PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS

Back about the time

you were born (If you

were born late enough.)

I became acquainted

with a very interesting

man. [Well, that is one

way of looking at it.]

He was a married man
with teen age children.
If I remember his wife correctly, he had been going to

school for twenty six years at that time. He had

several different majors and had studied seven

languages.

He told me that one of his majors had been archaeology.

He said the digging was too hard. So he changed his

major.

Later at a "work day" for some one in the church, or

in the community, I noted something. He sat in a

chair, in the shade, and read, while his family and

every one else worked. Hmmm.

I begin to understand his lack of interest in

archaeology.

I cannot remember any of his other majors. But

later he wanted me to recommend him to the

school of Theology he was applying to. What would

you think? You guessed it. He was what we called a
"Professional Student".

As you know, a few years later when he could no

longer get grants he quit going to school.

After all those years in school, he took a menial job

in a local hospital.

Apparently that did not suit him either. He divorced

his wife and married a tottering old lady with -

M-O-N-E-Y.

Thus I learned what professional students are.

Come with me to church for a few minutes now.

Currently I attend a good church. A small church.

Mostly older folks. But still a good church.

Consider our mid week service. It is a Bible study.

Not a prayer meeting. But a Bible study. Now Bible
study is good and good for you. We all know that.

This Bible study has older, mature Christians attending.

There is one younger fellow. He was "born and

raised" in the church, and is now an aspiring minister.

That puts him a long way from being a new Christian.

But most of us have been Christians from ten to sixty

years.

The Scriptures say,.

"Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of

Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a

foundation of repentance from dead works and of

faith toward God, with instruction about ablutions, the

laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and

eternal judgment." - Hebrews 6:1,2 RSV

Do you know what we are studying, and has a good

attendance?

Biblical Foundations. Repentance, how to be

saved. Water Baptism. The second coming of Jesus etc.

I thought we were supposed to go on the maturity.

Now think with me. I'm sorry. I know thinking hurts.

But please bear with me.

The "Western Church" as we know it is weak, anemic,

powerless. Like a rat that has been living on d-CON

for the past week.

Could it be because we have become "Professional Students".

It it easier to study than to travail in prayer.

It is easier to study that to witness.

It is easier to study than to serve.

It is easier to study than obey.

Have we substituted studying for living and

working for God?

Are we, "Ever learning, and never able to come to

the knowledge of the truth." - 2 Timothy 3:7 KJV

Do we need more knowledge? Or just to apply what

we already know?