Spiritual (Applied Doctrinal) Preparation for the Ministry

Some thirty years ago, Prof. D. Engelsma gave a speech to the faculty and student body at the beginning of the 1994-95 PRC Seminary year. His concern was that the PRTS not only prepare men for the ministry academically but also spiritually, or experientially, as he called it. He addressed his colleagues and the students from the account of the prophet Isaiah's vision of the thrice holy God in Isaiah 6:5-7.

In this post we quote a portion of this speech for the spiritual good of the seminary at the present time, and for the good of any young men who may be considering the call to the ministry.

"A certain preparation is necessary for the call and the task that belongs to it. This is the place and purpose of our seminary.

"The question is: “What is this preparation?” More specifically, the question is: “Is the preparation in the Protestant Reformed Seminary only academic and intellectual, or is it also spiritual and experiential?” The charge, or fear, today is that all Reformed seminaries give only academic and intellectual preparation. If this is true, it is a devastating indictment of the seminaries. There is reason for this charge, or fear, in existing seminaries and their graduates. We may acknowledge that the charge points to a real danger also for our seminary.

"Let us guard against this threat, and be reminded of the necessity of a spiritual, experiential preparation for the ministry, as well as an academic, intellectual preparation, by taking heed to the Word of God in Isaiah 6:5-7.

"...The description of the prophet’s personal misery and salvation refers to an aspect of the LORD’S preparation of him for the task to which he will at once be called. It is commonly recognized that there is a relationship between Isaiah’s vision of the LORD and his call by the LORD in that the holiness of Jehovah explains the message and mandate of the prophet. But there is also this relationship between the vision of the LORD and the call of the prophet, that the vision of the LORD prepares the prophet for his call, prepares him, obviously, spiritually and experientially. This preparation is necessary for the prophetic office in every age. The Reformed minister must have been prepared in this way also.

"This necessary preparation of the minister consists of the experience of forgiveness in the way of a heartfelt knowledge of one’s misery as a foul sinner.

"...Forgiveness was personal and experiential. It was a living spiritual reality in the prophet’s consciousness. Forgiveness was seared there. It could never be forgotten.

God’s forgiveness of the prophet was the application to him of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the death of Jesus Christ. This comes out in the symbolic act: a coal from the altar was laid on his mouth. The altar with its fire typified the offering of the propitiatory sacrifice.

"The prophet knew the cross! He knew the cross as his own redemption! It was not abstract to him, or only academic. The cross of Christ was for him personally, and it was his life.

"This belongs to your preparation for the ministry. You hope to preach to others the cross and its pardon. You must speak what you yourselves believe."

You may read the entire speech here.