The Future of Pastoral Training

"What was one of the most powerful sermons Martyn Lloyd-Jones ever gave? According to his biographer, Iain Murray, it was ML-J’s address at London Bible College on May 10, 1958. His text from his AV was 2 Timothy 2:15-16: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Some may think this merely the uncritical reflection of a hagiographer, yet the great OT scholar E. J. Young, who was present, told some students later that he had heard nothing equal to it since the death of Gresham Machen.

The mood leading up to this event was rife with tension because ML-J disagreed sharply with founding principal—and his host—Ernest Kevan, who led the school from 1946–65. ML-J believed that the uncritical acceptance of unbelieving and liberal studies did not equip students for the pastorate. It is one thing to expose students to such beliefs, yet another to raise critical questions without bequeathing the biblical and critical apparatus that dismantles such foolish and tired speculations. Kevan, for his part, promoted this widening theological posture of academic training that would be accepted by more liberal-minded denominations. For ML-J, this poison in the classroom would eventually mean death to the churches, a mistake that seminaries today continue to propagate in the name of academic acceptance.

The Doctor’s address took aim at the complete lack of concern over error in the religious world raising Paul’s warning that it “will eat as doth a canker” (2 Tim 2:17). Raising his voice to the issue at hand, “It kills, robs of life and leaves a festering mass at the end. The church today is a travesty of the word ‘church’ all because of this cancer.” The only way out, ML-J counseled, is for the seminaries to concentrate on “the word of truth,” underscoring that the name of the institution was London Bible College.

He concluded with the question, “How may the College know if it is attaining this object and rightly dividing the word of truth?” Those who are trained by such institutions, he pressed, should ask themselves these questions upon graduation:

• Are the men more certain of the truth at the end of their studies than at the beginning?
• Are they more steadfast?
• Do they know God better and desire to serve God better than when they came in?
• Have they a greater zeal for God?
• Do they have a greater love for the lost and the perishing?
• What is the purpose of doctrine and knowledge if it is not to know God? 

He then issued a warm pastoral reminder to the students,

"I'm Just Not Getting Much Out Of My Preacher's Sermons..." (pt. 2)

BORING!

What's a Christian to do if they are just not getting much out of their preacher's sermons?  In some cases, it may be helpful to share this loving concern with one's pastor.  If you choose to do this, provide a few specific examples to help your shepherd understand more specifically where you are coming from.  Do this with humility and bathe everything in prayer (Prov. 3:5-6). Having said that, before setting up such a meeting you should acknowledge that the difficulties your experiencing may reside as much in your own heart/mind, or in your own unrealistic and/or unbiblical expectations, as it does in the human mouthpiece of the Word (note 1 Peter 4:10-11).  One must evaluate each situation on a case by case basis.  Of course in many real world situations the matter is both/and rather than either/or.

Biblical humility should temper your criticisms with the honest acknowledgement that your pastor has invested 4-8 years of his life via bible college and seminary and to countless hours preparing weekly expositions.   I remind myself of this very principle when walking into a medical clinic. Before informing my doctor that "I don't think he's doing his job right and needs to do this or that" I realize that the few hours I spent on Web M.D. does not make me a "subject matter expert" in medicine.  That's not to say we should never question a doctor.  Some medical professionals are really poor in what they do and we would be foolish to not get a second opinion (or to find another doctor all together).

In this vein, if your preacher has not received received adequate ministry training he may need to "go back to school" before assuming such a huge responsibility as is feeding the flock of Christ (see John 21).  Note Clint Archer's helpful article on "should men go to seminary before leading the church of Christ.".

Having said that, those in the pew should be humble enough to listen to their pastor's thoughts knowing that he's likely spent hundreds of hours reading books on expository preaching, has invested thousands of hours listening to classroom lectures on theology, hermeneutics, counseling, Scripture, and homiletics, and probably benefits from many of the same well known preachers that you do.  What Christian doesn't love the preaching ministries of Alistair Begg, Steve Lawson, and John MacArthur?  

On this note, one of the present dangers of the internet and the proliferation of "celebrity pastors" is that some Christians expect their local church preacher to sound just like you fill in the blank; not realizing that God does not give "five talents" to every servant (Matt. 25:14-30) and has given each individual a unique personality/style.  If your preacher does not herald the Word as well as John MacArthur (join the camp), this does not mean that this brother has not been called to the ministry.   All believers are expected to be faithful stewards of the talents that have been sovereignly dispensed on them by the Lord of the Church (see 1 Cor. 12-14; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Tim. 3:1f).  In this same vein, if you expect your praise leader(s) to sing like Matt Boswell or Chris Tomlin, or to write arrangements like Fernando Ortega or Bob Kauflin, you are setting yourself up for being a church member who is never content.  Be biblically realistic and remind yourself that the power ultimately resides in the Word of God not in the heralds of His Word!

Is Seminary Really Necessary Before Assuming Leadership in a Local Church?

D. Min lecture with Dr. MacArthur at TMS

Why Seminary? Is formal bible training really necessary before becoming a Lead Pastor at a local church?  Though there are a select few exceptionally gifted and uniquely committed, self-taught, Preacher-Pastor/theologians... such as the brilliant Spurgeon and D.M. Lloyd-Jones. In general, those called to preach (see 2 Tim 2:15; Titus 1:5f) should receive the highest level of seminary training available to them. Would you undergo surgery from a surgeon who hasn’t been to medical school? Why not?

James Montgomery Boice said if he knew Christ were returning in 4 years he’d instruct young men to spend 3 years in intense pastoral training (seminary) and only then preach!  Too much is at stake and church history has too many examples of well intentioned (unprepared) pastors, teachers, and evangelists who failed the Colossians 1:28-29 mandate because of sloppy exegesis and faulty interpretations. Good communication skill alone is not enough. Clint Archer makes some helpful points in his article posted below.

Here's a snippet of Archer's blog post, "The question of whether seminary is necessary is one that perennially resurfaces among those who sense the urgency of the need to preach and feel compelled to dive right in, but also understand the benefit of thorough training, and want guidance about the balance.