Good Seminary schools?

Hi,

I'm currently seeking to find a school/seminary that will please God and give me not just education. I'm not exactly sure what i'm looking for, I pray God will lay one in front of me, but i'm taking the effort to find a good one.

If anyone could give me there opinion of the best seminaries they know of and why I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks and In Love,
Joe

Joe,

I would suggest that you go to Field seminary.

Get in the field and begin to work. Spend a year or two in the orphanages in Mexico, Uganda, Romania, etc... This is the best schooling that you will ever need.

If the Lord places "school" on your heart after serving, then go. But I would highly suggest mission work and to plant the Lord's flag where it has never been planted before.

Blessings!

I would suggest that you go to Field seminary.

This is exactly what I feel is needed, but I don't know how to go about it. I can't find a good program or group. The ones I mostly find are "pay money and come with us a few weeks". Any advise one this route?

I'm still open to all suggestions though. Thanks for the input this far.

Are you looking to be paid to go on mission work?

There are tons of missionary work that can be done. In my circle we send missionaries down to an orphanage in Huajuapan de'leon in Oaxaca, Mexico. It can be anywhere from 2 weeks, to 3+ years. The usuall time down is 6-12 months. Free room and board is the only pay that they get. These missionaries do raise their own support I would like to add.

I would suggest not setting your mind on being paid if you are a missionary. Its an all out service position that pays in heavenly currency only. But, it is the only currency that matters.

I would suggest looking into places like this if you are truly looking to go. Let the Lord lead you. What's the worst that could happen? Death?

Having been to Bible School, thinking that I needed to set 2 years of my life aside to just study Bible related things, I would say, in retrospect that you don't need it.

You only need the School of the Spirit in real life everyday.

Bible School/Seminary is an unrealistic cocoon that does not have much to do with real life.

Most everything that I have learned that has any eternal value I learned in the School of the Spirit raising a family, going to work, interacting with the lost everyday.

Most of these institutions train you in such a way that you will be a supporter of Institutional Christianity.

If you want to find God's calling on your life, get with God. You don't need a Bible School/Seminary to know and understand and walk in God's ways. In many ways, they can be a detriment.

No matter what I or anyone else in this thread says to you, you have to hear God's voice. Can you hear His voice? You don't learn this in Bible Schools. You learn this on your own. You and the Lord, together.

The best way to learn is to start pressing into the Lord right where you are, spending a lot of time in prayer and His Word, being a Doer of the Word and walking as Jesus walked. Bible Schools, actually create a lot of textbook activity which results oftentimes in creating Hearers of the Word, Debaters, Theologians, Professional Clergy, etc. Is this what you want? Many people go to these schools for a career thinking that this is the way to be a minister.

In my opinion, based on experience and knowing many that have graduated from these schools, you would be better off, in spending your money on something that can help you earn a living and support your family if you have one or ever hope to have one. You are not suppose to earn a living off of the Gospel. Don't know if you have ever heard that or not, but you will certainly read about it in the NT.

Knowledge puffs up (grows our pride), but love edifies.

You don't need Bible School to learn to walk in love and walk as Jesus walked. However, you do need Seminary and a degree to have a religious career.

Bottom Line: Can you hear God's voice in your life?

I'm 25 years old, Korean, and I was looking for a seminary as well anywhere in the world.

The life seminary thing is a good idea, but we learn by seeing. I've been looking out my whole life for a mentor with grace and truth and have never found one close by.

So i'm open to more suggestions.
Looking into ones that Greg recommended and I only see white people lol no offence.
I'm gonna listen to their sermons and stuff to check it out. Thanks Greg for the post.

It would be very nice to have suggestions for more international communities.

Thanks in advance for you suggestions.

You don't need to go to Bible schools to get a "mentor".

I don't know how else to say this to you and you may not even understand this, but brother or sister, your MENTOR is the Holy Spirit.

