FSSL said:
rsc2a said:
But, as I stated, I saw one program that devoted 9 hrs to youth ministry...this for an individual who was presumably a youth at one time, most likely in a cultural environment remarkably similar to the one they are being trained for, who will at some point be raising their own youth...
Was that at college or seminary level?
I don't remember. Looking at Liberty U though:
- They offer 5 seminary level classes on youth ministry.
- 16(?) classes on music and "worship"
- 1 class on Islam (nothing on other major religions)
- 5 classes on "missions" (let's just hope it's not to India)
And with those five youth ministry classes offered and sixteen(?) music ones:
- 1 on hermeneutics
- 1 on ecclessiology
- 1 on eschatology
[quote author=FSSL]I can fuel your fire a bit more!
I had friends at Bible college who chose the youth ministry tract instead of pastoral studies because they were able to get hired by churches and they did not have to take Greek.
I minored in Greek at Bible college so that when I got to seminary, I did not have to learn two languages at the same time. I tested out of the beginning Greek classes and excelled in the Syntax at Seminary. That way I could plow into Hebrew.[/quote]
I don't think someone
has to know the original languages to be good students of the Bible, but I think if you are getting an advanced degree in Christian theology, it should be required.
As I told my wife once, these programs should be more focused on equipping their students with how to interpret properly and giving them the tools necessary to do this on their own, not so much on whether they can fill in the correct blanks on the college mission statement or have the business background/oratory training/network to make a great
CEO hireling pastor.
A comparative religion class would show why Kirk Cameron's apologetics is the completely wrong approach to take with most of the Islamic and Asian cultures.
[quote author=FSSL]I guess I am not familiar with Kirk's apologetics. I didn't know he got that deep![/quote]
He is all focused on "These are the 10 commandments and you suck at them. Hell for you!" Very judicial.
Except some cultures aren't worried about justice. They are more worried about honor. You want to get their attention: tell them the parable of the two sons...with the emphasis on the parts the original hearers (also an honor-driven society) would have gasped at.
[quote author=FSSL]I mention Dearborn because it is adjacent to Allen Park where I went to seminary.[/quote]
Ah. It know it's just the go-to place for all things Muslim for many Christians.
[quote author=FSSL]There is just way too much to stuff into a M.Div. level program to add a comparative religion course. I do not disagree that it is important. It is all a matter of equipping on the basics first.[/quote]
This isn't the basics? I would consider it more basic than "History of Baptists" (especially in addition to two "History of Christianity" classes) - Liberty again
[quote author=FSSL]There was a day when the M.Div. degree was the most basic degree for a pastor. Unfortunately, it is now viewed as a difficult degree to attain (and it is). It is FAR easier to get a D.Min. from any seminaries today than it is to get a M.Div.[/quote]
I've considered getting one. However, my reading list often looks like the required reading for many of the class syllabi I've downloaded, I get a broader perspective when I study from more than one particular viewpoint, and I don't know if my primary motivation is getting those letters after my name...and that would be nothing more than an expensive way to practice pride.
For now, I'll just keep studying on my own and teaching when I can.
