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Citation: Idestrom, Rebecca G. S. “Higher Education for Pentecostals.” The Pentecostal
Testimony 74 (April 1993): 20-22.

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Idestrom, Rebecca G. S. “Higher Education for Pentecostals.” The Pentecostal
Testimony 74 (April 1993): 20-22.

[ Citation Page ] 



Higher Education
For Pentecostals

May Christians not lose their faith at
institutes of higher learning?

by Rebecca G. S.
Idestrom

Recently I was asked questions which
have been posed a number of times
before: "How can I as a Pentecostal
Christian be engaged in the study of
the Bible at a higher academic university level?
Is it not a dangerous activity and might I not
lose my faith? How does academic study fit with
my Pentecostal experience and perspective?"

Reflections of
a Student

	These are some of the ques-
tions people ask when they
learn that I am a doctoral stu-
dent in Biblical studies. They
are also questions which I have
often asked myself in times of
self-evaluation and reflection,
trying to discern the Lord's will
for my life.

	Historically, our Pentecos-
tal movement has not actively
encouraged its members to
pursue higher education. By
higher education, I mean study
beyond the undergraduate
level of university education.
Since the PAOC does not have
a seminary, its ministers do not
need further education beyond
Bible college in order to minis-
ter in the church, unlike, for
example, our Christian broth-
ers and sisters in the Anglican,
Presbyterian, Roman Catholic,
Methodist and certain Baptist
churches. A possible explana-
tion for this lack of emphasis
on higher education may be
the fact that the Pentecostal
movement began among
lower-middle class people for
whom education was not so
important at the time. Another
factor is that some Pentecos-
tals have had a fear of educa-
tion; it has been seen as a threat
to ones faith.

[ Located in the centre column ]
"Even though things
are starting to change,
there is still some of
that old reservation and
suspicion."

[ continuation of the article ]
	However, things are start-
ing to change. More and more
people in our churches are pur-
suing higher education in
many different fields and dis-
ciplines. Our Bible colleges are
becoming affiliated with the
universities and they are look-
ing for teachers who have mas-
ters and doctoral degrees for
their faculties. And those of us
who decided to attend semi-
nary (of another church de-
nomination) discovered other
Pentecostal students there.

Latent Suspicions

	Even though things are
starting to change, there is still
some of that old reservation
and suspicion among certain

[ Page ] 20



Pentecostal circles toward
higher education. Sometimes
those who have pursued this
calling have felt somewhat iso-
lated or not fully accepted; they
did not really fit back in the
Pentecostal community. I re-
member when I first started
my doctoral studies, I was hesi-
tant, even embarrassed to tell
people at my home Pentecostal
church what I was doing. I was
afraid of intimidating people
and putting up barriers before
they had an opportunity to get
to know me. I did not want
them to think that we could not
have anything in common to
talk about just because I had
studied more than they.

	But I realized that this was
wrong. If God has called me to
this, I must be able to share it.
We must understand that a
more educated person is just as
human and normal as every-
one else. As a fellowship we
must make an effort to make
everyone welcome and feel a
part of the church. I know Pen-
tecostal graduates who have
left the fellowship because they
have not felt fully accepted or a
part of the church. They have
gone to other denominations
where education is much more
accepted and encouraged. This
is a sad reflection upon our
churches. As a body of believ-
ers, we must learn to accept
and accommodate everyone.

[ Located in centre column ]
"Higher
education is
not an easy path
to travel."

	To pursue a higher educa-
tion is a challenge; it is not an
easy path to travel. It is a lonely
road since few travel on it. It is
not easy as a Pentecostal and it
is even more difficult as a single
woman. There are not many
women in the field since we
have not generally been en-
couraged to pursue it. But al-
though it is a challenge, it is
also rewarding if it is God's
call for a person. Since I have
personally faced the challenge
of higher education and pon-
dered the implications and the
difficulties it creates for a Chris-
tian, and since there may be
other Pentecostals thinking of
taking up the same challenge, I
thought I would share some of
my thoughts on the subject.

1. Dangers
of Too Much Study

	I have been warned about
pursuing higher education be-
cause it is dangerous to study
too much. But if it is dangerous
to study, then it is also danger-
ous to think! Of course it is
challenging and may even be
dangerous to study and think
deeply about important issues,
but this does not mean that we
should not do it! In fact, as
Christians we must think and
reflect on what we believe and
why we believe it. Paul in-
structed Timothy about the
importance of study and of
being thoroughly equipped,
able to handle the Word of
Truth correctly (2 Timothy 2:15;
3:14-17).

