Like many words, the word theology can point to a variety of things. Sometimes theology is pointing to all Christian teaching and sometimes more narrowly to the teachings about God’s nature, characteristics, and actions. God’s word is inexhaustible; he and his ways beyond what we can grasp. The study of theology is not easy; this side of eternity no one can master it.
When we say that the men at our seminary are studying theology, however, we have more than teachings in mind. Our seminary students are learning how to be ministers (servants) of God’s word among real people, how to be captains in a long-fought war, how to be leaders in a spiritual kingdom. That kind of theology is never easy; this side of eternity no one can master it.
Theology is not easy because the ministers of the word and those being served with the word have a sinful nature that likes to show up and ruin things. Theology is not easy because the war is spiritual, not against flesh and blood but against the forces of Satan. Theology is not easy because Christ’s kingdom is so unlike the kingdoms of this world. It is not of the world, and the world hates it. From a human perspective, the ways of Christ and his kingdom are foolish, pitiful, and hopeless. In reality, Christ and his kingdom are wise, glorious, and eternal. The citizens of Christ’s kingdom know this by faith; this side of eternity no one can know it by sight.
Be amazed with me that anyone would set their heart on being a pastor—a theologian, a servant, a captain, a leader in Christ’s kingdom. Be amazed with me that so many of them keep on keeping on. Jesus supplies them. Jesus sustains them.
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary prepares men to serve as faithful theologians. Once they have become pastors, the seminary partners with them for their own spiritual and professional growth. Spiritual growth enables them to keep praying, meditating on God’s word, and fighting the fight of faith.
Professional growth enables them to carry out the duties of gospel ministry with wisdom, skill, and precision. The kingdom and the enemy of the kingdom do not change, but the landscape and the enemy’s tactics do. Combatants are always learning. They must, for their life depends on it. As they contend in this spiritual battle, the captains in Christ’s kingdom are always seeking to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), to feed his sheep and lambs ( John 21:15–17), and to watch over people’s souls “as men who must give an account” (Hebrews 13:17).
Through the efforts of Grow in Grace, the seminary supports and encourages pastors in a variety of ways, one of which is formal continuing education. Every year Grow in Grace provides dozens of face-to-face and online courses. If pastors are so inclined, they can complete enough courses to earn another degree called the Master of Sacred Theology (STM).
Truth be told, our pastors never master sacred theology. They remain apprentices under the Holy Spirit. The more they learn, the more they know they don’t know.
The real “Master of Sacred Theology” is the Lord Jesus Christ. He has crushed the enemy and established a kingdom of grace that will never end. When pastors join with other pastors to study God’s word and discuss theology, the risen and ascended Savior is with them to equip them, encourage them, and make them a blessing to the other citizens of his kingdom
Bradley Wordell is director of Grow in Grace, the seminary’s continuing education department. He also teaches courses in Old Testament.
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