In one sense, I am tired of college. I'd like to be done and in full time ministry. I know...I know..."I'm in the ministry now." Sounds like a song. Why should I be in college? Why should I seek to get a Masters Degree after spending 4 years and thousands of dollars on a bachelors degree? Do the people back home really care about all the things we sit in class and argue and otherwise "discuss"? Dichotomy, Trichotomy; Majority or Minority text; do you have to ask Jesus to be "Lord of your life" before you are really saved; what about the elect; the list could go on and on. And frankly, most people I know really don't know and don't care about these issues. I recently sat in a seminar discussing how to choose a seminary. For the first 35 minutes, the discussion revolved around whether or not we should go to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. There were two things I really got out of the discussion, or maybe three or four. We'll see how many I come up with. At first I was frustrated. I didn't understand most of what they were discussing...anybody know what the "new hermeneutic" is?. Why would you want to go there anyway? The guys asking the questions aren't Southern Baptists. They are independent Baptists. But for some reason they thought it would be good for them to consider going. Like I said, I was frustrated, ready to walk out, go home and teach the teen class where the issues at stake were whether or not these kids would decide to live for God or follow the world. So why should I go to seminary if the issues that are being discussed really don't seem to affect my peoples lives? As I pondered that question, I started thinking about my pastoral theology class. I am to be a shepherd. What does a shepherd do? Well among other things, he guards his flock. The sheep don't know all the habits and ways of the wolves and false shepherds out there. And at present neither do I. It is my duty to keep those wolves and false shepherds from getting anywhere near my flock. The only way I can do that is to know their ways. Once I know them, I can warn, or instill fences in the lives of my sheep so when they hear about, or see one of those wolves or false shepherds, they know automatically what is wrong with wolves or false shepherds.
There are two hill and two valleys that I can clearly see without the aid of photographs. The one hill is Monument Hill and the corresponding valley is the Quincy Valley. From my house it takes 15 or 20 minutes to drive to the top of it. Once you reach the top, you can see the Quincy Valley. Seated in the middle of the valley is the town of Quincy. And when I see it, I see lost people, hurting people, scattered sheep. I can see the people who are seeking the American Dream. Their gods are self, entertainment, ease of life. I see the Hispanics, seeking to better their lives but living in squalor. And in a small, human way, my heart is moved with compassion. They are all lost sheep, scattered with no shepherd to care, feed, and protect them.
The other hill is Castle Rock; the corresponding valley is the Wenatchee Valley. This hill takes a couple of hours to hike up to, but the view once you get up is of the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. And once again I see people. I see the rich people who go skiing on the winter weekends, boating and wine tasting on the summer weekends. I see the homeless people walking the streets with no hope except the hope that someone will give them a handout. And once again my heart is moved. Why not go now? Why should I stay and get more schooling? Because I need it to properly shepherd my people. I don't fully understand it all yet, nor will I ever, but my view of salvation, sanctification, and a whole host of other subjects directly influences the way I will witness and disciple the people I am given to shepherd. They may never realize how it all affects them but it does. There is a "new hermeneutic" out there. I don't know what it is. But I need to know so I can compare it with scripture and find out if it matches up. My people may never hear about it but at some point it could affect their lives in a way I don't know or see now. That is why I and most people need further education. To properly guard and feed; to properly shepherd their flock.
I don't have all the answers. I don't want all the answers. This way, I am forced to my knees and to the Bible--to the Chief Shepherd--so He can shepherd me in shepherding the flock He has given me.
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3 comments:
Stay strong. Press on. It's worth it.
Yeah, heard about the new hermeneutic... it's worth caring about. And as long as you remember the sheep while you study the wolves, I think you can do well to study the wolves and the types of grass that the sheep should eat. Just remember that you don't need the degree to help the sheep, you need the learning (or parts of it) behind that degree.
Question - What would you argue is the profit (or whether or not there is)of someone like me understanding all this? (speaking more or less about the new hermeneutic and all such similar things)
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