So You Want to Preach the Gospel? : The Elephant in the Room of the Church of God Ministry

 I will say plainly that no minister or pastor in any of the splits, splinters or slivers of the Church of God is qualified to actually be a legitimate minister or pastor in any church on Earth. They know next to nothing about the origin, authors, history of, intent, problems with, politics, genres and difficulties in and with the scriptures. They certainly have no skills in dealing with the real life issues and needs of human beings in a faith community. I use the term "Faith Community" loosely. 

 Whether it is Gerald Flurry and Family, Dave Pack and his enabling ministry, Ron Weinland and himself or Bob Thiel and his double portioned self, NONE of these men or their elders are qualified to know enough about the Bible to accurately teach the scriptures. 

Their lack of proper training is why we have the lunacy we have in a Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland or Robert Thiel and MANY OTHERS who claim theological brilliance and calling. 

I will simply say that as well that an Ambassador College "degree" in theology was worthless and would be scorned by any legitimate theological school. A class in the Harmony of the Gospels, The Genesis Flood, questionable world history, Old Testament Survey, a good read and clueless commentary on the Epistles of Paul and booklets published by the WCG do not a theological education make. Throwing in speech classes based on the Spokesman Club Manuel do not a trained speaker maker either.  They certainly do not an educated clergy make to this day. 

I recently forced myself to listen to a number of Feast Sermons. Some by men I knew and one in particular and his son who I knew very well and who informed the Church I pastored, after I was transferred that I was the worst thing that ever happened to the _____________ Church. This was mostly because I was not a sheriff as he was and did not force people to do what was neither necessary nor expedient for the long-term mental health and attitude of the congregation. Both are terrible speakers and know next to nothing about the Book they pretend to know so much about. They are typical of most all the Church of God elders and ministry. 

Dave Pack is a special kind of ignorant, but we knew that...

The vast majority of the Church of God ministry simply knows little about what they speak of with such authority. 

This is a brief rundown on a typical theological education in ministry, in this case, as offered by the Westminster Theological Seminary in their Academic Catalog. 

This is just a small part of the program and NO I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO READ ALL THIS. Just to see the topics listed and the goals of such teaching should suffice to show how precious little a theological education the Elders, Ministers and Pastors have, much less the Apostles, Watchers, Elijah's and Zerrubbabel's in the COG's actually have.  It is why I term them and so many "Mere Bible Readers".

From the West Minister Theological Seminary Academic Catalog

https://assets.website-files.com/607eea4517cd5c0a2e0d32e2/626021fd6c258d378bb3f131_2022-2023%20Academic%20Catalog.pdf

Church History It has been well said that people make history, but they do not make the history that they choose. All human beings act in particular times, in particular places, and for a variety of different reasons. The aim of the Church History department is to teach students to understand the way in which human action is shaped by historical, social, economic, cultural, and theological concerns; and by so doing to allow the students to understand better their own positions as those who act in context. Though we live in an anti-historical age, the Church History department is committed to helping students realize the liberating importance of having a solid grasp of those historical trajectories which shape, often in hidden ways, the life of the church in the present. To that end, the Church History curriculum enables students: 

● To recognize the ambiguities and complexities of human history

 ● To examine themselves in the light of the past 

● To engage with an epistemologically self-conscious historical methodology 

● To see how the church’s testimony to Christ has been preserved and articulated through the ages 

● To recognize turning points in the history of the church 

● To identify major types and paradigms of Christian vision in societies past and present 

● To be well acquainted with the Reformed heritage ● To recognize global patterns in the spread of the gospel through missions

 ● To cultivate modesty with regard to their own times and cultures by setting these within the perspective of the great sweep of church history

 ● To be inspired by what they learn to proclaim God’s grace to today’s world 

Church History Master's Level Courses CH 141 History of Christianity I Purpose: ·

 To identify key personalities, events, and doctrines within their particular cultural, social, and political contexts of the Ancient and Medieval Church.

 · To summarize major movements and ideas of the Ancient and Medieval church, with special attention on the development of the Reformed tradition. 

· To distinguish between varying theological traditions as formed in the Ancient church and developing into the Medieval period.