What is it that you want to know? Can you articulate it? Ask the Lord, search the Scriptures.

Don't lean upon your own understanding. Lean on the Lord.

To respond to some of the questions.

Are you looking to be paid to go on mission work?

Can you hear His voice?

Again thanks for all the input.

In Love,
Joe

InLove.

Yes. He isn't telling me where to go or how and I'll tell you why. I have a fear of doing something, at all, if i'm not sure God is 100% in it. Now He has highlighted this fear and making me address it. I believe He wants me to take a leap of faith. IMO it would be better for me to fail for God than sit and do nothing.

This is exactly where my wife and I are at the moment. Thanks you for sharing.

Unless things have changed since I had experience with it, CFNI (Christ for the Nations Institute) in Dallas is a great place.

quote]Yes. He isn't telling me where to go or how and I'll tell you why. I have a fear of doing something, at all, if i'm not sure God is 100% in it. Now He has highlighted this fear and making me address it. I believe He wants me to take a leap of faith. IMO it would be better for me to fail for God than sit and do nothing.

Where did you get that thinking? God does not tell you to take a leap of faith unless He gives you an objective/direction/command.

This is your idea and you are going to attribute it to God.

Better for you to wait and do nothing, as you say rather than to make a decision that could throw your life off course for 10 years. So, you would take the chance and do something out of God's will, where you have not heard His voice and then hope it turns into His will? This is exactly what I am talking about. "God, please bless my plans". Brother or Sister, what you need to learn you won't learn in a Seminary/Bible School. I am mentoring you now. You better sit tight and wait on the Lord.

This is just not sound, Holy Spirit led thinking.

I spent some time at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. I found it both intellectually and spiritually rich. I've also heard good things about Denver Seminary.

There are some people who speak against seminary. They often like to jokingly call it "cemetary." But the truth of the matter is that seminary will be whatever you choose to make it, in the Lord.

Well, if you are going to end up going, here is a guy currently in Seminary with some on the ground advice.

http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/

hi, i find it amazing that ignorant people always promote ignorance.bible college and seminary give one opposing views that cause you to dig into Gods word and dig into God Himself. allow the Lord to lead you to the place He wants you to go to. apply yourself to growing in God so that you change lives in this world.jimp p.s. ravenhill always told me that he went to bush u.; burning bush.but he was well educated as were almost all the great leaders in the histoy of christianity.

And if you are unable to go to seminary for some reason, lock yourself in a room with about $5,000 worth of books for a few years, and you'll get about the same education. Many seminaries have recommended reading lists that you can freely obtain from them. And if you can find one locally, you often work out something where they will allow you to use their library for free. That way you can save the $5,000 :-)

Well, you've got a lot of advice from different corners of the room. May the Lord lead you and may you answer His call and walk in the way that He directs you, even if it ends up being opposite of what you may have wanted.

Where did you get that thinking? God does not tell you to take a leap of faith unless He gives you an objective/ direction/command.

I wasn't going to respond to this but I would like you to understand and others not to be miss led.

I have waited on the Lord a long time now. He had guided me, instructed me and now He had been leading me to move, to take action, to do sonething. I have fasted, prayed so much about this. I know without a doubt He isnt going to show me exactly what to do. I believe He's saying I've shown you and taught you enought to make a move. I will be with you all the way.

This is a very hard building point for me. I believe sometimes He gives us the choice, to learn, to grow toward Him.

I'm not trying to be mean but you can't tell me how God is speaking to me, or anyone else because He hasn't spoke to you in the same way.

May God bless you all
In Love,
Joe

You're not being mean. You are absolutely right. Neither I nor anyone else can tell YOU how God is speaking to you. So, whatever you end up doing, be fully convinced in your own mind. May the Lord bless you, too, in whatever you end up doing.

Oh, I meant seminary schools! LOL (Yes, I jokingly did it!)

