Against academic sacerdotalism

Peter Mead offers good advice on the importance of seminary-trained preachers avoiding the arrogance of the academy:

We need to be so careful. I think it is good to get the best academic training possible (a matter of good stewardship), but we need to be very careful not to develop the easily associated arrogance that comes with training, nor to carry that arrogance into the pulpit. We serve the priesthood of all believers; we are not the priesthood for all other believers.

Let’s make sure we open up the Bible in peoples’ laps, rather than moving it further away from them. Let’s make sure we communicate well, rather than impress with lofty language that the ploughboy doesn’t understand. Let’s make sure we prepare for ministry and prepare for a message as fully as we are able, but not let that show in any way that will hinder our listeners.

Amen.