 · To demonstrate contemporary applications of Ancient and Medieval church history, such as deepening our developing the creeds and councils in an effort to understand Scripture more faithfully and embolden believers by testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Topics covered will be drawn from the early Ancient church through the Medieval church. Students will be introduced to major movements and personalities of church history while gaining first hand exposure to primary source material to help articulate historical developments of theology. Online (September and March terms), three hours. Restrictions: Only available to MAC and MATS students. 

CH 151 History of Christianity II Purpose: · 

To identify key personalities, events, and doctrines within their particular cultural, social, and political contexts of the Reformation and Modern Church. 

· To summarize major movements and ideas of the Reformation and modern church, with special attention on the development of the Reformed tradition.

 · To distinguish between varying theological traditions as formed in the Reformation and developing into the modern period. 

· To demonstrate contemporary applications of Reformation and Modern church history, such as deepening our understanding of Scripture and emboldening believers by testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Topics covered will be drawn from the Reformation through the modern world. 

Students will be introduced to major movements and personalities of church history while gaining first hand exposure to primary source material to help articulate historical developments of theology. Online (September and March terms), three hours. Restrictions: Only available to MAC and MATS students. CH 211 

The Ancient Church Purpose: 

· To introduce students to the major events, personalities, and ideas which shaped the life and thought of the early church 

· To encourage students to think historically about the church’s past 

· To enable students to read the major texts of the early Church Fathers for themselves Topics and personalities covered include the first-century background, the Apostolic Fathers, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Trinitarian and Christological debates, Augustine, the rise of monasticism, and martyrdom. Residential (Fall and Spring terms) and Online (Spring term), two hours.

Old Testament Nothing is more foundational to Christian ministry than a full-orbed knowledge and embrace of the gospel. The Old Testament department is committed to teaching the first thirty-nine books of the Bible, with all the aspects entailed, as the anticipation of the glorious climactic fulfillment of redemption in Jesus Christ. To this end, the Old Testament curriculum enables students:

 ● To acquire a reading and exegetical knowledge of biblical Hebrew 

● To acquire a knowledge of the content of the Old Testament 

● To grapple with the challenges of biblical interpretation 

● To evaluate the ways in which the Old Testament has been interpreted in the past 

● To perceive the unity of the Old and New Testaments and the hermeneutical significance of their unity 

● To understand and value the historical context in which God gave his redemptive revelation, how it began in the Old Testament period and then culminated in the glorious and extraordinary climax to that history in Christ and his work in Christ as interpreted in the New Testament 

● To understand the redemptive-historical framework of “kingdom through covenant” as the story-structure of the Old Testament

 ● To identify the major biblical-theological themes of the Old Testament and to recognize their importance for understanding the gospel 

● To develop skill in understanding and applying each of the books of the Old Testament 

● To learn to communicate the gospel through the Old Testament 

● To be encouraged to embrace the gospel in continuing and vital ways through the glory of God’s self-disclosure and to fear the Lord and love him with the whole heart Holy Land Studies For courses at the Jerusalem University College, see Chapter 7. 113 Old Testament Master's Level Courses OT 011, 012,

 013 Biblical Hebrew Purpose: · 

To teach students elements of the Hebrew language 

· To expose the student to a significant amount of biblical Hebrew through extensive translation of portions of the Hebrew Bible 

· To prepare the student for further exegetical work in Old Testament courses Topics covered include orthography, phonemics, morphology, and syntax. 

Old Testament Introduction Purpose: 

· To introduce students to the complex hermeneutical, theological, and doctrinal issues surrounding Old Testament interpretation Topics covered include the history of the Hebrew text; the use of the Old Testament in the Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, and New Testament; the major critical methods and postmodern interpretation; and biblical theology. Residential (Fall and Spring semesters) and Online (Summer term), three hours. Prerequisites: OT 012 (or equivalent), completed or in progress. OT 141 Old Testament Theology for Application Purpose: 

· To expose the student to specific interpretive issues in Old Testament historical, prophetic and wisdom books 

· To demonstrate how Old Testament historical, prophetic and wisdom books are to be interpreted and applied in light of the gospel 

· To engage in close reading and apply to specific books the principles of biblical-theological interpretation learned in Bible Survey Topics covered include redemptive-historical interpretation and the question of application; critique of various popular methods of application of biblical material; the nature of biblical history-writing; the office, function, and theology of the prophet in the Old Testament; understanding wisdom literature in light of the gospel; the specific theologies and redemptive-historical trajectories of several specific biblical books; and the use of the Old Testament in ministry.