Brother, you don't need $5000 worth of books, you only need ONE book, the Bible. With plenty of pencils & a notebook to write down what the Holy Spirit tells you. And then DO what He tells you to do, and GO where He tells you to go!

I am acquainted with a young missionary in Mexico, when he first went down there; the older missionary there told him to go back to his church and do everything his pastor said for five years and if he did that to come back and see him. Five years to the day he went back. God had done a work in him and his family in that five years. (Please do not pick apart this story, it really happened for God's good not mans)

Bro I'm serious, for 5,500 years God's people heard from God without a Bible (or several) in every home... they went on the revealed Word of God only (and they weren't considered fanatics!). The last 500 years we've had the printed word and look where we are now, we can't even count the denominations on the earth today that won't speak to each other or have respect for each other. It's shameful.

Personally, my opinion is if you want man to tell you how to preach/minister go to a seminary; if you want God to tell you how to preach/minister go to your knees and then DO what He tells you to do.

God bless you,
Lisa

you don't need $5000 worth of books, you only need ONE book, the Bible. With plenty of pencils & a notebook to write down what the Holy Spirit tells you.

One need not go to seminary, and one need not read $5,000 worth of books to be an effective and powerful witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. However at the same time, we must be cautious in taking just a "me and my Bible" approach to life and ministry. Such has the trapping of wisdom, but I think overlooks a key aspect of Christian life and ministry: living our Christian life and ministry in the context of God ordained community.

Proverbs tells us that there is wisdom and victory to be found in many counselors. Indeed, a young independent spirit who has not submitted themselves to the greater Christian community, specificially within the context of the local church, is a real danger, both to himself and his hearers. There is a place for men who, hopefully, are fathers of faith who can take the time to pour their faith into the lives of others. Again, this need not be done by going to seminary or dropping $5,000 on books. But we should not look at this process as being necessarily independent of a "formal theological education," in whatever forms that might take.

Seminary is not for everybody. Formal theological study is not necessary, though, often helpful. What you get out of it is ultimately up to you and the Lord. If the Lord directs you to go to seminary, go. I went to Bible college and spent some time in seminary because the Lord specifically directed me to go. And I went for no other reason than such. But if He doesn't direct you to go, then don't go.

But whatever one does, do it unto the Lord. Study and show yourself approved. Always be a student. Always read. Read anything and everything. Read systematic theologies and My Utmost for His Highest. As A.W. Tozer said, read other books besides the Bible. Tozer once said that if you don't like reading, don't go into ministry.

But don't put your confidence in what you read in a book or in your seminary education. These things are meant to be merely aids to greater devotion unto the Lord and His work. Such studies are only meant to be a starting point. Our confidence is ultimately to be in the Lord.

There are many things I learned in Bible college and seminary that have been very useful, and I have gained a rich understanding of the Scriptures that have stuck with me through today. I soaked up every word I read and every lecture I heard. I spit some out too. But what I learned has made an eternal difference, not only in my life, but in many others. And what I learned only proved to be foundational and elementary. I learned a great deal, but truth be told, at the end of the day I have gone deeper into my studies and learned so much more since then. I learned it as Ravenhill said, "At Bush University." Much of it I learned on my own, in my own diligent research. Much of it I learned in the greater context of living my life out in Christian community.

All of it, whether in the prayer closet, in seminary, or in the greater context of Christian community, has always been at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose feet I sit at ready to learn as a disciple. And in the process, I have helped bring others to the same spot.

My two cents.

Having been to Bible School, I can wholeheartedly agree with Lysa, that you don't need 5,000.00 worth of books.

And, you and your Bible and the Holy Spirit are indeed, enough. In persecuted countries they are happy to have a few pages of the bible and they commit them to memory and live faithfully before the Lord and do great exploits (laying down their lives).

Here in America we have so much. We think we are rich, yet are poor with all our books and learning and sermons, etc, etc.

Someone once remarked, "It is amazing how much the Church in America has accomplished, without the Holy Spirit".

