Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 7
He contrasts untrained Anabaptist workers with other missionaries who “have gone to seminary” and “can explain” their theology; what fears or suspicions do conservative churches have about theological training, and how might those fears actually contribute to the vulnerability Merle is describing?
Another way to ask: Why do some conservative churches mistrust seminary or theological training? How could those fears leave missionaries less able to explain what they believe?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript doesn’t explicitly name conservative fears about theological training, but it strongly implies that avoiding training leaves workers unable to explain and defend their beliefs when challenged. A reasonable inference is that any suspicion that training is unnecessary can increase the very vulnerability Merle describes.
- Merle contrasts others: missionaries from other denominations “have gone to seminary… been trained in their theology… can explain it.”
- He describes the consequence for untrained workers: they “can get knocked off balance because they’re not sure how to explain what they believe.”
- He calls this a key vulnerability: “they’re vulnerable because they haven’t been prepared.”
- He argues for “theological training… for people to really understand the Christian faith” and the “biblical background for their own beliefs and practices.”
- He notes real losses: “we have lost missionaries” as they interacted with trained outsiders and other faiths.