	And Peter tells us that we
must "always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the rea-
son for the hope that you have"
(1 Peter 3:15). How can we
share our faith effectively and
give an answer to our unbe-
lieving friends if we have not
thought about it thoroughly?
People do not like pat answers
where there has not been any
serious thought given to the
question before answering. We
must be thoughtful, reflective
Christians who at least try to
understand our faith and the
questions of life. This does not
mean that we will always have
all the answers but we should
at least make an attempt at
understanding even if only
partially.

	The Bible does warn us to
be aware of false teachings
and deceptive philosophies
(Colossians 2:8) and it can be
dangerous to study if we sim-
ply accept what is taught un-
questioned. We must learn to
think and challenge these ideas
but we must not be afraid of
being challenged. These chal-
lenges shape and change us as
persons and help us to grow
and develop. This can be a very

[ Page ] 21



positive and healthy thing. As
a student, I have often encoun-
tered ideas and attitudes which
I have not agreed with; it has
not always been easy to know
how to respond appropriately.
I am learning that it is impor-
tant to listen and try to under-
stand the other perspective
before attempting an intelligent
response.

	To encounter new and di-
verse views and opinions can
be both threatening and chal-
lenging as well as refreshing.
We may have to rethink and
re-evaluate what we believe
and what we have always ac-
cepted as the norm. This can be
a scary experience because it
may mean that we will change;
it seems safer to remain the
same and not change. But to
change and broaden our per-
spective is not wrong but is
part of the growing experience
as a Christian; it is part of the
challenge of maturing as a dis-
ciple. So even though it may
seem to be dangerous to study
and think we must be willing
to take up the challenge.

2. Bible Teaches the
Wisdom of Pursuit
of Knowledge

	The Bible teaches us to be
wise people. In fact, the people
who despise wisdom, knowl-
edge and discipline are de-
scribed as fools (Proverbs 1:7).
One of the main themes of the
book of Proverbs is the impor-
tance of the pursuit of wisdom
(Proverbs 1; 2:1-12; 3; 4; 8; 9).
The person who gains wisdom
and knowledge, finds life be-
cause the Lord is the source of
wisdom and of life. In Hebrew
society, God's people valued
education very highly. In fact,
the law commanded that they
instruct their children thor-
oughly in the commands of the
Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-9,20).
Our whole life is an education
and we must learn from its les-
sons. We must become wise
people of God and education is
part of the process of gaming
wisdom; thus, we should not
despise education.

[ Located in the centre of the page ]
"There is
the need for
balance
in our
Christian walk
between the
study of books
and being
led and taught
by the
Holy Spirit."

[ The article continues ]

3. Balance Between
Books and the Holy
Spirit

	There is the need for bal-
ance in our Christian walk be-
tween the study of books and
being led and taught by the
Holy Spirit. There is a poten-
tial for some tension between
academic study and intellec-
tual pursuits and the seeking
of guidance and insight from
the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught
that the Holy Spirit would
guide us into all truth and
would remind us of the Lord's
teachings (John 14:26; 16:13,
14). But we must also study
the Word in order that the
Spirit can enlighten us to its
truth. We must combine study
with seeking the Spirit's
enlightenment.

	There is the potential dan-
ger that much study and edu-
cation may lead to pride and
lack of reliance on the Lord (1
Corinthians 8:1,2). We must re-
member that accumulating all
the degrees in the world does
not really matter in the Lord's
sight (1 Corinthians 1:20-31).
What matters is our hearts be-
fore Him. We must nurture our
walk with God and be continu-
ally renewed by the Holy Spirit.
We need this balance when we
face the challenge of education.

4. To Pursue a Higher
Education is
a Calling

	Those who have received
this calling must be obedient to
the Lord. This means that
higher education is not/for ev-
eryone and we must not at-
tempt it if we are not called to
follow this path. It is a long,
demanding and difficult road
and only those called will per-
severe. But if we are called we
must be faithful to that call and
not give up. There is a need for
skilledmen and women of God
in our churches and in our so-
ciety, in whatever field we may
work. I encourage anyone who
has been called to take up the
challenge of pursuing higher
education. It is not an easy chal-
lenge but God has great things
in store for those who follow
His will (1 Corinthians 2:9;
Jeremiah 29:11).

Miss Rebecca
G.S. Idestrom
is taking her Ph.D in Old
Testament studies at Univer-
sity of Sheffield in England
and at Uppsala in Sweden.

[ Page ] 22


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