Ask yourself what it is that you want to learn and then ask yourself if you cannot learn it at home. Chemistry, probably not. Bible, yes. If you want to learn Greek or Hebrew, no need to enroll in a full Seminary, go to a night class at your local community college or buy a program. By the way, you don't need Greek and Hebrew. JMHO.

Do you want to learn OT Survey or NT Survey. Easy. Buy a book. Are you accustomed to being taught by others or are you accustomed to self-learning? Are you looking for further knowledge about the Bible or a degree?

Why do you study the Bible? What do you look for when you study the Bible? Hopefully, you have asked yourself all of these questions.

It should also be noted that in the same persecuted countries that they still have Bible colleges and seminaries. Granted, the course of study is different than our traditional education here in the west. Many of them are required to plant a church in order to officially graduate in some schools. But, they still recognize the need for a sound Biblical education. Indeed, many of them desire it. David Platt talks about this at some length in some of his messages.

And if one is really a believer in just "me and my Bible," then you probably wouldn't be on Sermon Index. Would you?

Joe,

There seem to be three different competing views on this thread, I will list them for you:

1. Don't go to school. This tends to be the anti-intellectual stream that argues that all you need is a bible and a strong prayer life. God has used many people without a formal education in amazing ways around the world; Gladys Aylward comes to mind quickly. However, this is a short-sided view, and one that has hurt Evanglicalism in the 20th century. We need the whole body--including those that pursue theological education and learning original languages like Greek and Hebrew. While God has made some people to serve as lay-people, he has also called some of the body to intensive study of his Word. The body needs both--I cannot tell you how much I have benefitted from fellowship with men and women who have studied the bible in the original languages at a seminary level.

2. Go to the mission field. I have a personal affinity for this one--I recently finished my graudate studies in Intercultural Studies at a prominent Evangelical college. I am now serving as a cross-cultural worker among refugees in a major American city. I have been blessed more by the actual ministry that I am involved in than I was in the program that cost tens of thousands of dollars. However, at that program I learned a lot of valuable lessons that I would not have been able to learn on the field--or only through lots of trial and error. It was the combination of study and practice that have been such a blessing to me. I encourage you to consider doing a DTS with YWAM, or possibly looking into an organization like ELIC where you can go to school while serving overseas.

3. Go to school. Honestly, God has called some people to go and intensively study the bible. So many wonderful saints have gotten educated at Christian institutions--I doubt many of the pastors we listen to here on SermonIndex would have the ministries that they have without the time they invested in studying God's Word at a seminary. I haven't been to seminary, but I am a little jealous of those who God has chosen to go that route. I see how much of a blessing seminary can be to some people. I would say, if you do plan to go to seminary, find a local church to plug into and serve at. One discouraging thing I have seen is seminary students who completely remove themselves from the local church for a couple years. I think this is counter productive. You need to be teaching in order to really learn what you are being taught--and the best way to do this is to find a church in which you can serve in ministry at while you are studying. There are some churches that even offer fellowships to seminary students and help to pay for their education.

In the body of Christ there are many different parts--we cannot say that those parts that don't seem important are not important. The body needs people who serve as lay ministers, the body needs people who go to the mission field to toil and plod, the body needs people who pursue a high level of proficiency in studying and preaching the Word. We need each other.

-Ian Smith

Now a list of schools and programs that I can vouch for:

Seminaries:
Gordon-Conwell
Moody Bible Institute
Southern Baptist affiliated seminaries (six of them)
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Christian Colleges:
Biola (go for Intercultural Studies)
Fuller (go for Intercultural Studies)
Wheaton College (go for Exegesis or Intercultural Studies)

Mission Opportunities with an emphasis on training
YWAM (DTS and University of the Nations)
ELIC (Teach overseas and receive an MA in TESOL at the same time)

A more exhaustive list of Evangelical seminaries from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_evangelical_seminaries_and_theological_colleges

I guess I need to clear some things up.

