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sermonindex
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Joined: 2002/12/11
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Online! | |
 2008/3/5 18:11 | Profile |
jgraves11
Member
Joined: 2008/1/26
Posts: 55
Munford, TN
| | Re: | | Quote:
It is only a needed evil if we desire to take part in the clergy-laity, sunday morning-wednesday evening, religous institution of our day and exalt ourselves over the lay people (like the pope) by learning the deep things of a denominations theology so we can later become employed by them...
I understand that you dont need an education to share Christ, I agree with you on that. My question is, from you quote you seem to be condeming the local church. We are called to gather together and worship, we are also called to equip the saints of God. Also even if you go to a seminary where you may not agree with everything they teach you, do you not think it beneficial to be around other men who have been called to the ministry, the whole Iron sharpens Iron thing. It disturbs me that so many who say to not go or think twice about going end up saying that the church is a waste of time. If young men of God only needed the Bible to be equipped why did Paul write the pastoral letters, shouldnt these young men (Timothy, Titus) have just figured this out on their own? Once again I agree with you to a certain extent I am only fearful that somewhere along the way we will lose balance and put so much emphasis on personal experience that we lose the corporate worship that we are called to as well. Anyway I am not trying to condemn anyone just wanted to hopefully add to the discussion
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John Graves
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| 2008/3/5 19:07 | Profile |
| | Re: | | brother,
Quote:
or even to belong to a local fellowship here in babylon and use your gifts and talents to minister to the body of Christ.
I am in no way condemning the local church, just the vast majority of institutional American Christianity that looks and acts more like a corporate pyramid or Rome then the body of Christ we see in the New Testament. May we all use our gifts and talents in whatever way the Lord enables us, and not allow the chains of american church traditions to hold us back from our high calling in Christ Jesus. The majority of Bible colleges pump out men who will go on to oppress and mislead the very elect if that were possible.
I believe the 85-90% false conversion rate in our evangelical churches back up this claim. This is a hard truth to argue against.
In Christ - Jim |
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| 2008/3/5 19:22 | |
LoveHim
Member
Joined: 2007/6/14
Posts: 562
Indiana, US
| | Re: | | thanks for the link. he who has ears, let him hear.
also the 5 part sermon of standing apart is very good as well.
thanks,
phil
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| 2008/3/5 19:44 | Profile |
| | Re: | |
Amen. Thanks for sharing! (PS. Skip forward and START listening at the 2 min. mark) |
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| 2008/3/5 22:29 | |
ccchhhrrriiisss
Member
Joined: 2003/11/23
Posts: 4779
| | Re: | | Hello...
A former pastor once told me that Bible College is just a very expensive Bible study and prayer meeting. A person no more needs a degree to be a minister of the Gospel than an artist needs a degree to paint.
While some wonderful men of God have "earned" a degree, a license and an ordination -- some really great men of God did not. Who? How about Peter, James and John? How about John Bunyan? In fact, Bunyan went to prison for refusing to receive a "free" and open-ended license.
I suppose that it might be pertinent to question our motive for Bible school. Are we going to win the approval or respect of a denomination, a local Church, or the government? Or do we simply desire to learn much more about the things of God (including the languages, history and customs of the Bible)?
I studied through a correspondence Bible college. Why? It wasnt to receive a degree, a license or an ordination. I simply enjoyed the information found in the textbooks. I never finished the courses, but I did enjoy the study. I didnt agree with all of the theology, but I enjoyed the fact that the courses allowed me to search the Word of God for answers. But the tuition was quite expensive. Im glad that I didnt keep on paying the tuition, although I enjoyed the books.
:-)
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Christopher
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| 2008/3/5 22:36 | Profile |
Compton
Member
Joined: 2005/2/24
Posts: 2732
| | Re: | | Quote:
A person no more needs a degree to be a minister of the Gospel than an artist needs a degree to paint.
Hi Chris,
This may not be the best comparison, unless you are thinking of ministry as a hobby or a past-time. ;-) (A serious artist might not need a printed degree...but they do need years of disciplined instruction.)
Blessings,
MC
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Mike Compton
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| 2008/3/5 23:06 | Profile |
warriorofgod
Member
Joined: 2006/2/26
Posts: 193
| | Re: | |
Quote:
(A serious artist might not need a printed degree...but they do need years of disciplined instruction.)
As do all who wish to be prosperous in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ, with or without college. |
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| 2008/3/6 1:55 | Profile |
burningfur
Member
Joined: 2006/10/19
Posts: 6
| | Re: Think twice before going to Bible College/University!!! | | Though Josef is correct in what he is saying and I agree with him 100%, I want to ask your opinion of my situation.
I'm the eldest of three children. I recently finished my generals at a community college and now am going to get my degree in Biblical Studies. Though, I know that I could begin ministry as a youth pastor somewhere, I feel that I must finish my education for a few reasons.
First, I take the honor your parents commandment seriously. It would be a great dishonor to them personally if I were to drop out. Both dropped out of college and have had to work hard all their lives to make a living without a degree.
Second, as the eldest child in the family, my brother and sister both look up to me. I believe that if I were to drop out, I would be a bad influence on them. They're both in college as teenagers.
When praying about this, I've not heard God calling me elsewhere to youth ministry, no doors have yet opened for that. I've been a street evangelist for three and a half years. |
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| 2008/3/6 2:46 | Profile |
| | Re: | | Hi burningfur,
I believe a situation like yours is quite unique, at least in terms of how you view things. I don't believe anyone can give you the *right* answer, because that's between you and God. Ultimately, you have to do what God leads you to do, and do whatever you must to keep a clear conscience before God. A pure heart and a clean conscience are priceless, absolutely precious, and whatever you do, keep them unspotted. |
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| 2008/3/6 4:22 | |
