Why Do I Need A Masters Degree?
I finally sent my application in for admission to the Graduate School of Theology at Global University. The question I had to write a paper on for admission had an interesting question so I thought I would share it with you.
The Question:
Prepare a response for someone who might ask: “Why do you need another degree? Can’t you just seek God and allow the Holy Spirit to direct your understanding of the Bible?” Consider the roles of both the Holy Spirit and personal study in your response.
Students across the country and around the world are studying textbooks, writing papers, memorizing information, practicing techniques, and working long hours to train themselves for their future career. They spend hours and hours researching the right institutions to attend, they make long trips to visit campuses of perspective institutions, and even pay hundreds of dollars just for the opportunity to be considered for admission. It is assumed that they will obtain some type of training for their future career at the proper university or training institution. No one would question if they wanted to obtain proper and adequate training for their career of choice. Should it be any different for the person considering a career in Christian service? Or should it be any different for someone who is looking to advance his or her knowledge of the Word of God who already works in Christian service?
It is odd to assume that once a person is saved they automatically have the ability to teach, minister, preach, and do the Lord’s work. Isn’t it only logical that once a person accepts Christ as Savior and receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit they then would seek the calling of God on their life? They might know right away what that calling is or they might need some time to see clearly where God is leading them. Not only will they seek God’s calling on their life but they would also begin to take the appropriate steps to better prepare themselves for that calling.
I am convinced beyond all doubt that God has called me to preach and teach His Word. I have had the privilege for the past seven years to do just that at the local church level, but now it is time to take the appropriate steps toward a degree that will open even more opportunities.
There are a number of examples of the importance of proper preparation.
1. After Paul was born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit he spent three years studying, praying, and preparing for his calling. In other words he took time away from regular everyday life to prepare for the road ahead. Now, that is not to assume he studied the Scriptures day and night and never gave thought to proclaiming his new found faith to those he interacted with. In fact he did just the opposite. As he studied and prepared for his ministry he was already in hyper speed. Verse 22 of Acts chapter nine says,
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
He confounded them so much they tried to kill him because of the testimony that he proclaimed. Paul took three years of his life to study the Word of God, sit under the tutelage of the disciples in Damascus, pray for divine leading, and all the while proclaim the Word of God to those in the synagogue and the Gentiles in Damascus. He may not have earned a masters degree but God used that time to prepare him for the amazing life that lay ahead.
2. The second example we should look at is Ezra, prophet in Israel. In the seventh chapter of Ezra in verse six:
this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.(Ezra 7:6)
Then in verse 10:
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.(Ezra 7:10)
Ezra was skilled in the Law of Moses because he spent time studying the Word of God. He was of the lineage of Aaron the first priest of Israel. However, just to be of the lineage of the priest doesn’t make you a good priest. What made Ezra different was verse 10; he set his heart to study the Law of the Lord. Not only to study it but to teach the statutes and rules to all of Israel.
The remaining part of the paper is broken into two sections. The first question is:
Why do I need another degree?
Personally I do not need another degree for the sake of having a degree. I do not hold much stock in titles and initials after my name. That isn’t the motivation. The motivation on getting a graduate level degree is more practical in nature than egotistical.
One of my goals with this degree is to have the opportunity to teach at the collegiate level at home and abroad. In our culture education is held in a place of honor and prestige. Even at Christian colleges, seminaries, and Christian training institutions one cannot teach without proper credentials, proper degrees, and the proper experience. In order to teach in our culture at the collegiate level it is assumed that you will have at least a master degree in theology, biblical studies or ministerial studies; probably more likely a Masters of Divinity, Th.D. or PhD. Without those credentials and titles you simply cannot teach at the collegiate level. If we want to be a light in the world we need to understand the culture we live in and ensure that we are relevant and not a hindrance to the Gospel.