I never said don't read books. I never said don't use SermonIndex. It is a great resource. I am merely saying that you don't necessarily have to spend thousands of dollars to be textbook taught about the Bible. I don't want you to think that you are somehow "crippled" if you don't go to Bible School/Seminary, because you are not.

One gentleman gave some Bible schools that he can "vouch" for. Here is a list of Believers that never went to Bible school/Seminary or had any kind of formal theology training, just to balance things out. Their ministry and reputation, vouches for them.

I don't believe they missed anything "good", not going to Seminary. And of course there are those who did go to Seminary. Art Katz comes to mind, but his was an M.A. in Theology. He already had a non-theological undergraduate degree. He was a teacher in the Oakland Public School System in California.

Watchman Nee
"You may well have light and truth, but knowledge alone will benefit you nothing."

Jackie Pullinger

Corrie Ten-Boom

Milton Green

Leonard Ravenhill
Quote from Leonard:
"Men give advice; God gives guidance."
"If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified."

George Warnock

A.W. Tozer

Also, I don't believe these people refer to Christians as "lay" people. That is something you learn in Seminary.

So, be encouraged that Bible School/Seminary is not necessarily a MUST. What is a MUST is that you just go in the direction that the Holy Spirit is leading you.

I could also post great men of God that have formal training, but the point was to post some men and women that did not have formal training and had a huge impact during their lives and even though some are with the Lord now, they continue to have a huge impact on people's lives.

Annointed teachers are given to the Body, for sure. You don't necessarily find them in institutes of "higher" learning. Many are found right hear on SermonIndex and other places on the net.

It should be noted that while Leonard Ravenhill did not go to seminary, he did go to Bible College. He sat under Dr. Samuel Chadwick for a few years.

iansmith wrote:
1. Don't go to school. This tends to be the anti-intellectual stream that argues that all you need is a bible and a strong prayer life.

Sidadm wrote:
Also, I don't believe these people refer to Christians as "lay" people. That is something you learn in Seminary.

God bless you in your studies, iansmith!
Lisa

It should be noted that while Leonard Ravenhill did not go to seminary, he did go to Bible College. He sat under Dr. Samuel Chadwick for a few years.

My bad. We can just cross him off the list, then. Let's replace him with Keith Green.

In addition to what I listed there are hundreds more. I think I made my point.

sidadm,

Who writes the books that you feel are so valuable. Where do they learn the lessons that they put in these books? Go to your bookshelf and see what happens if you throw out all the books written by people who have a bible college or seminary education.

Who translated the bible you are reading? Go into the introduction and read their names and where they were educated.

How about the people who run the publishing companies and literature distribution ministries.

How about the people who run the gospel missions, or mission agencies, or Christian charities?

If you discount everyone who has gotten and been blessed by a Christian education at a seminary or bible college, you will soon find yourself standing alone.

I love Leonard Ravenhill, but one of the biggest mistakes I think he made was in his attitude towards Christian higher learning. He was good at seeing the problems, but he wasn't willing to be part of the solution.

As far as the people you spoke about. Watchman Nee never received a formal education at a bible college or seminary, but he was an avid reader and corresponded with plenty of people who did study at bible colleges. He read books on theology by seminarians, he was mentored by missionaries with bible school and seminary training. He even grew up in a Christian household were the bible was taught faithfully.

Your view of Christianity is too self-sufficient, it is too independent, it does not rely on the body of Christ, it does not see how one part of the body blesses another.

Corrie Ten Boom's younger brother Willem was an ordained pastor who had received seminary education--and died from TB which he contracted in prison for his crime of hiding Jews.

AW Tozer may not have had a theological education himself, but he surrounded himself with people who did--and he taught and preached at bible colleges and seminaries. He is famous for his lectures at Wheaton College and partnered with Moody Bible Institute and other Christian schools while ministering in Chicago. He also supported the C&MA's bible schools and seminary.

