Back to School

Standing outside a building at Moorhead State University

By this Tuesday, most learning institutions will be back in session. While in elementary school, I was considered one of the smartest students in my class. Later in my teens, my grades went down because I hated doing homework (although much time was spent reading encyclopedia articles). Still, I managed to graduate from high school. Then I took several college courses but never got a degree. Often the classes I liked best provided hands-on training as opposed to listening to lectures all hour long.

Before answering the call to full-time ministry, a few people suggested I go to Bible school. The Lord told me it wasn’t necessary. Many of the early apostles didn't attend the Rhemas and ORUs of their day. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” As an alternative, I put myself through “cassette seminary.” I listened to many sermon tapes while working at temporary jobs and then applied what I learned during evangelism outings.

I also used to attend various Christian conferences but in recent years cut back on that. Sitting in meeting after meeting does not automatically produce spiritual growth. As James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” I know a pastor's wife who once had a vision of 500-pound canaries sitting in church pews. Their beaks were open like they were saying, “Feed me!” Many believers today get fat on the word but hardly do anything with it. Jesus said, “Go ye.” He didn’t say, “Sit ye.”

Additional education can be a distraction if God hasn’t called you to attend a particular school. You don’t want to waste time and money on courses that won’t help you fulfill your divine destiny. When I first enrolled in a state university, a relative encouraged me to take out a student loan. He told me it was getting money back from the government. Instead, it resulted in a heavy debt load. “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

Now I’m not criticizing all forms of higher education. Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning...” Often extra schooling is required to enter a particular profession. I have a friend who was inspired to become a lawyer in his late 60s. He went to law school at Liberty University and then became a staff attorney for the Alabama Supreme Court.

Just before dying in a plane crash in 1982, Christian singer Keith Green wrote a powerful article titled “Why YOU Should Go to the Mission Field.” In which, he stated... 

“Yes, God does call some people to go to college. Sometimes it's to get training for a ministry calling He's made clear to them. For instance, if you know what country you're called to, perhaps God would lead you to learn the language and culture somewhat before you go (although the very best place to learn is within the country itself - it's a definite ‘crash course’)!”

Ultimately, our teacher is the Holy Spirit. His textbook is the Holy Bible.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:4

Teachers Wanted

As a young Christian, I listened to numerous sermon tapes. Among the ministers I gleaned from the most were Mac Hammond, Jerry Savelle, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, Mike Murdock, and Joyce Meyer. God used them at different seasons in my life to build a solid foundation on His word. In recent years, I’ve probably listened to Perry Stone more than any other preacher. Perry estimates he's studied the Bible for more than 100,000 hours in his lifetime. His “Manna-Fest” programs often filmed in Israel help illustrate his points.

Besides their pastor, most believers have a favorite preacher they like listening to. However, one must avoid seeking out ministers who proclaim only what they want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 warns, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers”

Wrong doctrines have been built based on one Bible verse alone. Look at 1 John 2:27…

“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

Someone could casually glance at this verse and think they don’t need to receive instruction from other believers. That’s not what John is saying at all. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have written any epistles. John pointed out to the people he wrote to that they had no need for anyone to teach them the church’s basic doctrines. They also didn’t need human logic or philosophy to help them understand God’s nature. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher. 

Until Jesus returns, He will continue using ministers to help us grow in knowledge of His word. Ephesians 4:11-13 says the Lord gave us “…teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Many other Scriptures talk about the importance of receiving instruction from others. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Some translations use the word “teach” instead of “train.” When giving the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20, Jesus told us to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Numerous times in Psalm 119 it says, “Teach me Your statutes.” 

We should never stop learning God’s word. That’s one way we grow to become more like Jesus.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” - Matthew 10:24

Let Our Sisters Speak

As a young Christian, I devoured numerous teaching tapes and books that God used to help me grow in my knowledge of Him and prepare for ministry. One Bible teacher from who I’ve gleaned a lot is Joyce Meyer. Her “Battlefield of the Mind” is one of the most powerful books I ever read. Joyce’s testimony of overcoming abuse and rejection has inspired millions of hurting people. I appreciate her candor and sense of humor (especially her “What About Me?” robot imitation).

It grieves me when I hear fellow Christians criticizing Joyce Meyer. She is often labeled a “prosperity preacher.” Her website clarifies: “A ‘prosperity gospel’ that solely equates blessing with financial gain is out of balance and could damage a person’s walk with God.”

Another reason Joyce receives flak from religious folk is simply being a woman behind the pulpit. Yet the Bible has numerous examples of women ministering to God’s people. These five prophetesses are mentioned by name:

• Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
• Deborah (Judges 4:4)
• Huldah (2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:22)
• Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14)
• Anna (Luke 2:36)

Joel 2:28 says, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” That came to pass in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. Women were amongst the 120 in the upper room.

Romans 16 refers to women in ministry. The Apostle Paul wrote in verses 1 and 2, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” Other female laborers mentioned in this chapter are Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis.

So how does one reconcile Scriptures that supposedly tell women to remain silent in our churches? There’s a simple explanation. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 deals with church order amongst married couples. The Greek word for women is gynē, which has also been translated as “wives.” Not every woman has a husband. Likewise, the Greek New Testament used the same word aner for “man” and “husband.” In his book “The Woman Question”, Kenneth E. Hagin pointed out, “You must determine from the context whether it is talking about women in general, or specifically about wives…He [Paul] is talking about learning something and asking questions.”

Throughout church history, God has done powerful things through women such as Maria Woodworth-Etter, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Kathryn Kuhlman. Kathryn believed her ministry was originally offered to a couple of men who didn't respond to the call. Current Mozambique missionary Heidi Baker has seen food multiplied and the dead raised! Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “…by their fruits you will know them.”

It’s obvious God has His stamp of approval on female ministers. If He can talk through a donkey, why not a woman? The Great Commission wasn’t given solely to men. Let our sisters speak!

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28

Majoring on Minors

I have a friend who for a long time was a “pre-trib” rapture believer and talked of debating an outspoken “post-trib” minister he allows to have meetings in his home. Having been to one of those meetings, I kept discouraging my friend from trying to correct this minister who wasn’t apologetic after I pointed out the inaccuracy of one of his claims.

Then last month following a church service, my friend announced he now believes the church will be raptured “mid-trib.” When I gave a reason why I cannot agree with him on that, he got out his cell phone and was about to call someone to help defend his newly-embraced doctrine. Fortunately that got interrupted when my friend was called forward by two altar workers to receive prayer. I then quietly slipped out of the church.

It’s one thing for Christians to reason together so we can all grow in knowledge of the Scriptures. Unfortunately, some focus on promoting doctrines that have no effect on people’s eternal destinies. Occasionally when I’m out evangelizing, individuals ask questions like “How were you water baptized?” or “Which Bible translation do you use?” Most of these people are already set in their beliefs and not open to correction. As a result, they try wasting my time if I don’t share their viewpoint. It reminds me of what Jesus called the Pharisees in Matthew 23:24: “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

One motivational speaker gave this key to success: “We can no more afford to spend major time on minor things than we can to spend minor time on major things.” Let’s keep the main thing the main thing and focus on preaching the gospel. 

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” - 1 Corinthians 2:2