I often feel that I’m stuck in the middle, walking down a path between two fools – those who reject knowledge and those who have made knowledge an idol – both for whom I have great affection. There is an old hit song from the 1970’s that I have adopted as my new anthem. Stealers Wheel wrote and performed Stuck in the Middle with You, a song that made Billboard’s top ten in 1973. The lyrics of the chorus include these words: “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right; Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.”
Too many ministers have rejected knowledge. They profess to be called into the ministry, but resist every effort at formal training. They view education with suspicion. But, the inspired sage declared, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction“ (Proverbs 1:7). If one is called into the Gospel ministry, then we must affirm that the call to ministry is foremost a call to prayerful study. The divine call requires a season devoted to study. In fact, the divine call requires a lifelong devotion to study. If we continue to resist the call to study, then we will reap the seeds of ignorance. Hosea cried out, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
Because many pastors are woefully unprepared for ministry in the 21st century, many churches are bordering on irrelevance. An entire generation will be lost because ministers cannot adequately explain the relevance of the Faith to their lives and culture. Too many are reading commentaries written in the 19th century, singing the songs of the 20th century, and offering answers to questions that no one is asking. Many ministers are affirming the faith of the faithful, but not challenging unbelievers to believe. If we are going to do ministry in this post-modern, flat world; then we must be willing to wrestle with the difficult questions that are being posed by this generation – questions about human sexuality, religious pluralism, and scientific discovery. We can no longer simply proclaim, “Because the Bible says so.” Just as the early Christians prevailed by offering an informed apologetic (an explanation of the Faith), post-modern pastors must be well informed so that our explanation of the Faith is challenging and compelling while holding to the historic Faith. When I was first credentialed as a minister in the Church of God, the only education requirement was to completely read the Bible. Now, we have a ministerial development program that offers minimal requirements, but remains woefully inadequate to the task before us. We must move from a ministerial development model that emphasizes initial requirements, but ignores the need of disciplined, lifelong study. Like it or not, in our world education matters. Formal education opens doors of opportunity in this post-modern world.
On the other hand, some ministers have made knowledge a false god, worshiping at academic institutions where degrees and accolades are sacrament. Paul declared, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:21-22). Notice that Paul said “they knew God,” but “they became fools.” Like it or not, the reason many ministers reject the academy is because scholars sometimes sound utterly foolish speaking in unknown tongues that defy interpretation. Some scholars embrace an imaginative hermeneutic that creates ahistorical myths, contextualizing the Gospel to fit political, economic, and social prejudices, right and left. But this contextualized Gospel has little appeal to the multitudes. Scholars gather together to applaud one another’s fanciful musings while looking down their noses on the poor ignorant masses. Scholars tend to be too narrowly focused on their field of interest which inhibits their visual field. Scholars often make the mistake of assuming that their academic credentials give them credibility with the multitudes. If scholars are to be taken seriously, they must walk humbly and speak softly. They must not alienate the very people they are called to mentor. Scholars must understand that they serve the mission of Jesus Christ and are accountable to the church in which they serve. Scholars must hear the words of Paul: “If I… know all mysteries and all knowledge… but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
All of us, teachers and disciples, must learn to walk together as “fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Corinthians 4:10). We must resist the temptation to reject knowledge and the temptation to make knowledge a false god. God has gifted the church with teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Those who have worked hard at study and teaching are worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17). Teachers are charged to be careful that their words promote sound doctrine and holy living (1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:9). Teachers must never forget that “the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).
All who are called to serve the church in preaching and teaching must answer the call to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (1 Timothy 2:15). There are no short cuts. Study is hard work, it takes time, and education is expensive. However, if we desire to be teachers and preachers, then we must dedicate ourselves to the lifelong discipline of study.
*This was originally posted on April 1, 2013.
