Why I Believe in Theological Education

I am convinced that the most important characteristic or qualification of a minister is personal integrity. I continually address this several times every semester at Southeastern Seminary. Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:2 that a leader in the church must be blameless or above reproach. Personal integrity is foundational to everything else that one does in ministry.

Second, I believe compassion and love for those we serve is crucial. Jesus said that love would be a distinguishing mark by which men would know that we are His disciples. Therefore, a genuine love and compassion for our people is absolutely essential. Third is biblical fidelity and conviction. A minister of Jesus Christ should live a Bible-saturated life. If a minister does not believe in the inspiration and complete truthfulness of Scripture, in the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible, in my judgment he is not qualified to be a minister of the gospel. Our view of the Bible should be the same as that of the Lord Jesus, and it is clear that He did not doubt a jot or a tittle (Matt. 5:17-18). Fourth, a minister must have a passion for the souls of lost men and women, boys and girls. Jesus came “to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10, KJV). We, like our Lord, must be about the task of sharing the gospel, and do so as the Puritans said, “promiscuously.”

At the seminary where I serve, we are committed to training Apostle Pauls. We want men and women with keen minds and theological conviction balanced with a passion for missions and evangelism. Theology and missions should never be divorced. Indeed, each will be impoverished without the other.

So why am I a big fan of theological education for those engaged in Christian ministry? Theological preparation can assist a minister in each of the areas noted above. Of course it is the case that one can be competent without theological education, but theological education can take each of these four vital areas and assist ministers in their growth and development. Is theological preparation, then, the most important qualification or even a necessary qualification? No, but it certainly can be a great benefit for those who take the opportunity to pursue it.

I am convinced that problems often arise in our churches as a result of a lack of theological education among its leadership. Our churches overall are grossly anemic in their basic knowledge of biblical and theological truth. The blame for this must lie at the feet of the ministers who are responsible for preaching the Word and also for committing biblical truth to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2).