Aloha brother Will,
Thanks (once again) for another edifying study.
The Polls that you cited clearly demonstrate the
perverse influence HUMANISM has had on modern day "Christians"!
Without a "
FINAL AUTHORITY" in a person's life:
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
With today's Christians' emphasis on a "Formal Education" as being the only "legitimate" way to determine whether a man is fit (eligible) for the ministry, these downward "trends" are certain to continue!
The Biblical "requirements" for a bishop (pastor/elder) are:
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
I didn't see any requirement for a B.D., M.Div., D.D., D.Min., or a Th.D.!
A "Christian education", "Christian schooling", a "high I.Q.", or "knowledge of the Bible" is
NO "guarantee" that someone has
any spiritual discernment,
spiritual understanding, or
spiritual wisdom; or that they are genuinely "called" of God to the ministry; or that they have been fit ("gifted") by God for the ministry!
The "ministry" today has become a "
CAREER", i.e. a "
PROFESSION" - NOT A
CALLING!
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
HOW can a man be
called of God to the "ministry" -
IF he doesn't know
WHAT the word of God is, and
IF he doesn't know
WHERE to find it? HOW can a man be called of God to the "ministry" -
IF he has
NO "LOVE of the truth" [
2 Thessalonians 2:10]; and
IF he is
NOT "VALIANT for the truth" [
Jeremiah 9:3]?
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.