Get the big picture already--seminaries and bible colleges are a blessing to the entire body of Christ, not just to those who attend them. I am not discounting the lives and ministries of those who do not attend--there have been some amazing saints who have never set a foot inside a Christian school or seminary, but that does not mean that they were not affected by the lives of those who have. The body of Christ is more closely intertwined than you are willing to acknowledge, and your hurtful views of bible colleges and seminaries show your own ignorance in this area.

I pray that you will learn to exhibit more grace towards those who God has directed to attend bible colleges and seminaries.

-Ian Smith

Let me ask you a question... suppose you had the choice between two "doctors."

One of them had studied at a premier research hospital and had trained with some of the best surgeons in the world--she regularly contributed to medical research journals and practiced and refined cutting edge medical techniques. She even occasionally lectured at medical schools where she could benefit others with the knowledge acquired through years of study and practice. She may not have initially been naturally gifted for medicine, but after years of study and hard work she has become internationally recognized as an expert in her field. It took her years to pay off the loans she had to take to get her med-school education, but it was all worth it because she learned things she uses every day.

Now suppose there is another "doctor," who had a natural gift for medicine. Since an early age he has been reading medical journals and textbooks--but feels that a medical education is too costly, so instead he resolved to learn it on his own. He is unlicensed because he feels that medical licensing is a crock, and that the board is corrupted by politics and lobbyists. He has never contributed to any of the journals that he learned from, but sometimes self-publishes books regarding his own insights, but these are often discounted or belittled by people with professional medical training. He develops a victim complex and feels that the established medical community is out to discredit him and his accomplishments. He has to practice outside of established hospitals because no hospital will hire him without having passed the necessary board certification. He is able to find an occasional patient--because his fees are dirt cheap, and he only uses common household items to treat wounds and infections. Occasionally he will stitch up a gang member after a knife-fight or a drive-by shooting. He is also the go-to guy when it comes to illegal late-term abortions. He'll treat you on his own kitchen counter.

Suppose you need to be treated for cancer--which one of these two medical practitioners will you go to?

Think about it, you trust secular hospitals for your healthcare, but you don't trust Christians with bible school educations... you think it is worth it to invest money in studying medicine, but not the bible. I want to know that my pastor, or the missionary I am supporting is an expert surgeon with the scalpel that is the Word of God. Is it wrong for me to expect that they have made sacrifices to prove themselves capable of ably wielding the Word of God?

-Ian Smith

P.S. I am a complementarian, and feel that while there are many ways in which women bless and benefit the body through service and ministry, biblically, church leadership is reserved for men. I know that the language in my examples might appear as if I am endorsing women ministers, however, I do not.

I think being a fisherman was good enough for Jesus.

Miccah,

Jesus also spoke in parables--he used regular every-day things to teach profound lessons. Just because I didn't use fishermen as my example, I don't think it was unbiblical.

-Ian

P.S. I'm sure Luke, the companion of the Apostle Paul, and author of one of the four canonical Gospels (and the book of Acts) would really appreciate you insinuating that Jesus doesn't care about his profession.

For Miccah,

Suppose you want to charter a fishing boat in order to go fishing with your life-long best friend. Your friendship developed because of your common passion for fishing.

You haven't seen each other in ages, and you have been looking forward to getting together for this trip for a long time. You spend a lot of time researching the best places to go fishing, the best gear and bait.

After years of looking forward to your reunion you meet each other on the dock.

Now there are two boats you can choose to charter from.

You see where I am going with this Miccah?

-Ian

Ian,

I don't know if you have a comprehension problem or what the issue is.

our view of Christianity is too self-sufficient, it is too independent, it does not rely on the body of Christ, it does not see how one part of the body blesses another.

And where did you get the information to make that statment?

If you want us to play your game then we can keep referencing people like you are doing until we end up back at the Apostles, ONE of whom was very educated. Think about that. All "educated" people today were mostly taught by 66 uneducated writers of the Bible, give or take 1 or 2 "educated" ones.