In addition to teaching at the collegiate level I want to be as thoroughly prepared to preach and teach the Word of God in the local church setting. Ever since I committed my life to follow Jesus Christ in 2001 I have had a burning desire to preach the Word of God. My desire and longing to have a thorough understanding of the Scriptures continues to grow year-by-year. I have already had the privilege to teach all ages in my local church through children’s church, youth group and weekly Adult Bible studies. Even though I have had ample opportunity to teach during my short time as a Christian, I have never had any formal Bible-school or Seminary training. This graduate degree, in my mind, is precisely that, preparation time to be the best I can be for the glory of the Lord!
In addition to adapting to the culture of our day, a master’s degree in Biblical studies provides a sense of ease to those where I may teach and preach. It is so important to have well-trained and Biblically centered teachers in our pulpits. There is great danger in just allowing anyone to stand in front of the flock of God. An advanced degree in Biblical studies should give most pastors a sense of security that they aren’t just letting anyone address their people.
Paul has this to say to Timothy about that very issue:
Let’s take a look at the second letter to Timothy from Paul starting in the second chapter.
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
Paul here encourages Timothy to look for elders within his church or congregation who are faithful men in the faith of Jesus Christ. The faith that Paul taught to Timothy and mentored him in is the faith he needed Timothy to look for when it came to selecting elders to lead his flock. These elders need to have a sound knowledge of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ so that they can soundly teach others in this Way. If not, false doctrine can creep into the ranks of the church and cause it to lose the desire of its First Love. See the church of Ephesus in Revelation chapter 2.
Those of us in ministry need to be part of that group who have not only experienced wonderful saving grace and forgiveness of sin but we also need to ensure that we are apart of the group Paul tells Timothy to look for when selecting elders. We must be part of that group who is faithful in life toward God and able to rightly teach the Word of God for those who have entrusted us to do so. Obtaining an advanced degree is one way to ensure that the Word of God is handled properly.
The second question proposed is:
“Can’t you just seek God and allow the Holy Spirit to direct your understanding of the Bible?”
This is a good question and one that I believe the Word of God can answer for us. At the end of John’s Gospel he says in the 21st chapter:
That Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)
Now that is a powerful statement. The Bible has 66 books and less than half of those are focused on the Life of Christ and the results of His death and Resurrection in the church. How many books have been written on what we know and read in the Word of God? How many songs have been penned because of a Scripture that inspired an artist? How many more books and songs will be written to help us further understand what the Holy Spirit was saying through the writers of the Word? The help of the Holy Spirit and a thorough understanding of the Word of God is the way to keep false doctrine out and the Word of Truth in. Who will take the time to correctly handle the Word of Truth? Who will take the time to study to show thyself approved unto God?
It might even be safe to say that God was gracious to only allow a portion of what Christ did on the earth to be written down and distributed through the Bible. We can’t even handle what we have now, how could we handle any more? Since we can’t even handle what we have, we need the Holy Spirit all the more to help us do our best. Praise the Lord that Christ promised us that when He left the earth He would send the Holy Spirit to teach us all things,
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26).
Even though some may have advanced degrees that does not mean our degrees and titles replace the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enhances our degree. Our knowledge of the Word is increased on a natural level but that doesn’t mean that we do not continue to rely on the leading of the Spirit to take our preaching / teaching to the next level, a supernatural level that changes hearts and minds. Not merely by what we say but by what the Holy Spirit says through us. No matter what degree we have we need the Spirit of the Lord to do His work on the hearers; to prepare their hearts to receive the Word of God. As the Lord said over and over in the book of Revelation to the seven churches, “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. (Revelation 3:13)
The Holy Spirit is our enabler in preaching, teaching, and even in a graduate degree program. It is my prayer that the Lord will guide me into all wisdom and truth during my studies, tests, and papers throughout my time as a student within the Masters of Arts program with Global University. As Paul wrote to the Colossians,
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. (Colossians 3:23)
I say Amen and Amen!
