Seminary

[Guest shiloh357]

I think no one should be in Seminary who is not already thoroughly discipled. The process of discipling is NOT the mission of Seminary in any way, shape or form. If any Seminary claims that is what they do, I would avoid that Seminary.

Very true. Seminary is for the preparation of those entering the ministry. Discipleship is the responsibility of the local church.

Agreed.

Is there a Biblical foundation or is that just the worldliness of Christianity today?

I just can't see Paul raising up churches and then telling the leaders he mentored that they needed to get more training at their own expense before they can lead.

A call to preach is a call to prepare.

You cannnot compare what we have today with the climate and environment of the first century. We have a whole host of social and legal challenges and issues for Church leaders that didn't exist in Paul's day.

Seminary teaches discipline. Most students pastor while attending seminary and raising a family. It requires a herculean amount of energy and discipline to pastor a church which includes those imfamous 2:00 a.m. emergency hospital visits, while counseling sessions, spending time with family and still getting your class assignments done on time. It is a lot of hard work, but seminary shows how hard your pastor is willing to work. It shows how much work he will put into being your pastor. You cannot be lazy and make it through seminary.

Seminary helps to refine character but more importantly, it helps the student glean from the incredible amount of wisdom and life experience that is there. The Bible says there is wisdom in the abundance of counselors, and seminary allows the student to learn from those who can guide them around the pitfalls and potholes that exist on the road of ministry.

There are lot of people who simply want to "preach" but they don't care about the people they preach to. They think they know the Bible and are qualifed to tell people where to get off, but it is really nothing but pride. Seminary takes the pride out of a person because you find out real quick how much you don't know when you get into the presence of men who have been traveling that road for longer than you have been alive.

[Ovedya]

Is there a Biblical foundation or is that just the worldliness of Christianity today?

I just can't see Paul raising up churches and then telling the leaders he mentored that they needed to get more training at their own expense before they can lead.

But even Paul himself had formal traning in the scriptures.

And yet he still considered his accomplishments toward that goal to be as loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The point is, training is good, profitable and beneficial. However, academic achievements account for very little in comparison with the "gnoskos" of Christ.

[Guest LadyC]

is seminary biblical? i think so, actually. even the apostle paul attended what was then called a rabbinical school. there are a couple of rabbinical schools mentioned in the new testament... gamaliel (aka hillel) and schammai. i don't know if i spelled those right. anyway, when paul became a christian, his thorough education was undoubtedly very helpful to him.

we should be descipled in our church. but the truth is, there is so much we can learn that we would never learn from our pastors. when i started taking classes through a bible college, i was amazed at how much i was learning... and i'm still in the second course right now, the new testament survey.

[Iryssa]

is seminary biblical? i think so, actually. even the apostle paul attended what was then called a rabbinical school. there are a couple of rabbinical schools mentioned in the new testament... gamaliel (aka hillel) and schammai. i don't know if i spelled those right. anyway, when paul became a christian, his thorough education was undoubtedly very helpful to him.

we should be descipled in our church. but the truth is, there is so much we can learn that we would never learn from our pastors. when i started taking classes through a bible college, i was amazed at how much i was learning... and i'm still in the second course right now, the new testament survey.

*nods* that's what I found too. People who think they can't learn anything from Bible College or Seminary are kidding themselves (not to say that EVERY Christian has to go...but it's definitely worth going, IMO). Also, a lot of the people I saw enter Bible College felt a calling to preach, but had VERY little Biblical knowledge and were still young in their walk. They grew in knowledge and maturity there, and I say "Kudos!" to them for recognizing that it would be a good idea to get some formal training before trying to lead a congregation. Pastors and teachers have HUGE responsibilities, and they will be held accountable one day for the things that they taught. If someone were to get up at the pulpit and start speaking without REALLY knowing what they were talking about, they could be getting both themselves and others into some BIG trouble. So why NOT encourage sound Biblical training in a formal setting?

As I've said, it's no REPLACEMENT for a calling. Also, some Bible Colleges and Seminaries are better than others.

As far as the money goes...listen, we can't take it with us when we die anyway, can we? Those who teach need to feed their families (and the Bible College profs I know don't exactly make a killing, to put it lightly), and facilities don't pay for themselves. I don't begrudge the money my husband and I have spent on our respective educations.

[mrs]

The problem is you are assuming a guy who wants to be a pastor has a good solid church with a pastor who can disciple him. A lot DONT have that, so they must go to a seminary for the training. How could that be wrong?

[EricH]

The problem is you are assuming a guy who wants to be a pastor has a good solid church with a pastor who can disciple him. A lot DONT have that, so they must go to a seminary for the training. How could that be wrong?

There is actually an anti-knowledge bent in our society right now.

[mrs]

There is actually an anti-knowledge bent in our society right now.

I agree, I have had people tell me I study the word too much, that I should just let the "Spirit guide me" and not get so deep in the study.

Wow.

[Iryssa]

I agree, I have had people tell me I study the word too much, that I should just let the "Spirit guide me" and not get so deep in the study.

That's so sad. I have to wonder how these people really know the Spirit is the one guiding them when they don't take the time to buid sufficient Biblical knowledge to test the words they're receiving. And also, why wouldn't you WANT to get deeper in the Word?

[EricH]

There is actually an anti-knowledge bent in our society right now.

I agree, I have had people tell me I study the word too much, that I should just let the "Spirit guide me" and not get so deep in the study.

I know what it is a reaction to. People are responding to folks who studies their Bibles, but never applied it. The problem is that now it has swung in the opposite direction

[BlindSeeker]

There is actually an anti-knowledge bent in our society right now.

I agree, I have had people tell me I study the word too much, that I should just let the "Spirit guide me" and not get so deep in the study.

I have heard that more than once . . .

I simply ask them to take their time and put together a lesson from the scriptures about how to be led by the spirit and they usually say ok . . . but none have ever actually gotten back with me.

Wonder why?