Why bother with theological training?
I was speaking recently with César Guzmán, Director of the recently formed Centre for Pastoral Studies of the Anglican Church of Chile. He told me of the slogan used by some in the churches who have opposed the start of the Centre: “Theological colleges kill the church.” On the other hand, John Stott was formative in my own route to being Tutor in Biblical Studies at Oak Hill when he observed that the health of a denomination is directly related to the health of its theological colleges.
This is not to say that theological colleges are the only form of theological education, but it is to introduce the question of the value (or otherwise) of formal theological education.
I assume from the fact that you are reading this that you are persuaded that Christian ministry is important. The question for you is not “Why commit myself to gospel ministry?”, but “How can I best prepare for a lifetime of ministry?”, or, perhaps, “How can I be best equipped for gospel work, whether paid or unpaid?”
The first, and most obvious point, is that your answer to the question, “How can I be best equipped?” depends on for what you think you are training. Ephesians 4 is a great place to go for this.
Paul’s great desire in Ephesians is that the Church comes to maturity (see Eph 4:1-16). Church growth, in size and maturity, stems from the gifts of v.11. As people exercise the “word” gifts of v.11 in the right fashion, they “equip the saints for the works of ministry.” This in turn leads to the building of the body, and, ultimately, to maturity for the Church.
The exercise of these gifts means that people are no longer “children”, no longer “tossed to and fro” – thrown this way and that by the waves – and no longer blown “by every wind of doctrine” (don’t you love the shift in metaphor?!).
You don’t need to be in Christian ministry for long to know that people easily get thrown off course in the Christian life, following the latest fads. At the least, they never reach maturity and stability; sometimes, though, they sink without trace. Behind the latest fad, behind that false teaching, ultimately lies not deceitful, scheming people (4:14) but sulphurous satanic opposition (cf. “scheming” of 6:11).
What is needed to counter this false doctrine and to bring the Church to maturity is speaking the truth in love (4:15); and vital to this activity of every member is the role of the evangelist, the pastor (who pastors by teaching), and the teacher of 4:11 (see the discussion on p300 of O’Brien’s Pillar commentary on Ephesians).
It should be clear by now that the essence of Christian ministry is evangelizing, and then shepherding people through teaching the scriptures, bringing the whole counsel of God into every situation so that they can do works of service. What is necessary is a clear understanding of the truth, an ability for the evangelist to proclaim it to unbelievers, and an ability for the pastor to shepherd the flock in that truth. For both, there should be godliness of lifestyle, reflected in genuine ‘love’ (echoes back to 4:2).
In other words, what is needed in training for gospel ministry can be summed up in three words: knowledge, skills, and personal formation.
You need to have the necessary knowledge and skills to apply the Bible, entailing exegesis (how to understand texts), hermeneutics (how to interpret these texts), and the appropriate skills for delivering the Bible’s message to your particular context. You need to understand how the Church guided by the Holy Spirit has wrestled with these issues through history. You need a sensitive and robust systematic theology, so that you can synthesize the biblical data. You need to be able to understand people and the contexts in which they live, so that you can minister to them more effectively. And, above all, you need to be fashioned as a man or woman into one who is godly and prayerful, whose gifts are not exercised except with a servant heart.
It seems to me that a biblical, rigorous, formal, theological education is critical in this process. To be sure, some have reached great heights without the benefit of a strong, formal theological education. But because they didn’t have the benefits, don’t assume that it’s an adequate model, or that you can reach their heights without it. How many such greats are there? Why ever would you not want to avail yourself of the best possible training for a life-time of gospel ministry? Has this strategy of ignoring or neglecting such a theological education worked in this country? It doesn’t seem so to me. I find it rather ironic that you need a degree to teach in a primary school, but in our churches we’re too often happy with the “gifted amateur.” Didn’t the disciples get 3 years of training with Jesus, to be set apart with him? The crying need for our day is for evangelists and pastors with a deep grasp of the truth as well as a passion for and developing gifts in communication.
When you have the desire to teach (1 Tim 3:1), and when a wide variety of people from inside and outside the church endorse this route, recognising in you the appropriate gifts and godliness (cf. John 10; Acts 20; 1 Thess. 2; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1 etc.).
What advice would you give to a young Christian going to a new town in terms of a church? The same things apply in my advice for training: soundness of teaching; supportive nurture; faith expressing itself through love. I would hardly recommend somewhere with a liberal vicar / pastor to test them. Some helpful questions to ask yourself:
1. What does the particular college / course aim to develop in its students?
2. How central is the study of biblical theology to the course offered?
3. What efforts are made to link together the various modules into an integrated programme?
4. How relevant and helpful to future ministry are the practical ministerial training elements of the course? Are these elements integrated with the rest of the course?
5. How strongly do current students recommend the college and for what reasons?
Key question: how each option enables above questions to be answered in the best way.
The Church of England funds its ordinands through theological college. Others pay their own way through a mixture of support from trust funds, friends, savings, home church, working in vacations. Remember that if the Lord is in it, He has the resources to make it happen!
James Robson
Tutor in Biblical Studies at Oak Hill Theological College