FULLY EARTHED AND ROOTED DEEP

36. FULLY EARTHED AND ROOTED DEEP

The following is intended not as a swipe at church ministers who happen to have letters after their names, but only to remind us how far we have deviated from the original design for the church elder, and some of the dangers inherent in that change.

 

The Lord from first did set the rule

Entrusted Word to men unschooled

Gave yeomen of the finest stock

To fiercely guard His every flock

Simple folk with manners rough

Who thundered truth in voices gruff

Those who fished or worked the land

Knew hard work and calloused hands

(Even bookish Paul was not afraid

To earn his way and work a trade)

Fierce as lions, bold as brass

Scions of the working class

Attuned to Nature from their birth

Felt the rhythms of the earth

For latest thing they'd lose no sleep

Fully earthed and rooted deep

Not like our smart College grad

Who’s swept along by every fad

To learn of course is no disgrace

And many books do have their place

Those God calls as men to preach

Must be sober, apt to teach

Yet scanning through First Timothy 

I find no hint of PHD

The only Masters in that tome

Those masters of a quiet home.


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