Now, hear me. I am not anti-intellectual as you implied in one of your earlier posts. I don't have anything against books or education, but I am not going to tell this person who is asking questions about Bible School/Seminary, that it will be his "magic key" to all that he wants to be and know.

On the contrary, he may even end up opposing the Lord. We see much too much of that today, from the modern Scribes who have Textually criticized the Word of God to pieces, until it is absolutely anemic and powerless.

It seems you like to re-frame the discussion and put people in boxes. That seems to be a bit controlling, don't you think?

I think I am being much more fairer minded than you. You present a picture that ALL good in the Body has come from higher education. I merely pointed out many Godly men and women that did great exploits for the Lord without higher education. At the same time, I pointed out that there are many Godly men and women that did have formal training.

Now, this discussion is beginning to get absurd, primarily because, you can find quite the opposite, too. You can find ungodly men and women with no formal training and you can find a plethora of ungodly men and women today, with formal theological training.

So, what's the point? First of all, I am not going to glorify higher education as if it is some panacea and I am not glorifying the lack of it, either. The only thing we should be glorying in is the Lord.

You make a lot of accusations and I do not feel disposed to answer any of them.

As far as Bible Colleges and Seminaries being a blessing to the Body of Christ, I would acknowledge that God has used them, yes. I would acknowledge that there are annointed men and women in some of these institutions that God has used. I would also acknowledge that there are some institutions and teachers that have done the Body of Christ harm. I don't know if you would acknowledge that or not but it does not matter.

His original question was that he is looking for a Bible School or Seminary "that would please God". Frankly, no one can answer that question for him.

By the way, the same kind of opposite analogies can be given for your analogies. But, you write in such a way that you treat anyone that has an opposing opinion to yours as an uneducated ingrate. That is humorous when you don't even know what I do for a living.

Brother Ian,

Relax my friend. I only stated a fact, nothing more. I am not against people going to seminary as long as the Lord is calling you to go.

I do have issues with people thinking that you have to go to seminary in order to preach/teach, etc... From what I have read, you do not believe this way.

If the Lord leads you to seminary, Go! If the Lord leads you to the field, Go! If the Lord leads you to hide in your paryer closet for a year, Go! To do anything else is disobedience.

Blessings!

sidadm,

I think I have been gracious towards those without a bible education--until recently I had served for years without one. I am serving as a lay-missionary in Chicago. I am a bi-vocational missionary, I teach part-time at a Christian College and I raise support to work with refugees and help to plant indigenous churches among them. I have not been formally ordained, yet I preach, teach and disciple on a regular basis.

My point was that you cannot speak in such broad categories. There are many people to whom a theological education is going to be a blessing. I think that the original poster of this question was looking for honest and sincere answers to his questions. Unfortunately very few people actually sought to answer his question, but read into his question the whole issue of the merit of theological education.

I simply want to show grace towards those who feel that receiving a seminary education is what God is calling them to do. Someday, Lord willing, I would like to pursue a doctorate or a masters in theology. However, for the time being God has me plodding here.

All colleges have a Christian heritage--all modern education for that matter. If you have gone to any kind of college or vocational school you have been benefited by the development of seminaries and bible colleges.

I would encourage you to read Campus Aflame by J. Edwin Orr, it was profound reading for me--he traced how almost all of the major Holy Spirit movements in the last several hundred years have started with those studying at Christian institutions. Yep. Bible Colleges = Awakenings of the Holy Spirit. Read it.

-Ian

Miccah,

I couldn't say it any better!

Miccah,

You only stated a fact? Seriously? Are you speaking authoritatively for Jesus now? Did you receive a word from God? Are you by any chance the Pope?

Watch your language.

-Ian

Wow Iansmith. I am quoting the Bible. What or who are you quoting?

Ok, who were Jesus disciples? Fisherman, a tax collector and a zealot. All the others were unknown or not recorded.

