Comments on: Big Money For A Little Piece of Paper: My Stupid Regrets and Inexplicable Ambition to Be “Dr. Spencer”

By: Ruben

Ruben — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:38:37 +0000

I know how hard it is to cling to things that God wants us to let go of things that deeply belong to our sense of self. One of the things that go unnoticed in today’s evangelicalism are the Lord’s insistence that we leave everything for Him when He asks that of us. I am guilty of overlooking these passages myself: leave family, possessions etc to follow Him. I think part of our quest to be with the Lord is the letting go of things that hinder His kingdom – as I am learning in my own life now – acclaim and standing in the world’s eyes and the good life we are so programmed to seek are often a barrier to God’s kingdom. So, I think the many blessings you have helped bring about (especially to me) through this website and the Boars Head Tavern and your own ministry, far outweigh this degree in the sight of God. And we should only be concerned with His approval.

By: Bob Brague

Bob Brague — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:22:06 +0000

I came here from your June 2008 comment about Dr. Johnny Hunt, the newest president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Dr. Torrey Johnson (founder of Youth for Christ, launcher of Dr. Billy Graham into worldwide evangelism, and pastor of the church we attended in Boca Raton, Florida, in the late 60′s/early 70′s) once told me (a high-school valedictorian who dropped out of college after three years and never even received a Bachelor’s degree) the following: “I know people with lots of degrees but no temperature.”

I have never forgotten that statement. I recommend you memorize it. Say it to yourself frequently, and then thank Almighty God regularly that He has put you where you are and has made you into what you are becoming.

Everything else is probably self-pity and pride.

I am 67 now and old enough to say whatever I think.

By: Leif Erickson

Leif Erickson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:25:50 +0000

I too struggle with the Dr. thing, albeit not in anything religious. I have a BA, an MA, and an MFA, but the PhD occasionally tempts me, although I think I am at peace with not having it, finally (now if a PhD in creative writing opens up in these parts, all bets are off).
Anyway, I know the fantasy well: casually referring to the Dr. in your name, administering sage advice to non-Drs., etc. Maybe occasionally glancing at the degree on the wall and feeling satisfied. It’s a pride thing, let’s face it (which it seems like you have). A very personal sort of pride, but pride nonetheless. I can have a long, fruitful career in higher ed with my degrees as they stand, but there’s something about the Dr…
Anyway, sorry you feel like you failed. You’re not a failure, so who cares if you didn’t finish ONE thing? You shouldn’t.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:47:17 +0000

Michael,

I really don’t think God cares one way or the other if you pursue a DMin. I don’t think it has anything to do with blind ambition or failure. It’s just something you want to do, and that’s the way God created you.

I sense your love of learning. It’s the way God created me too. I’m currently in a PhD program and loving every single minute of it. I went round and round on this before I finally jumped in with both feet.

Move forward on this. Have fun! God bless

By: Michael Rew

Michael Rew — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Some people will not listen to you if you are uneducated. Others will not listen to you if you are educated. God knows whom He wants to touch with your life. I know of one minister who did not know how to read when he came to the Lord at forty years of age. But when I met him, he had a ministry to drug addicts and to children living in a housing project. When he counseled me to do better with my life than I was at the time, lest I wake up at forty and have nothing, I thought to myself, “You had nothing at forty, and I would love to have what you have!”

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I understand these feelings. I graduated high school near the very top of my class and was supposed to be headed directly to college on scholarship when things turned upside down. After taking some time off to get life back together I decided to make another go at school at which point God called me to spend the next year in Kyrgyzstan with Campus Crusade. While living overseas, God convicted me of my past financial debt and because of the outrageous cost of school combined with the fact that I was under 25 and still technically a dependent of my parents (crazy that I was an adult at 18 but still not eligible for financial support until I turned 25) I could not raise up enough money to afford college while paying my bills. Most scholarships are also geared at students coming directly out of high school or at people over 25! I know that GodÂ’s timing is perfect but some days that doesnÂ’t help much. While I have an incredible desire to go to school and would do almost anything for the opportunity I see so many kids graduating from high school and getting this opportunity and still not applying themselves. It is truly frustrating. On the upside, my husband will be starting seminary in the fall of 2006 and both of the schools offer free audits for spousesÂ….but oh, how badly I want that piece of paper. And yes, I know too that it is stupid and selfish and I would not change the path that God has placed me on, but I still hurt and feel jealousy while my friends, and even husband, are preparing for grad school and seminary and I have not been able to attend college.

By: James Aguilar

James Aguilar — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I am thinking of pursuing a PhD myself . . . although it is in a technical field and so somewhat different. I understand the powerful draw that that prefix “Doctor” and the status and reputation assocaited therewith have. It sounds like a difficult struggle.

By: Atwood

Atwood — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

You’re a great writer. If the commendation of anyone helps ease the pain, take it. Coming from a rather different ecclesiastical position, it’s taken me a while to appreciate your quality. Don’t degrade yourself by feeling envious of James White.

By: Wyman

Wyman — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Michael,

Great post. REALLY great post. I think something like 60% of all DMin. students don’t finish their degrees.

I received a DMin. from The Beeson Divinity School at Samford University last year. I really enjoyed it and I’m proud of it because I worked hard and got to work with Timothy George, who oversaw my project. I also like that my project seemed to really help my church through a difficult healing process over a church discipline situation. That being said, I think one of the reasons I have enjoyed it so much is that I’ve intentionally refused to treat it as something it’s not…namely, a PhD.

Whenever my church folks have said, “We’re proud of you for getting your PhD,” I have, in every single case, corrected them and said, “No, it’s a DMin, a Doctor of Ministry degree.” And I have also, whenever it’s appropriate, explained to people that it’s a professional degree involving distance learning, etc. It does seem that the way DMin.’s are handled vary from school to school. It’s taken pretty seriously at Beeson, which doesn’t have a PhD. program.

So I kind of feel like it can be a good thing if you work hard at it, don’t use it for posturing (I refuse to have “Dr.” printed anywhere in my church – bulletin, letterhead, etc….not that I think it would be wrong to print it ((I did earn the degree)), but because I don’t want to do that), and appreciate it for what it is.

David Wells somewhere wrote an article on “The DMin-ization of the Church”, or something like that, where he talked about how DMin. degrees have resulted from and helped create the whole career mentality for the church. I think he’s a little off on that, but he has a point.

Anyway, great post and an interesting topic. You know you’re going to catch it from one Dr. in particular don’t you?

By: iMonk

iMonk — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. George was my favorite professor at SBTS, and I believe he recognizes my name still. I would love to do the Beeson D.Min, but it appears they limit the size to 6 students a year? Is that accurate?