 Old Testament History and Theology I Purpose: 

· To provide an introduction to the theology of the Pentateuch, focusing on Genesis 1–11

 · To engage in the exegesis of selected passages from Genesis 1–11 with particular attention to their relationship to ancient Near Eastern literature, the theology of the Pentateuch as a whole, and to the history of redemption as it reaches its climax in the gospel Topics covered include the narrative structure of the Bible, the Pentateuch and the history of redemption, Genesis 1–11 as an entry point to biblical theology. Residential (Fall semester) and Online (Spring semester), three hours. Prerequisites: OT 013 (or equivalent) and NT 123. OT 223 Old Testament History and Theology II Purpose:

 · To explore the relationship among literature, history, and theology from Genesis 12 through Ezra/Nehemiah · To provide a knowledge of the content of this section of canon 

· To give a biblical-theological framework for applying these books in life and ministry In addition to the theology and content of each of these books, topics include the relationship of Deuteronomy to the other books; Old Testament historiography; Old Testament theology; the relationship between revelation, history, and theology; and covenant. Residential (Spring semester) and Online (Summer semester), three hours. Prerequisites: OT 013 (or equivalent), OT 211, and NT 123. OT 311 

Prophetical Books Purpose: 

· To provide knowledge of the content of this portion of the canon

 · To study the role of the Hebrew prophets in Israelite society and the nature of Israelite prophecy 

· To give a biblical-theological framework to understand the prophetic books in life and ministry Topics covered include the structure, content, and theology of the prophetic books and Daniel; the ancient Near Eastern setting of prophecy; the history of interpretation of the prophetic literature; and the role of the prophets in redemptive history. A portion of the course involves seminar discussions with the professor. Residential (Fall and Spring semesters) and Online (Fall semester), three hours. Prerequisites: OT 013 (or equivalent) and NT 123. OT 323

 Poetry and Wisdom Purpose:

 · To gain a strong familiarity with the nature of Hebrew poetry 

· To explore the theological context of the wisdom books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes), Psalms, and Song of Songs 

To discuss the theology of Old Testament wisdom vis-à-vis the gospel Topics covered include the nature and diversity of Old Testament wisdom books; characteristics of Hebrew poetry; exegetical studies of various psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs; and wisdom and the New Testament. Residential (Fall and Spring semesters) and Online (Spring semester), two hours. Prerequisites: OT 013 (or equivalent) and NT 123. 

New Testament The New Testament department serves the mission of WTS to train specialists in the Bible by teaching the entirety of the New Testament, in its original language, as the full revelation of the covenant of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, providing foundational training and tools for a lifetime of learning and ministry. To this end, the New Testament curriculum enables students: 

● To acquire facility in reading and rigorous exegesis of the New Testament in Greek

 ● To understand and value the historical context in which God accomplished his work in Christ, and through which he gave us the New Testament

 ● To perceive the unity of the Old and New Testaments and the hermeneutical significance thereof, with attention to our Confessional Standards 

● To grapple with the challenges of biblical interpretation

 ● To recognize major biblical-theological themes of the New Testament and their importance for understanding the biblical message 

● To develop skill in understanding and applying each of the books of the New Testament 

● To encourage growth in godliness and spiritual maturity 

● To evaluate the ways in which the New Testament has been interpreted in the past

New Testament Master's Level Courses NT 001, NT 002, NT 003 New Testament Greek Purpose: · To prepare students for further work in the New Testament by giving them a reading knowledge of Koiné Greek The course is designed for beginners; no prior knowledge of Greek is assumed. Students will cover the basics of grammar and acquire a core vocabulary. During the last semester students will do recitations from the Greek New Testament and be introduced to the issues of syntax. See Chapter 9 for possible sequences and Chapter 6 for auditing restrictions. Residential and Online, three hours each. NT 111 New Testament Introduction Purpose: · To continue to provide students with the historical and literary framework requisite for responsible New Testament interpretation. 

