I think it’s only appropriate that I start this post with this fact – I love Reformed/Confessional Presbyterianism (RCP). I suppose I could list all of the reasons why I love it, but that’s really not the point of this post.
One of the many things I like about RCP is that it requires an educated ministry in the pulpit. There is none of the “get saved and start preaching in a couple of weeks” non-sense that goes on in so many other denominations. Actually, in those meeting houses they may not call it preaching, maybe just extended testimonial time. Although, I’ve seen people “get saved” and get in a pulpit in an awfully big hurry. In some/many cases it didn’t take a couple of months and you had some young guy spouting off from the pulpit like he had a clue about what the Bible had to say. Looking back on those days I find myself wondering how I stayed in that for so many years. How in the world is this allowed in any place that calls itself a church? I don’t understand and there certainly isn’t any warrant for it in Holy Scripture.
Now, this post is actually not about preaching as much as it is about condescension. One of the things I have noticed about RCP is the much better than average knowledge of the Bible and doctrine among those in the congregation. RCP’ers may not be known for their emotions, but for the most part they know what they believe and why they believe it. But… In my relatively short time (10 years) in RCP I have noticed something that gets me a bit sideways. Though most that sit in the pew in a RCP church are relatively intelligent people, the paid ministry, at times, seems to be somewhat condescending toward them.
You see, education is very important to RCP churches and their ministers. Years are spent in real seminaries. I’m not talking about places like CFNI, The River Bible Institute, or Rhema Bible Training Center. I’m talking about places that require you to actually study the Bible, languages (Hebrew & Greek), history, theology, etc… Places like WTS, WSC, PRTS, etc… These places require rigorous study and those that emerge are prepared, at least from a training perspective, to teach God’s people His Word.
But what sometimes, not every time, emerges are those that look down on the uninitiated, those without the formal theological training that the minister has been blessed to receive. Sometimes, not all the time, those without the formal training are perceived as less informed or less than up-to-speed than those with the formal training. Oftentimes, experience is overlooked by those with the training. By experience I mean a life spent studying God’s Word and living it out in everyday life, wisdom if you will. After all, wisdom is simply the application or out-living of Truth. For a Christian, wisdom implies that you accept God’s Truth and seek to live according to that Truth.
When a RCP minister assumes that because he has been trained and/or has trained someone else and they are now “in the know” and are of a different class, I find that disturbing and unacceptable. The minister might buddy around with you and be willing to talk about things that are inconsequential, but things change somewhat dramatically when “important” issues arise. I have at times found that input to a RCP minister is looked upon as nothing more than “white noise.” A persons thoughts and comments, though seemingly listened to, are dismissed because it appears that you are somehow usurping those with “the keys to the Kingdom” and therefore your input is deemed invalid. I have no problem being corrected and/or told that I’m wrong. If a person has any sense about them they would be willing to accept correction. As a matter of fact we should be quite open to it. Who among us wants to live in a lie or according to anything less than the Truth? If I am found wanting in any matter of doctrine or life I want to be told. These are part of the very vows and oaths one takes to join a RCP church.
But being dismissed or talked to as though I don’t know what I’m talking about, simply because I didn’t attend WTS, WSC, or PRTS gets me a bit perturbed. There is no doubt that every church has her problems. That’s because each of us have our own problems (sin initiated I’m sure). My related “thorn in the side” is being dismissed or spoken to in a condescending manner. I find that too often the RCP community’s emphasis on an educated ministry over relies on said education. The life spent in God’s Word, sitting under sound teaching, and living that out is also valuable. I’m not saying that same person should be in the pulpit teaching God’s people, but in terms of contributing to the life of the church and her general welfare it should not be undervalued, despised, or looked upon as somehow less than those with a cap and gown.
A diploma only proves that you graduated from somewhere. It doesn’t prove that you are wise or are able to discern right from wrong. A diploma only proves that you passed your course-work. It doesn’t prove that you can rightly apply what you have learned to those in the pew. All of the proving is done over time.
Young man coming out of seminary don’t assume it’s an affront to your work when someone questions what you are doing. Young man coming out of seminary don’t assume that when someone wants to talk to you about what is going on in the church that they are questioning your authority. For the record, I’m not only talking to the guy that just walked off the stage with a piece of paper in his hand. If you don’t have eight or ten years under your belt then you might want to cool the “I’ve got this” jet down a bit. It’s one thing if someone is constantly hounding you are causing problems within the church, but when someone has honest questions and concerns and seeks to offer credible counsel it’s simply poor form to dismiss them or not deal straight forward with the issue. Don’t look down on the poor and downtrodden masses in the pews as though they have nothing substantial to offer you. Also, don’t assume they are attacking you when they want to talk seriously about matters to do with the life of the church. Don’t act like you must condescend to the mere mortals in order to pacify their silly notions about issues that directly involve them.
Having a pastor with a seminary education, in my book, is vital to the church’s health and well being. I do, at times, think this emphasis is a bit extreme, but I would prefer to err on this side as opposed to the other. Having said that, I sometimes think our educated ministry acts a bit too Romish for comfort. Yes, you’re trained and we’re not. But we in the pew often have valid input to offer and you should not reject that input out of hand or with a simple shrug or wave off. I will be the first to tell you that I am not the repository of all knowledge, most of it, but not all. That’s a joke, calm down. But know, you are not that repository either and it might be helpful to actually listen every now and again to those with differing vantages.
I don’t have many problems or issues with anyone anywhere. I don’t interact with a lot of people outside of the circles I typically stay within. I’m a relatively easy going guy and can shrug off most things that come my way. Though some may disagree, I don’t go looking for trouble with anyone. I like the comfort of my home, my church, and my job. I’m not complex or complicated. But I do have a couple of real chinks in my armor and one of those is being talked down to and/or not being listened to when I’m trying to tell you something that I think is important. I often act too self-important and I’m certain that I too often come off as self-absorbed. I also have the super-human ability of thinking too highly of myself and my thoughts. I would guess these traits are things we are all susceptible to at different times. I willing acknowledge these sins that I possess, along with many others. So, after having read this post, if you made it to the end, remember these few confessions and judge what I’ve written here with a little bit of mercy. I may or may not add a follow up to this post at another time. I need to let this one simmer for a while before I know if it’s all I need to say.
