Theological Education and Secular Presuppositions

Malaysia Bible Seminari is one of only four seminaries in Malaysia (not counting Alpha Omega or the Grace AOG supported one). In their recent article, March 2014, issue 127, they once again featured an article from a counselor who produced an article devoid of any biblical basis as evident from the complete lack of biblical presuppositions of the proposed problem, etiology and proposed intervention.

Here is my response...

Response to the article entitled, ‘Professional Quality of Life of Church Leaders in Malaysia’, under the Connections section of Malaysia Bible Seminari’s Newsletter, March 2014//Issue 127

The afore-referred article is a masterfully done article, complete with reference to a national survey conducted in 2012, with the main thesis that a definition and achievement of a ‘professional quality of life’, defined according to very neutral, and therefore, secular standards and presuppositions, should be the aim of church leaders as they go about their ministerial duties.

The article ends with the hope that the organization (NACC) from where the author belongs would aim  to educate church authorities in Malaysia, on these ‘occupational hazards’ and that these church authorities ‘will do the necessary to mitigate this psychological malaise facing the pastorate’.

My response is simply to say, firstly, that indeed this is a masterful introductory of an article which I suppose may form the framework for a lengthier monograph or even a book to further the cause contained therein.

However, what strikes me with the greatest of all concerns is that the article proposed a problem framed clearly by a secular reading and understanding of the proposed problem, and proceeded to suggest that the problem is largely psychological. It is of great concern because this article is coming from the official mouth-piece of a Bible Seminary, and therefore, the thesis of the article is thereby supported, however implicitly. I ask whether the custodians of this mouth-piece could have at least ensured that the presuppositions of the origin, sustenance and completion of this article would at least even remotely, align somewhat with the Scriptures which this Bible Seminary champions for education.

It strikes me with great concern that the National Association of Christian Counselors (NACC) is hoping to organize a national pastors’ retreat to ‘alert pastors’, and this alert is purportedly about the ‘psychological challenges’ pastors face in the ministry. I am wondering if the NACC, operating from day one with some sort of confusion with regards to whether biblical presuppositions ought to undergird their existence and operations, is the right organization to help pastors whose chief aim is (Eph 4:12),’ the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ’. And NACC would like to begin, continue and complete, using secular and/or at the very least, semi-Pelagian (a heresy condemned in 418AD at the Council of Carthage) material for this?

This article did not even touch on how the Scriptures present the life of Christ as the model, and the supply of His Spirit as the benchmark for pastoral duties, pastoral respite, pastoral renewal and pastoral success. It was clear and obvious that the effort of the article (perfect score if found in a secular publication) was based on secular presuppositions. If there were biblical references, they were severely lacking, and in fact, completely missing.

Of greatest concern is how Malaysia Bible Seminari, whose dean in the very same issue asked, among other questions, ‘How can MBS be a resource for Christian Education for the churches?’ did not even appear to have vetted or challenged the content regarding its (absence of) biblical robustness and purity, and has now done their mission to provide Christian Education to alumni and the church at large, great damage. This was not the first time such an article, especially psychologically based, has been included in an issue of MBS’ newsletter, with similar non-biblical presuppositions.

MBS instead of being a supporter and guardian of biblical truth, appears to want to reach a wider audience, regardless of the real possibility of a contrary message coming out from its sanctioned mouth-piece.

I would have expected some discerning among the editorial board of MBS to vet articles to ensure that they are biblically sound. This article, though very well written, and would have garnered high marks and praise for its author in a secular context and publication, fails miserably  to glorify the God of the pastoral ministry, the redemptive power of Christ, and the grace of the sanctifying Spirit through the body of Christ, the church. Instead, it looks as though, more and more, pastors are required to acquire counseling and psychological knowledge, not from Scriptures, and from a biblical presupposition, but from so-called latest empirical research, research which again and again, purport to be from secular and non-biblical presuppositions.

Reference was made in the article to the survey conducted in 2012 in which 250 Malaysian church leaders participated. The information does not show the total number of invited respondents(n), and the number who did not respond. A pertinent question is for NACC or the researcher in question to indicate the total number of practicing pastors in Malaysia, and to inform of the percentage from that number who participated and responded. The figures will tell a different story. Was the population sample sufficient for generalizing? The social sciences, especially, psychology and counseling, are notorious in using any number of research sample, regardless of representation of the population, to put across their point. A form of secular proof-texting approach.

Note the very scholarly language used, and kudos to the author. Sadly, no effort at all was made to begin with Scriptures at all. And very sadly, and a grave omission on the part of MBS, it does seem as though no attempt at all was made to ensure some sort of biblical benchmarking for this article was done.

The great need of the hour is for faithful biblical counseling which accurately reflects the gospel and its centredness in Christ, in Malaysia. It is supremely clear that NACC is determined to infect believers in Malaysia with the leaven of secularism, or at the very least, with semi-Pelagian flavors, which of course would be ‘another gospel’ (Gal 1), and finally, further reinforcing a salvation and sanctification of works, instead of reference to the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the God of our Salvation, which Salvation, from repentance and faith, to sanctification and glorification, is totally His work, to His glory, alone. Very sadly, it seems that NACC and MBS seems to have lost the plot. Church history is replete that once the ‘the hinge’ (Calvin), and the ‘article’ (Luther) is lost, all is lost!