Wannabee
Obi Wan Kenobi
Perhaps you're missing my point. The reason is because pastoral ministry is not a career choice. Because churches somehow have the idea that they can hire and fire pastors just like a corporation. Because pastors leave one church for another as though it's a job and moving around as they want to, for whatever reason, is perfectly valid. Because seminary, while helpful, is not a necessary ingredient. Because God has laid down the credentials for the pastoral ministry and hasn't bothered laying out the credentials for any other calling. Spurgeon is an exception because he had a special set of circumstances and a mind to grasp and retain all he read, which most of us don't. I invite you to look through a listing of pastoral openings advertised anywhere. Count how many of them mention character qualifications. Count how many require an MDiv. Count how many require a certain number of years experience. I can almost guarantee you that the numbers will be disappointing. And yet these churches "call" these men to come be their "pastors" with little knowledge of their true qualifications as handed down by God. Again, Spurgeon wouldn't even get an interview at most of them. Neither would our pastor in Washington. But I think he's probably the best pastor we've ever sat under, by far.
Yes, it's specialized. But it's specialized by God accordingly to His mandate and credentials, not a piece of paper or institution. Science and the arts will never improve upon it. There are not new discoveries. While men may strive for godliness in all that they do, and should, only the pastoral ministry is a focused pursuit of godliness in not only yourself, but in all whom you affect. That is why there is no other calling, ever, that holds accountability for the eternal souls of men before God (Heb 13:17).
Yes, it's specialized. But it's specialized by God accordingly to His mandate and credentials, not a piece of paper or institution. Science and the arts will never improve upon it. There are not new discoveries. While men may strive for godliness in all that they do, and should, only the pastoral ministry is a focused pursuit of godliness in not only yourself, but in all whom you affect. That is why there is no other calling, ever, that holds accountability for the eternal souls of men before God (Heb 13:17).