Introduction
One wonders why the Christian community
will say those who teach the Gospel must have a Bible school degree. Often, these
highly educated individuals will not always quote from Scripture but man’s works.
These educated men often use other works
and neglect the Word of God almost altogether. Though these works are by men of
God, the Scripture gives life, not men’s writings. Moderation of man’s results shows
validity, but not as the primary source: the Bible must remain the critical foundation.
I have been in services where the preachers will often quote the same individual
to make his point, what happened to Scripture? Education has a high value, but knowledge
without wisdom and humility is wrong, even in the Church.
The Church Focus
The Church is God’s people and must focus
on the Word. When the Church leaves scriptures for other written works composed
by men, they are putting the Church of God at risk, and it will drown in a sea of
hopelessness and despair. Remember, the Word of God gives life, not the works of
men.
Should Pastors Have a College Degree?
Paul had the Old Testament works to turn
to in his study of God’s Word. As we understand, these words written by God’s men
represent the Old Testament in the Bible we have today. These guided Paul throughout
his life as he wrote to the different Fellowships in the towns and villages he visited
on his missionary journey.
Acts 22:3 says,
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but
brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law
of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
Yes, Paul had an excellent education
as he was at the feet of one of the best Jewish teachers of all time, Gamaliel.
Many individuals today in the Church
have little understanding that many Apostles had a very cursory education to today’s
standard.
These ordinary men, some fishers, a tax
collector, and others took the Word of God to the known world and changed it. These individuals
not only took the Word; they wrote parts of the New Testament. They trusted God to
lead them to teach the simplicity of the Saving Gospel of Life.
1 Corinthians 1:27 says,
But God has chosen the foolish things of the
world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame
the things which are strong.
Education in The Church Today
The Church has so many educated individuals
that an ordinary and godly man cannot teach or preach today. I have seen individuals
with little to no college but spoke powerfully of the truth of Scripture. However,
today they would never attain a pastor or teacher’s position because of a lack of
formal education. Even though his doctrine is sound, these individuals may not have
an education, cannot preach or teach.
Has experience become old-fashioned with
the modern Church? What is the problem? Education is excellent, but it also needs
both wisdom and humility. Most people nowadays have a solid foundation of education
in America, but many lack common sense.
Paul Came Preaching and Teaching Humbly
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 says,
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not
come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of
God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and
my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not
rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Paul, an educated man, said he was no
better than anyone else with God’s Word. He humbly began with the only desire of
knowing Jesus Christ. The Church seems to know what others say about their written
works more than the Scripture. Paul did NOT want our faith to rest on man, ‘one’s
faith should not rest, on the wisdom of men,’ but in God. When Paul came to Berea,
he finds these Bereans more noble-minded.
Acts 17:11 says,
Now, these were more noble-minded than
those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with great eagerness, examining
the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
The Bereans used the Scripture to find
the truth, not the works of other men. What happened to Sola Scriptura? Knowing
what is in the Bible and practicing its precepts are more significant than man’s
results.
The Church Concerned with Appearance
The Church in America today has become
overly concerned with its physical appearances, then with the truth. Their concerns
seem to follow the path of having many possessions and wealth by saying that God
is blessing them (e.g., Buildings, land, large bank accounts, etc.). The supreme
sermon ever spoken and heard was on the hillside given by Jesus Christ, and called,
‘The Sermon on the Mount.’ There was no fancy building or seats or even a restroom.
No, the Church today becomes overly concerned with its looks and only talks about
the lost sinner in faraway lands and cannot see the person next door.
This way of life may seem innocent to
the masses, but it destroys the Church from within, with a selfish attitude. This
attitude may come from the pulpit in the “health and wealth Gospel” preached today
in the States.
These fellowships lack the understanding
of humility and selflessness. These fellowships will only look for a pastor with
a master’s degree or better to fill the pulpit; this idea is absurd. Where are the
pastors who are like Peter? One should always remember formal education is excellent,
but only a few Apostles were fortunate enough to have one.
One Pressing Problems in the Church Today
One of the significant issues in the
Church today is allowing women to teach and preach to adult men. This idea directly
violates God’s Word from Timothy. The authority for preaching or teaching the ‘Simplicity
of the Gospel’ belongs to males, not females.
1 Timothy 2:11-14 says,
A woman must quietly receive instruction
with entire submissiveness. But I allow no woman to
teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For Adam was first created, and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman being deceived fell into transgression.
The verses in Timothy are abundantly
clear. However, men will say it was okay back then, but not today. Yes, some restrictions
changed in the New Testament era, such as eating foods. Change is nice, but not
the compromising of God’s Holy Word. Many women can preach or teach, but they do
not have the authority from the Word of God. When a woman preaches or teaches an
adult man, they disobey the Word of God, and that is an offense!
Hebrews 13:8 says,
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
today and forever.
If God inspires Scripture, then this
quoted above is valid for today. Yes, Timothy learned the Word of God from his mother
and grandmother (Old Testament). However, that training only lasted until he became
a man.
Women must raise their children in fear
of the Lord. But they still want more. Women often forget that Satan deceived the
woman and not the man, and this might be why the Scripture does not allow women
to Preach or teach over men.
1 Timothy 2:14 says,
And it was not Adam deceived, but the
woman being deceived fell into transgression.
Conclusion
The Simplicity of the Gospel has not
failed and will not fail. However, man could not obey. Because of the Church’s weakness,
lazy men, it delegated this preaching and teaching the simplicity of the Gospel
responsibility to women ignoring Scripture. Men have remained silent and neglected
their duty, and wonder what is happening throughout the country and the world.
Many individuals will reason, they do
not possess the training to preach or teach and hand it over to women to do the
work. Those men with the ability should train those lacking in understanding God’s
Word so they can take over when the elderly pass from this world to be with God.
The Church has forgotten that Jesus’ apostles were simple laborers, not educated
men with Ph.D.
Matthew 10:7-8 says,
And as you go, preach,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
Jesus talked about the reception of the
Gospel message, saying I freely gave it.
There is an individual I know had no
Bible until I had given her one. She believed an influential person ruled all the
universe but did not understand this person. As she read the Scriptures, the Holy
Spirit opened her eyes to the simplicity of its teaching, and she embraced it happily.
This individual has a cursory education; however, she understood God’s Word. When
I say little education, I mean only an 8th-grade education.
What happened in America? Why has the
Church failed to stem-the-tide of corruption? Where is the Army of God? Has it retreated,
running like a coward in the enemy’s face? We have a simple message to get out,
but many seem wrapped up in themselves to care about others.
Sola Scriptura–By Scripture Alone
Sola Fide–By Faith Alone
Sola Gratia–By Grace Alone
Solus Christus–By Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria–Glory to God Alone
Copyright George L Gallant, ©2021
New
American Standard Bible: 1995 Update
(La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)
