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Thursday, March 17, 2016

My new friend Rabbi Shlomo



During New Student Orientation at Denver Seminary last fall, a student panel fielded questions about their seminary experience. One of them shared how he started out in the M.Div. program but switched to M.A. because of the difficulty of the Hebrew and Greek language requirements.

This evoked an unguarded response from another panel member about not taking the easy road and the importance of trusting God more. The flush of anger and embarrassment on the first guy had all the potential of a Jerry Springer episode—DenSem Smack-Down.

It didn’t take long to see that this mindset was not uncommon. The M.Div’ers can be viewed by some as the academic heavyweights—The Bold, Strong, Risk-Taking, Faith-filled Tri-lingual Ones. If you “switch up”, people are generally impressed. Going the opposite direction will often get you a look of sympathy.

I was an M.A.’er. It was a significant component to one of my many “nevers”, as in, “Fine, God: I’ll go to seminary but I’ll never be an M.Div’er.” A six-month long pursuit of Chaplain Candidacy with the Army National Guard last semester required I switch programs and enroll full-time at the seminary. I’d switch to serve my country and to help young soldiers find God through their painful experiences, but that was it. Besides, I knew it was a long shot as I’m twelve years too old for military service. I made it further in the process than I expected, approved at the state level but eventually turned down by the National Guard Bureau in D.C.

The plan was to switch back to M.A. for several reasons: no financial assistance to pay for the difference in credit hours, no aspirations for church senior leadership and certainly no eagerness to put myself through the ancient language meat grinder. But for unexplainable reasons, I held on to the Degree Change papers for several weeks and couldn’t bring myself to fill it out and turn it in. At the risk of over-spiritualizing the chaplaincy scenario, it seems to be the means God used to lure me to the M.Div. Once I resolved to stay in, the peace I experienced was undeniable. At this point, I’m unaware what the “end game” is other than obedience. It’s where I’m supposed to be and, for now, it has to be enough.

After almost two months of Hebrew, including a two-and-a-half hour midterm three days ago, I understand the fears. It is the most challenging, frustrating, mentally arduous, physically and emotionally draining thing I have ever done. Only going to Wal-Mart is a close second. Unlike Wal-Mart, however, it’s also one of the most beautiful, meaningful and worshipful disciplines I’ve ever engaged. After my first class, I signed up for a three-week academic trip to Israel this summer through Denver Seminary and Jerusalem University College. Soon I'll walk where Jesus walked.

I ask myself out loud sometimes: “Raul, do you know what you’re doing?” No, but yes. I’m following Jesus. That’s what I’m doing.

-rc