Should all pastors be scholars?

[One Bad Pig]

I think I've shared this before, but I preached a revival in Kentucky once where I was told quite plainly that "you're either God-called or man-made" as a preacher. Somebody who has been educated is most certainly in the latter category.

...but also has a decent probability of being in the former category as well.

And then you have Al $harpton, who was "ordained" as a child and never edumacated. I rather suspect he's in the latter category too.

[One Bad Pig]

Then there's the curious case of the Carpenter of Nazareth...

...who was curiously in tune with the Holy Spirit.

[Cow Poke]

...who was curiously in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Yeah, like ... REALLY in tune!

[Cow Poke]

...but also has a decent probability of being in the former category as well.

And then you have Al $harpton, who was "ordained" as a child and never edumacated. I rather suspect he's in the latter category too.

I've always wondered what the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson was... um... what was his reverendness about?

[Thoughtful Monk]

What level of theological knowledge should be required for someone to be a pastor of a church? Is all that's required a very basic understanding of the gospel, or should they all be at least somewhat conversant in apologetics? Or church history? Or biblical languages?

There has to be some level of these things. A lot of this thread has emphasized the over-taught and ineffective pastor. Having lived through a under taught and ineffective pastor who was known to teach heresy, I'm a little suspicious of low education pastors.

To be fair, I guess it comes down to the level of education is not an indicator of how effective a man will be as a pastor. It all comes down to the man.

I will also add I've encountered more pastors who after some experience with them I determine they have no business being in the pulpit than people I've known who I thought should be pastors who weren't. The world would probably be better off with fewer pastors.

[KingsGambit]

A decent knowledge base is important but with some, say, apologetics topics I think it may do just as well if there's somebody in the church like an elder they can refer somebody to if they're struggling with that issue. All pastors should be able to answer grieving people who ask where God is in their suffering - that one isn't optional.

[QuantaFille]

1 Corinthians 13 makes it clear that knowledge in itself is useless. Love is essential. I guess my question could be better stated, "is compassion enough on its own, or is education also necessary?"

[Cow Poke]

1 Corinthians 13 makes it clear that knowledge in itself is useless. Love is essential. I guess my question could be better stated, "is compassion enough on its own, or is education also necessary?"

Yes.

[Cow Poke]

1 Corinthians 13 makes it clear that knowledge in itself is useless. Love is essential. I guess my question could be better stated, "is compassion enough on its own, or is education also necessary?"

I know it's an old cliche, but here goes anyway... "they don't care what you know til they know that you care".

[KingsGambit]

On the other hand, some knowledge of how to interpret the Bible is needed to love properly. A number of people have concluded that Christians should condone homosexuality because it's the loving thing to do and God is love. Even the pastor of the church I grew up in has fallen into this trap. Obviously we need to go to the Bible to determine what the loving thing really is here (and this may involve some research because some of the arguments used to defend this nonsense can be clever).

[Christianbookworm]

This kind of discussion (which I enjoy) reminds me of....

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

(I think that verse may be, at least in part, at the heart of what OBP was alluding to)

Spending a few years with Jesus has got to be the equivalent of a seminary degree! Minus the actual diploma of course. The 12 apostles didn't get a piece of paper saying that they had learned from the Rabbi Jesus.

[Adrift]

There has to be some level of these things. A lot of this thread has emphasized the over-taught and ineffective pastor. Having lived through a under taught and ineffective pastor who was known to teach heresy, I'm a little suspicious of low education pastors.

To be fair, I guess it comes down to the level of education is not an indicator of how effective a man will be as a pastor. It all comes down to the man.

I will also add I've encountered more pastors who after some experience with them I determine they have no business being in the pulpit than people I've known who I thought should be pastors who weren't. The world would probably be better off with fewer pastors.

Yeah, Christians have this strange habit I've mentioned before where we go too far one way or the other. Christian Fundamentalism grew out of the idea that over-edumacation had effectively turned Bible scholars into a bunch of ivory tower snobs who lost the heart of the gospel for all their scholarly knowledge. There are a number of congregations kickin around that not only are pastored by people with little to no education, but are actively distrustful of education. This opens the way for all sorts of heretical teaching that comes from a plain reading of a King James Bible, or finds heterodox clergy thinking themselves scholars for occasionally using a Strong's concordance. And of course, there are heavily formal high churches where the clergy are all knowed up, who really have lost the heart of the Gospel for all their deep noodling on theology, and ecclesiology, and what not. There's a middle way between the two, but finding a church that finds that middle way can be hard going. I've been to every type of church out there, and some lean closer to that middle way than others, but I've yet to find one that hits the mark. I've learned, instead, to try to get something out of any place I go.

[Sparko]

Being a pastor is more than knowledge of the bible. An apologist is usually knowledgeable of the bible but is not necessarily a pastor. A pastor is a shepherd, someone who has the gift of leading others, and serving them. Not just teaching, but compassion and caring for them. You can't learn that in college. I think a pastor is called. And once called he has a duty to educate himself. Whether through college or other means is not important.

[Obsidian]

1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

This implies that it is possible to be a 'pastor,' while also a bad teacher. But it is discouraged.

John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

A pastor means a shepherd. This passage shows that a pastor is basically defined by his job of feeding the sheep -- which refers to teaching.

Proverbs 4:7-8
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:
she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

This passage shows that wisdom and knowledge are highly important.

Acts 6:2
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

This verse shows that people who serve the poor (something mentioned earlier in the thread) are not actually pastors, but deacons.

[Cow Poke]

1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

This implies that it is possible to be a 'pastor,' while also a bad teacher.

It does?