Teaching Team
The Merits of Education
The long days of summer are beginning to creep away a little bit earlier each day. The heat wave is starting to subside, and the nights are a little bit cooler. Yep, the last days of summer are upon us, and that means one thing…school.
For many children across the country, school is now in session. But it’s not just kids returning to the classroom. Many adults, including myself, are getting back into the old routine (and we don’t even get a recess!)
I am now entering my sixth (or is it my seventh?) year of post-high school education. I spent four and a half years at Lincoln Christian College, and I’m beginning my second year at Lincoln Christian Seminary. The thought of starting another year of tests, papers and lectures is wearisome. More than once I’ve thought to myself, “Why on earth am I doing this?”
Either I’m a glutton for punishment and stress, or I’m a dimwit.
Well…maybe not, perhaps I’m over exaggerating. Actually, I have a mixed bag of feelings. I’m eager to learn, but the prospect of long hours and late nights is daunting. But that’s what it takes to learn. If education were easy, we’d all be an Einstein, an Aquinas, or a Rambam. Learing takes determination and perseverance. This semester, I will be embarking on two classes: Greek II Exegesis and Contemporary Mindsets in Culture and Church.
Many people balk at the idea of perusing higher education. To be sure, the universities of this country are no longer the bastions of conservative biblical values that they once were. We’ve all heared the worn out adage that seminary is “cemetery.” In some arenas that is certainly true, but not across the board. Ironically, these now-liberal institutions would simply not exist without the biblical foundation that their founders held. Education is certainly a biblical value, one that Christianity lost in the early decades of the 20th century and is slowly beginning to reclaim.
Our own movement has a specialized version of anti-intellectualism. Many messianics dismiss the whole of Christian education with broad sweeping strokes. If they were wrong about the Torah, they must be wrong about everything else, right? Wrong, these schools can provide very helpful and necessary biblical skills, such as training in Hebrew, Greek, Church history, biblical studies, theology, apologetics, contemporary social issues, pastoral care and leadership training.
I personally have found non-denominational schools to be a very friendly environment for Torah minded believers. I have other messianic friends at denominational schools that find those schools enriching. My college and seminary at Lincoln is very tolerant and gracious of my convictions and lifestyle, and it has been a great place for me to learn and grow.
With a new generation coming into their college years, I would ask parents to consider some formal Bible college training for their children, even if they don’t plan on going into formal, paid-ministry. Many two-year degree programs at a Bible college can transfer to other schools. And if your child desires to go into full-time ministry, I would strongly encourage a conservative Bible college. The skills I’ve learned are invaluable, especially working with an organization such as FFOZ. It has opened my eyes to a world of resources that I would be totally unaware of if I had never enrolled.
But even aside from formal schooling, I would encourage everyone to continue to educate yourself. We must never lose the attitude of a learner. It’s when we lose the teachable mind-set that pride and arrogance arise in our communities.
With the coming year of 5768, recommit yourself to learning. Try to dig into a subject that is unfamiliar to you. If you’ve never read through the Torah in its entirety, commit to reading the entire Torah portion every week. Our new volume of Torah Club 1 would be the perfect compliment to your study. To see this new resource, click here.
Or, if you’ve never studied biblical languages, take some small steps towards learning Hebrew or even some Greek. It can be as simple as memorizing the alphabet and key words on flash cards. FFOZ will be releasing a DVD series taught by Aaron Eby on beginning Hebrew, and I highly recommend that.
Also, we can all benefit from learning more Jewish and Church history. If there is a particular time period that you don’t know much about, search out a few books online that have good reviews and jump in. One time period I especially enjoy studying is the period of about 70 CE – 325 CE. In that period there are significant changes in both the Jewish and Christian worlds. There were two Jewish revolts, the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, the writing of the Mishna, the rise of Emperor Constantine, and the flourishing of Jewish communities throughout the Mesopotamian region. Understanding our history helps us better understand where we are today and where we are going.
What are some areas your are particularly interested in studying this year? What would you like to accomplish over the next year? Share your thoughts and plans in the comment area below.
May your new year be blessed and filled with new learning and good deeds. May we all truly “love the LORD our God with all our minds.”
L’Shanah Tovah,
Seth Dralle
22 Elul, 5767
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Visitor Feedback:
I just downloaded all the cd's for Jot and Title and Searching the Sidra onto my computer at work so when I have some extra time I will be able to attempt to learn "a lil" Hebrew (that's pronounced Hebra for those of you living in Misouri..lol). I have my workbooks right here with me.
jay | September 5, 2007 4:02 PM
Seth,
Can you share a couple of titles you've read concerning the specific time period (30-325 CE) you mentioned?
Jeff | September 5, 2007 11:31 PM
Seth, this was a very good post. As one who only has 12 hours left on a B.A. in Biblical Studies (Asbury Seminary), I find it encouraging to see someone in our movement who is willing to speak out in favor of higher education.
In today's world of ministry we have to be smarter, more well informed, and more up on our game than those fifty years ago. The world as we know it is rapidly changing. The Internet, globalization, and the mobilization of people from foreign societies and cultures means that we cannot just "get by" with a King James and Strong's Concordance.
Each of us has to compete against ourselves to make sure that what we do fits the needs of a broad spectrum of people. Questions are looming on the horizon for our movement that are going to be very difficult for many to answer if they do not have the proper skills that they need.
Again, good post!
J.K. McKee | September 6, 2007 9:23 AM
Seth,
As you already know, I am taking a class on bioethics for graduate school. Bioethics addresses the ethical concerns that arise when people have to make decisions about their health or the health of a loved one. For example, there was the highly publicized Terry Schiavo case in which there was the ethical dilemma dealing with the removal of her feeding tube.
This is another area that Christians have done significant research in and this scholarship is helpful and practical for us as Torah believers. We have to look to what the Torah says and uphold it, especially in situations regarding bioethics.
Happy studying!
Amy Dralle | September 6, 2007 10:48 AM
Wonderful article. I have decided to learn Hebrew this year, and so now I feel even more inspired. I have some more really good books for you to check out. I found them most enlightening, especially as I too enjoy studying in the same time period as you.
'They Loved The Torah' - David Friedman
'Restoring the Jewishness Of the Gospels' David H Stern
'Yeshua A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church'
Dr Ron Moseley
'Understanding the Difficult Words Of Jesus' David Biven and Roy Blizzard
'Our Father Abraham' Marvin R Wilson
Happy Reading
Adrienne Wilson
Adrienne Wilson | September 10, 2007 7:04 AM
Seth,
As an educator I concur wholeheartedly. I really appreciate it when everyone shares what reading material as well.
Our group here in Sarasota, has been studying Hebrew for over a year and we truly feel it has made a big difference in studying Torah. The books we are using are:
The First Hebrew Primer
Prayerbook Hebrew The Easy Way
As a teacher of Foreign Languages I've been able to share nuggets with the rest of the group on how to study "languages". Even more exciting is understanding HaShem and Torah through Hebraic culture. Culture and language learning go hand and hand. By comprehending the culture you learn about the people's perspective etc. In our case we learn more about the nature of HaShem.
Keep studying!
Roxanne
Roxanne Miranda | September 15, 2007 10:14 AM