I subscribe to The Briefing: “a short regular shot of encouragement and fresh Christian thinking to stimulate biblically faithful Christian life and ministry.” – and it does this, mostly.
Ths month’s issue included an article by a church leader who reads the Bible one-on-one, weekly, with several men in his church. This is terrific. The writer notes the joy he gets from one man and the “big lifestyle changes as the word of God has gripped him”.
“Another joy for me is seeing blokes go into [Bible] college”.
Hmm, here I have problems.
Is it so much better to see a man go to Bible college than to see a man go into a bank, a software company, local government, the butcher’s, the baker’s, the candlestick maker’s and living faithfully for God there? Why does the writer not mention the joy that gives him? Perhaps, deep down in his subconscious, he thinks the biggest need – and therefore the most important thing – is for men to go to Bible college to learn how to handle the Bible and teach it.
I disagree. In fact, I think it’s harmful, since it (unintendedly) sends out the message that those who work in banks, software companies, local government, etc, etc, aren’t quite as important.
Click here for the full original article from the the Briefing, which is good in many ways.
September 23, 2009 at 9:08 am |
But, doesn’t the church need teachers, or else it will die out in a generation? Perhaps 2 Tim 2:2 applies. At least, that’s what someone told me. Discuss.