Why is it important to have educational teachings as a young minister?

[Pastor T.R. Harris]

I am often asked this question by many young ministers seeking to become licensed by their pastors; Why do I need an education to be a licensed minister? Why is this a requirement they ask?

[Joseph Gill]

How do you answer them?

[Cynthia D. Johnson]

I would like to know the answer as well.  I know many who are ordained ministers without going to seminary schools.  Is it not the Holy Spirit which leads and guides us in the path of all truth? Is it not the Holy Spirit teaches us the things of God?

I'm not saying Seminary School is wrong, but you have to be careful of which seminary school you attend.  The world’s wisdom of how they view God is different than what God's wisdom is.

I know of a few Pastors who only had 3^rd and 6^th grade education and the Holy Spirit taught them and they are very anointed with the power of God.

So why is having an education required to be an ordained minister?

Cynthia D. Johnson

[Pastor Jonathan]

I hope we are not promoting and authorizing children to preach and teach in the church.  Luke 2:46, "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."  God has ordained the parents to teach the children and not vice versa.  It might look cute but it is has not been authorized nor ordained by God.  It seems from your post that a lot of young people want to be licensed ministers.  Tell them if they are still here in another 10-15 years that you will see about there ministry license. 

 

Jeremiah 1:7, "But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." Here, Jeremiah is referring to his lack of experience  and personal reservations concerning his God given prophetic appointment.  The Hebrew word for child is "naar" and it commonly refers to a young man of about twenty years of age.  Typically the young men began ministry at or around the age of thirty, the same as Jesus.

 

Your question, "Why do I need an education to be a licensed minister?"  If man requires you to have a license to minister than you need a license.  License:  meaning -  a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful.  A ministerial license is no different than requiring a driver's license to drive.  You need a barber's license to cut hair.  The problem is that a license obtained through seminary training does not qualify a person to function as a minister within God's church. 

 

Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."  Christ is the licensing authority of his church and the Holy Spirit is his CEO.  Jeremiah was ordained by God prior to receiving any type of ministerial training.  Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

 

Today we see people (devil) using seminary school to qualify themselves for an executive position in God's business establishment (church).  Seminary school has made it even easier for the devil to infiltrate the church.  Get a seminary degree and become a minister.  Church ministry is the only vocation that a person cannot choose for a profession.  You can choose to become the President of the U.S., become a rocket scientist, a neurosurgeon, etc., but only God can truly qualify his ministers.  God is spirit and our worship is in spirit and truth.

 

Only if you have been ordained by God, will he put his words in your mouth to deliver to his people.  Jeremiah 1:9, "Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."  All ministers anointed and appointed by God will receive the appropriate training as ordered by God whether it be through seminary school, self-study, the school of "hard knocks" or a combination of the three."

 

The devil wants you to believe that you cannot read, study and learn the word of God without going to seminary school.  Understand that the word of God is free the same as salvation.  Well I guess some churches have started charging you for the word of God, they always have a cost for this and a cost for that.

 

Seminary will simply be an extension of biblical education from self-study, parental and spiritual training by the Holy Spirit.  If you are called to seminary school be sure that it is a school operated by people of God and not teachers of men.   

 

If people are asking you why they need an education to become a licensed minister it would appear that they have some sort of hidden agenda or ulterior motive connected to their ministerial zeal.  Someone who truly has a call on their life by God would not even entertain that question.  They already know that man cannot stop what God has ordained and that God has already ordered their every footstep whether it be through seminary training or self-study.  Remember that for a minister, studying the word of God will not end until they have completed their ministry obligation here on this earth.  

[Mrs. Denise Jones]

Smiling Bro. Pitbull..excellent reply.  Oh and that part about "The devil wants you to believe that you cannot read, study and learn the word of God without going to seminary school. Understand that the word of God is free the same as salvation" is so right.  That subtle spirit will have you doubting the Word of God, making you think that man can control God instead of God controlling man.  Such as pointing out how the Roman empire and the things they changed in the bible and history of culture etc., and deny the POWER of God to have CONTROL, but put doubt on the word of God and not the books that are teaching contrary that is the works of how the devil tries to infultrate the minds of the people of God.  Unbelievable and again, great post.

 

In Love, Sister. Denise

[Cynthia D. Johnson]

Amen Ms. Jones and Bro Pitbull...

[Pastor Jonathan]

Now, Now Watson.  The reason why you don't have a congregation is because you have put your mouth on anointed preachers of God.  You and your ministry are a "Non-Factor" in this Kingdom agenda to proclaim the word of God. 

[Pastor Jonathan]

You are not a senior pastor at your age and never will be because of your attitude.  Obviously you are not called to lead the people of God.  You are living in a pathetic cemetery, I mean seminary world that you have created to compensate for your inability to effectively minister in spirit and in truth.  You have put your mouth on anointed men and women of God.  You need to repent.

[Pastor Jonathan]

The largest predominate white church in America is pastored by a man who comes from a generation of preachers that are well respected?  Umm?