Topics covered include introductory matters that apply to the New Testament as a whole, especially inscripturation, canon formation, textual transmission, textual criticism, historical background in Judaism and the Greco-Roman world, and especially how the Old Testament forms the most important background for the New Testament. 

Some attention will also be paid to linguistic background. The general approach to these issues is historical, but with an underlying concern for the theological dimensions of each. Residential (Fall and spring terms), and Online (Summer term), three hours. Prerequisites: NT 001 (or equivalent) completed or in progress. NT 123 Biblical Hermeneutics: Old and New Testaments Purpose: · To grow in skill in understanding, interpreting, and applying the Bible Topics covered include prolegomena to biblical interpretation, principles and practice of biblical interpretation, and the question of hermeneutics in the historical-critical tradition. Residential (Spring semester) and Online (Spring semester), four hours. Prerequisites: NT 003 (or equivalent) completed or in progress, OT 012 (or equivalent) completed or in progress, NT 111 completed or in progress, and ST 101 completed or in progress. It is recommended that OT 012 be completed rather than in progress. NT 143 

New Testament Theology for Application Purpose:

 · To understand better the content and theology of the New Testament, with particular focus on how the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation apply to life and counseling contexts.

 · To describe how believers can meaningfully move from the text of Scripture to a wise, gospel-centered application of its truths

 · To gain experience in seeing the Christological/Gospel-centered implications of any text as a prerequisite for meaningful personal application. · To grow in their ability to rivet Scriptural truth to real-life ministry situations. 

NT 211 New Testament Interpretation: The Gospels Purpose: 

· To develop a framework of understanding for interpreting and applying the canonical Gospels 

· To familiarize students with the Gospels’ description of the earthly ministry and teaching of Jesus Christ, and to enable them to understand and apply the theology of the Gospels in ministry Topics covered include a selective survey and critique of historical-critical investigation of the Gospels, questions of special introduction, an overview of the content and theology of Jesus’ actions and teaching, and an examination of the character and special emphases of each canonical Gospel. Residential (Fall semester) and Online (Summer semester), four hours. Prerequisites: NT 003 (or equivalent), OT 013 (or equivalent) completed or in progress, NT 111, and NT 123. NT 223 New Testament Interpretation: Acts and the Pauline Epistles Purpose: 

· To deepen understanding of Acts and the letters of Paul and apply them to students’ lives and ministry Topics covered include questions of special introduction, exegetical method, exegesis of selected texts, and basic themes in the theology of Acts and the letters of Paul. Residential (Spring semester) and Online (Fall semester), four hours. Prerequisites: NT 003 (or equivalent), OT 013 (or equivalent), NT 111, and NT 123. NT 311 

New Testament Interpretation: Hebrews to Revelation Purpose: 

· To introduce the particular character of Hebrews through Revelation 

· To enable students to understand these books so that they can apply their teaching to their own lives and in their ministry The course will deal with questions of special introduction and will include the exegesis of selected passages in order to establish the structure and distinctive themes of these books.

NT 403 Theology and the Exegesis of the Gospel of John See NT 703. Spring semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 211 NT 405 

The Gospel of Mark See NT 705. Summer term, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 211 122 NT 433 

The Book of Revelation See NT 733. Fall semester, three hours. Prerequisites: NT 003 (or equivalent) completed or in progress. NT 463 

The Acts of the Apostles See NT 763. Spring semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 223. NT 581 

Theology of Hebrews See NT 881. Fall semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 123. NT 641 Inner-Biblical Interpretation See NT 941. Fall semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 003 (or equivalent), OT 013 (or equivalent) recommended. Restrictions: Limited enrollment. NT 643

 Christology of the New Testament and Early Church See NT 943. Spring semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 123 NT 651 

Theological Models and Exegesis See NT 951. Fall semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 123. NT 663 

Greek Exegesis and Issues in Pauline Theology See NT 963. Spring semester, two hours. Prerequisites: NT 123. NT 681 

History of Interpretation See NT 981. Fall semester, two hours. Prerequisites: CH 211, NT 123. New Testament ThM/PhD Level Course

....and so on....