I’ll post my next couple of thoughts soon, but meanwhile it looks like I am not the only one who has been asked this question.
A friend just sent me a link from Piper…His response is below and it looks like we have shared many of the same things…my point #9 which is soon to be posted, talks about why I am glad some Christ followers are led to pursue lifelong academic disciplines…and it is similar in heart to Piper’s comments about Don Carson.
Here is the link http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2414_should_pastors_get_phds/ and here is his answer to the question “Having been through PhD studies, would you recommend other pastors pursue this course of education?”
You mean, already-pastoring pastors or planning-to-be pastors? I’ll answer both.
If you’re already a pastor, I wouldn’t get a PhD. It’s a lot of work, and the payoff is really small. Really small.
When I say really small, I don’t mean studying the Bible is small payoff. But the way most PhD programs are set up it is small payoff. Because you have to read so much junk in order to get your PhD. You have to become an expert in what other people are saying, most of which is wrong.
Most of the stuff that is written in the world isn’t true. And a PhD has to be an expert. And so you have to read gobs and gobs of stuff that is unhelpful.
Now I think somebody should do that. I’m glad there’s a Don Carson who seems to read everything under the sun, and therefore has the capacity to respond helpfully.
I’m totally committed that there needs to be a layer of academic scholarship that is aware of what’s out there and is teaching and writing. So, yes and amen.
That’s not what the pastorate is, though. The pastorate is not mainly the place where you have to know every wrong thing that’s being said about some slice of biblical theology. The pastorate is a shepherding of people from the Word.
So now back to saying something positive: if a PhD program is set up—and there are some!—to really let you work on the Bible for three or four years and on understanding its larger implications for life and reality, then, on your way towards the pastorate, that could be gold.
But mine wasn’t set up that way. And when I was done with those three years I had a piece of paper, the German language, and an appreciation for academic theology; but I had not grown much at all, except what I got on my own.
So it is possible to do stupid PhDs for the piece of paper. I would much rather you do a wise PhD—that is, go to a place where they really let you study the Bible mainly. Yes, you’ve gotta read other stuff. But you want to come out of there with three years’ worth with a big, large, strong, robust, deep grasp of God and his ways in the world, not just a little tiny slice of what a thousand wrong people are saying about some teeny verse in the Bible. That’s just a sad use of three years.
And if you’re a pastor, set yourself to study the Bible and take courses. But don’t worry about a degree for goodness’ sake.
I’ve not even opened the tube in which my diploma exists since 1974! I haven’t opened it! It’s in the drawer. Nobody asks about it. It doesn’t mean anything anymore. (Maybe that’s an overstatement.)
5. DTS has good men looking to pour their life into young men and women who want to be faithful. However, like most places poisoned by tenure or any place that doesn’t continually evaluate leadership at all levels…you undoubtedly will find some that have gotten “comfortable in the job” or are “going through the motions” more than “going for it” and passionately looking at each new semester, student, Sunday, etc…with expectation that God is going to do something great. See again point 3 about teachers/professors/mentors v. academic tracks and let me restate that this is an issue ANYWHERE systems are in place that protect leaders from regular evaluation and review.
6. DTS does a good job of teaching Bible and theology…and make no mistake about it, the theological framework that you are taught matters. I could not in good conscience encourage someone toward a place of learning that does not deal courageously, humbly and consistently with every passage of Scripture in both OT and NT. (2 Tim 2:15 is there for a reason) Spiritualizing the coming reign of Christ and the literal fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel is both unnecessary and creates a Pandora’s box of issues, including an inability to call others who ‘spiritualize’ even more central truths of The Faith to account because it can rightly be pointed out that they are applying the same hermeneutic as you are, only in a different place that addresses a different topic you happen to be more sensitive to. Our job is to be sensitive to the truth that God is able to do what He said He would do and not come up with creative explanations for how He really did fulfill His word without really fulfilling His word. Theology flows out of Scripture and what flows out of Scripture is determined by how you learn to rightly divide Scripture.
But REMEMBER, rightly dividing Scripture is only half the battle…. it is up to you to find a CONSTANT expression of your bible and theological knowledge while you are there. If you don’t have an ever present outlet for your learning you will become dead, irrelevant, bored, puffed up and shortly thereafter finding yourself wondering where the “abundant life” that Jesus offers is.
3. If you are going to join a structured process…I can attest to the goodness and soundness that defined much of my time at DTS. I am largely out of the loop down there now…but I am sure now it is like it was then…choose your classes based on those passionate about teaching and pouring into their students. In other words, take professors as much if not more than classes. It won’t take long asking around before you keep hearing the same names from other students about who is doing a great job redeeming your time in the classroom. Remember you are there to learn, not be affirmed by their degree…so take classes from men that inspire you to learn. I would say this about any seminary/place of learning not just DTS.
4. You are always going to be responsible for your own heart…seminary neither kills nor helps your heart. Your own walk with Christ and attentiveness to availing yourself to the different means of grace outlined in God’s word determines your hearts health. Many guys have struggled greatly in their walk with Christ while at DTS…my guess is they would have struggled greatly had they not been down there. Many guys have grown in their love for and usefulness to Christ while at DTS…my guess is that they would have continued in obedience and faithfulness wherever they were. If you go to DTS thinking it is going to be the means through which you take ground in your walk for Christ…you will be disappointed and discouraged. God uses His word to transform us…but information does not always lead to transformation. Meditation, application and consecration to God’s word lead to transformation. The day you start to treat your bible like a text book or your learning as a task you are in trouble. Learning is a means to the end…not the end. “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.” Proverbs 19:8. Keeping understanding is harder than getting knowledge. DTS will help you learn…faithfulness and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit in the context of Biblical Community with other faithful men is where wisdom and understanding come from.