 

Education

It has been widely reported that Osteen attended Oral Roberts University  

Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a two year period without receiving a degree. Likewise, it has been reported that he has no higher level training in religious matters or Bible studies. In an appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight in January, 2011, Osteen mentioned that he had never attended seminary. In an earlier interview on Fox News in 2008 during the U.S. Presidential primary race, when discussing whether he thought that a Mormon was a Christian, Osteen indicated that he believed that they were, but further noted that he had not studied the religion.

Kinda sounds like his steps were ordained by the Lord whether he attended seminary or not.

[Pastor Jonathan]

You critique a lot of preachers who are not concerned about Anthony Watson.  We know what they have done but what have you done?  Are they listening to you or, Jakes, Olsteen, Jones, etc?  You will have to ask yourself why God has not given you a platform to proclaim his word except in your hood or on your block?  I guess what I am trying to say is that your opinion doesn't hold a whole lot of weight with very many people.  

[Pastor Jonathan]

Billy Graham declined seminary also.  Again, who is Anthony Watson?  Anybody? 

 

William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. (born November 7, 1918) is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents^[1] dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for the 20th century.^[2] He is a Southern Baptist.^[3][4] He rose to celebrity status as his sermons were broadcast on radio and television.

Graham has preached the Gospel in person to more people than any other person in history.^[5] According to his staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, many to the altar call song "Just As I Am". ^[6] As of 2008, Graham's lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.^[5]

 

Graham transferred in January 1937 from Bob Jones College to Florida Bible Institute, and then finally to Wheaton College in 1939. Graham attended Wheaton College from 1939 to 1943, when he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology.^[14] While attending college, he became pastor of the United Gospel Tabernacle and also had other preaching engagements.

Graham served briefly as pastor of the Village Church in Western Springs, Illinois, not far from Wheaton, in 1943-44. While there, his friend Torrey Johnson, pastor of the Midwest Bible Church in Chicago, told Graham that his radio program "Songs in the Night" was about to be canceled for lack of funding. Consulting with the members of his church in Western Springs, Graham decided to take over Johnson's program with financial support from his parishioners. Launching the new radio program on January 2, 1944, still called Songs in the Night, Graham recruited the baritone George Beverly Shea as his director of radio ministry. While the radio ministry continued for many years, Graham decided to move on in early 1945, and in 1947, at age 30, he became the youngest person to serve as a sitting college president during his tenure at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Graham served as the president of Northwestern College from 1948 to 1952.

Initially, Graham intended to become a chaplain in the armed forces, but shortly after applying for a commission contracted mumps. After a period of recuperation in Florida, Graham was hired as the first full time evangelist of the new Youth for Christ International (YFCI) which was co-founded by Torrey Johnson and evangelist Charles Templeton. He traveled throughout the United States and Europe as an evangelist for YFCI. Unlike many evangelists then and now, Graham had little formal theological training; when his friend Chuck Templeton urged him to join him in applying to Princeton Theological Seminary, Graham declined to do so.^[7]

[Pastor Melvin King]

Mr. Watson, Please define for me the word jack-leg and explain to me as well why wouldn't God ordain him, as you seem to be an authority on the so-called jack-leg preacher, and who God chooses to ordain.

I have learned that while preaching is foolishness to men, God saw that by the foolishness of preaching, men might be saved. Wise men win souls. Are we winning souls...Honestly?...hmmm.

[Pastor Melvin King]

I only ask for definitions so that I am clear on your meaning when you say a word. Although we use the same words in our language, our concept of these words are sometimes different. I do not won't to judge your words incorrectly. I apologize if I have inconvenienced you by my approach and or mannerism. However, You did in fact mention something about the ordination of jack-leg preachers, but if you move to strike those words which did proceed from you, I will proceed no further with that particular question. It would be absurd for a man to go to an amateur dentist or doctor...unless...circumstance will not permit him to go to the pros. A wounded bank robber wouldn't go to a hospital given the choice, nor would a six year old be hauled off to the dentist for a loose tooth. I too am disappointed with the entertainers and the Hollywood preachers, but to say that a man is jack-leg and not worthy of ordination because he did not graduate from a seminary is preposterous. I find it hard for someone to think this way without first condemning himself. Some people will not hear Rev. Watson, even if he teach the oracles of God till a horn grows out of his nose. And some will not hear Rev. Pittbull even if he preaches till fire comes out of his eyes. There are those who will hear you, and there are those who will hear another. You minister one way, and another man another, but nevertheless the gospel is preached. While I love and admire Dr. King, I do not hold to this quote: 

"We (the Black church) have more religion in our hands and feet than we have in our hearts and souls. We are more interested in muscleism rather than spiritualism." 

(1) I have more faith in our people to think that we fall behind in the knowledge of God, that we are impoverished regarding spiritual things in our hearts and soul.

(2) I am not a fan of religion, and I doubt that God is very pleased with it either.

So while this quote may sound profound, it is not, and is about as interesting as watching paint dry.