful option. But we must be sure it is the Lord instructing us and not some other idol or sin within our heart. Do not fear man. Trust God. (Matt. 10:28-31)

After all, ministry and education can become just one more way of trying to retain and save a life in this world….especially if it takes us away from trusting the Lord and holding Him as our treasure above ALL things.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

- Matthew 16:25

Ministers, like any disciple, are made at the feet of Jesus. Whether he takes us to school or leaves us where we are, we must be sure that it is in fact our Lord’s feet in which we are laying at.

If our ministry is to be effective it will just be the extension and outward flow of an inward joy and love that dwells from a real and intimate relationship with God and a real and clear understanding of Christ and the cross.

So how do we become effective ministers?

By seeking the Lord because it’s in His grace and resting in Him that our labor will not be in vain….no matter where He sends us.

Update 11/23/09: This article has been updated and a continuation of this post has been published here: Is Theology your Idol?

Update 11/24/09: This article has been updated and a continuation of this post has been published here: Mount Zion Bible Institute.