Iansmith, what am I missing about my statement that fisherman were good enough for Jesus?

Miccah,

They didn't stay fishermen, they became fishers of men. They were not defined by their positions prior to coming into the service of Christ, they became Apostles (greek: apostloi [sent], latin: missio, missionaries) for Christ--witnesses to his resurrection.

Peter, who was probably illiterate prior to his conversion learned to write and argued for Jesus in the temple among the pharisees and saduccees, they perceived that they were uneducated men, but only in the sense that they had not received a traditional education. John and Matthew, Apostles of Jesus likewise wrote accounts of Jesus. You have already mentioned Paul.

Jesus' brother James was literate--so too were many of those early disciples, Luke, John Mark, etc.

Since the first century, Christian men and women have pursued higher education with fervency. They preserved the testimony of the early church. They built schools and taught others to read and write. They published letters and sent them around the Roman empire.

Many of the early church fathers were educated in the best schools and traditions of the time--in order to speak truth into those schools and traditions, to be salt and light. (Justin Martyr quickly comes to mind--he even continued to wear the clothing associated with Greek Philosophers)

The Apostle Paul encouraged his readers again and again to prove themselves worthy of the Gospel by thorough study and pursuit of education.

The fact that you learned to read and write is as a result of thousands of years of faithful Christian service towards education. Every major college and university founded prior to the twentieth century was founded as a Christian institution. It wasn't long ago that every high school, middle school and elementary school in the united states was being run by concerned passionate Christians. The reason we have the education system we have today is because of the emphasis on education by the early Christian community.

Education is not something for us to be afraid of--it is our heritage as Christians. Universities, Colleges, Schools, they were established to proclaim the Gospel. Satan hates nothing more than the proclamation of the Gospel, so he has done everything that he can to secularize and marginalize the Christian's impact on education.

The anti-intellectualism present within modern evangelicalism is the work of the enemy. He has persuaded too many of us that Colleges and Universities are the place for the lost and pagans. Now even our own Christian institutions are called into question.

Instead of supporting the institutions that God's church, His body, His people have established, we malign them, undercut them, libel and slander them.

Satan is winning the war in our schools... instead of retreating we need to advance. We need to hold Christian institutions to a higher standard.

Recently the Southern Baptist seminaries were won back from the liberal Christians that had been increasingly gaining a stranglehold over them. (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/october/3.18.html)

We need to advance the banner of Jesus and reclaim these institutions created for the propagation of the Gospel, instead of retreating into the corner and being further marginalized in our current culture.

Don't you get it, you've been duped by the enemy, he is winning in the world of education and you're playing along. All your cliches won't help you win this battle.

-Ian

hi,i think ian has made a wonderful point in love.if you are an apostle of Jesus you do not preach very much. they were ignorant and that is why God brought in saul of t.if you are lay preacher, preach.look how well joel osteen has done without bible school or seminary.jimp

Westminster in Philadelphia is another school (besides the SBC seminaries) that has recently made a major move to dispel liberal Christians from its midst. (http://sitzimleben.com/2009/06/22/wondering-about-beales-move-to-westminster-seminary/)

They replaced Peter Enns with Gregory Beale--that would be like Mars Hill in Grand Rapids replacing Robb Bell with John Piper! That is a huge shift, and one in the right direction. It shows that liberalized institutions can be won back to biblical orthodoxy.

iansmith,

You are taking a lot of liberties with your assumptions and accusations. Sounds like you have an ax to grind with someone else and not us.

Ian.

Your mind is set. If the Lord is leading you or others to pursue an education, then obey Him.

Please forgive me if I offended you.

Just keep in mind that you don't need an education to:

Love God
Know God
Obey God
Be a brother
Be a Minister of the Lord Jesus Christ
Preach the Word
Teach the Word
Help someone
Be a loving Husband
Be a loving Wife
Witness to the lost