Sunday, October 09, 2005
Minstering To The Ministers
The Christian blogosphere is full of talk about what is wrong with Christianity -- consumer Christianity, mega-churches, you name it, we are talking about it. There is a lot a talk about how to correct these thing s as well. Most of them center on personal faith maturity, always a necessity and always a must.
I am however, becoming increasingly convinced that if things are really going to "get better" that is just the starting point, there is much more to be done. Where else to go and what to do?
I have been reflecting a lot lately on that question. I'm wondering about some sort of para-church ministry to seminaries. Certainly those institutions are where the errant theology is flowing from. I think it can also be argued that many of the other problems we see flow from that theology.
However, just like good Christian kids can go to very secular universities and come out "OK" -- lots of good Christian leaders are coming out of seminaries with these issues. I think it is more about what the student brings to the school than what the school offers.
Thus my idea is to form a ministry, on the lines of Campus Crusade or Young Life, or... designed to reach out to seminary students and help them build a solid foundation for personal spiritual growth, one that emphasizes more than just their intellectual development. Small group and personal spiritual accountability based, this ministry would seek to keep the student in touch with the passion of Christianity and solidly under the influence of the Holy Spirit more than their professors.
What do you think? Am I being presumptuous here? Do I sense a need where there really isn't one? How could this be done without "offending?" What seminary would you start with?
I am however, becoming increasingly convinced that if things are really going to "get better" that is just the starting point, there is much more to be done. Where else to go and what to do?
I have been reflecting a lot lately on that question. I'm wondering about some sort of para-church ministry to seminaries. Certainly those institutions are where the errant theology is flowing from. I think it can also be argued that many of the other problems we see flow from that theology.
However, just like good Christian kids can go to very secular universities and come out "OK" -- lots of good Christian leaders are coming out of seminaries with these issues. I think it is more about what the student brings to the school than what the school offers.
Thus my idea is to form a ministry, on the lines of Campus Crusade or Young Life, or... designed to reach out to seminary students and help them build a solid foundation for personal spiritual growth, one that emphasizes more than just their intellectual development. Small group and personal spiritual accountability based, this ministry would seek to keep the student in touch with the passion of Christianity and solidly under the influence of the Holy Spirit more than their professors.
What do you think? Am I being presumptuous here? Do I sense a need where there really isn't one? How could this be done without "offending?" What seminary would you start with?
