The world is changing. Covid forced ministers with credentials to back the state or rebel. The post covid world is being shaped before our lives as we live through this historic event. My trust in institutions, experts, scientists, and authorities has been completely broken. Between the media war on the former president and their absolute covering for the current president. And political leaders complete failure to provide real help in the pandemic it is clear to me that help will never come from the institutions, national government, or press. All these groups are cut from the same educational institutions. Additionally these groups have a global agenda that does not care for the every day person.

Credential Everyone 🙁

I realize this intro is much more political than normal. These realizations have brought me to a place where I am questioning the desire of the western world to credential everyone. They want to limit only those with credentials to add value. It is clear to me after covid we need more voices than those with credentials worldly.

The same happens in the church. Preachers go to seminary for degrees and preachers are the only authority that may speak God’s word in the church. The members of the church are just fine letting the better educated and ministers with the right credentials do all the work of ministry. That kind of church is dysfunctional and will die.

God’s Call or the Education’s Approval

Paul writes to the Corinthians and poses a question.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 Corinthians 3:1 ESV

Paul wants to know if he needs to be credentialed in order to speak to the church. Do ministers need credentials? Who has authority to speak or teach in the church? Is that decided by people or should that be decided by God?

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 ESV

Sufficiency is from God

Paul answers the question… “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything… but our sufficiency is from God”. Paul does not need letters of recommendation because Paul was made sufficient by God. Jesus called Paul to preach the gospel. And Jesus backs that call up by the lives changed, miracles worked, and the impact on communities.

The same is true of the disciples. Very few of them were educated and credentialed to do what Jesus called them to do by the standards of society.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 ESV

Ministers with Authority

In the eyes of the religious leaders Peter and John were recognized not as illiterate simpletons but they were seen as uncredentialled. They were ministers of Jesus but they had no worldly credentials. No journalist would go to Peter and John for a quote and call them an “expert” or a “source”. They had not achieved the academic rigor necessary to speak on these topics.

I have an advanced degree from a seminary. True education makes me a better teacher however that credential does not give me an authority to be a teacher. Jesus calling me to teach in the church makes me a teacher. I am sufficient to teach because he called. Over the years I have worked hard to be a worker approved as directed by Jesus not some earthly authority. Peter and John were sufficient to be disciples because Jesus called them. “but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant”.

There is a quote that I keep close as I love the local church. My desire to see the church grow might lead me to schemes and marketing ideas help God along.

The problem with modern Christianity’s obsession with principles is that it removes any real conversation with God. Find the principle, apply the principle – what do you need God for? (John Eldredge, Wild at Heart, p210, 2001)

Jesus level Credentials

Our obsession should be not with governments, schools, marketing, media, social media preachers, or other organizations staffed with sinners. Our obsession must be with Jesus and what he wants from us. Credentials are great and who a level of seriousness but a ministers call comes from Jesus.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 ESV

What is Jesus asking of you uncredentialled or over credentialed sinner? How does Jesus want you to spend your time in the local church? If you love him then get busy because he is sufficient for that task. The Creator of the universe called you to the work.

If you enjoyed this read then click the like button or leave a comment. More on this topic: Selfish Evil Teachers.