“Observing the boldness of Peter and John
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.”
My Father passed away at 65 years of age. He never went to College. Never went to High School. In fact, I am pretty sure he never graduated from Grammar School. He did say once that he actually did go to College. He worked on the roof at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ for a couple weeks. So, by all accounts he was not an educated man. He started and owned the Marion Tinsmith and Roofing Company for all of his adult life. Passing away within a year of retiring. He learned the skill from his Father. Who learned it from his Father in Italy. Was he successful? Well, he could not read or write well. He used to say that if only he had learned to do Math he could have really gone places. But he raised 3 sons who did pretty well in our own rights. He built two homes. And I mean he BUILT them…he did not HAVE them built. He could do anything if he set his mind to it. He installed a Central Air Conditioning system in our house with no training. He fought in the South Pacific in World War II. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He traveled to Colorado from New Jersey at a time when very few people from our section of Jersey City ever left the neighborhood. I learned my sense of responsibility, loyalty and right and wrong from him. He wasn’t perfect. I inherited his temper and frustration when things do not go as planned. But for an uneducated man, my Father’s passion and character will always be a part of who I am. So, yes, I would say he was successful.
C.S. Lewis was one of the greatest Christian apologists in the 20th Century. His books; The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity spread Christ’s messages to an audience that would otherwise likely never experience them. He never attended Seminary but articulated the Gospel in terms that the everyday person could understand. D.L Moody, founder of the Moody Bible Institute also never went to Seminary (maybe it has something to do with people who have two letters in place of a first name). Neither did John Wesley. Founder of the Wesleyan Church.
The point I guess I am trying to make is not that Education in the study of Theology is a waste or is unnecessary. Some of our greatest preachers and ministers did attend higher education and Seminary. Of course, Catholic Priests, and therefore Bishops, Cardinals and Popes, all attended Seminary before being ordained. But we know that Jesus and His apostles were never formally trained in Rabbinic School. Of course, Jesus was God so I think that gives Him a pass. But the Apostles? Nothing. Nada. Niente. Did that disqualify them in Jesus’ eyes? Obviously not. Otherwise he would have probably had Caiaphas as his lead disciple. No, for Our Lord, formal education in being a Rabbi was not a prerequisite to be among His followers.
In the first reading from the Book of Acts we see Peter and John under interrogation in front of the Sanhedrin. They had just recently cured a crippled man in the temple area and the religious leaders felt threatened by them as they were preaching in Jesus’ name. They believed that in crucifying Christ His influence would be gone forever. Peter and John proved that their anticipated demise of Jesus’ message was premature. The leaders of the Sanhedrin assumed that, because Jesus’ followers were not educated, the message would die with the illiterate band. But what they did not count on was the Passion and commitment that the disciples had after seeing the Risen Lord. As well as the infusion of the Holy Spirit into each of them. And apparently an HS overrides a PhD every time.
Everyone of us has the power, and the obligation, to spread the Gospel message in any way that the Lord leads them to do so. It could be by preaching on a street corner. It could be by writing reflections. It could be by doing service work for the needy. And in some cases it may require a degree in theology or a stint in Seminary. The key is to be open to where God leads each one of us. To use the unique gifts that God has given us for His glorification. And not to be jealous of someone else’s gifts because “When you Compare, You Despair.” Be Bold. Be Courageous. Be a Disciple. Be You.
