Alternatives to seminary education

[Earth Wind and Fire]

EWF,

Allow me one more follow up if I may.

I don't expect anything of you. It is what the Master expects from all of his called ministers that matters does it not? This should be our very, very best!!!!!!

If someone in your place in life came to me and asked my professional, ministerial, and professorial opinion this is what I would share with them:

First, what is your present educational background?

Second, what are your gifts and desires?

Third, how has God blest your Christian work thus far?

Fourth, what part do you see yourself playing in world missions and missions on the local scene?

Fifth, I would advise him to enroll in as rigorous an academic program as they could find. There are many online that fill the bill this date and time.

There are so, so many out there and the amount of learning needed for the ministry is so overwhelming to the one who comes to the game late--it can truly be mind boggling.

My thoughts! :smilewinkgrin:

Yours?

No thoughts, merely observation. The professional minister today is being shunned because if they ever had, they have lost touch with people in the street.....so (now my conclusions) are that there is very little desire for the "professional" minister anymore. In my area, it has sunk into a secular society. Now with all these highly educated professional seminarians walking around, why is it that there is very little need for them (in my community)?

 

[Rhetorician]

Response #3

No thoughts, merely observation. The professional minister today is being shunned because if they ever had, they have lost touch with people in the street.....so (now my conclusions) are that there is very little desire for the "professional" minister anymore. In my area, it has sunk into a secular society. Now with all these highly educated professional seminarians walking around, why is it that there is very little need for them (in my community)?

Dear Brother,

I think, but I hope not, that you have missed my point altogether?!

The point I tried to make, but either I did not make it very well or you did not get it is this:

Every God called man should be the very best he should be for his Master and for the people he serves; and there is not one in one thousand who can or would or have the ability to get what he would need to serve a local congregation on his own.

I'm done!! :BangHead:

 

[John of Japan]

So Im 59 YO....you expect me to go to seminary at this late date! Please!!!

Are you called to preach? If so, consider what God's will is for your training. At your age it may be an internship rather than actual seminary. If you are not called, this thread doesn't apply to you.

Elijah had a school for the "sons of the prophets," Jesus trained the 12 for three whole years, and God sent Paul into the wilderness for three years to directly train him (as Jesus had directly called him). The Spurgeons in God's service are precious few. The rest of us need training, whatever that training might be.

 

[John of Japan]

JOJ,

As usual you have hit the nail on the head. For far too long too many on this board in the past have tried a short, cheap route to being a minister. The truth of the matter is, a good and rigorous Bible college of seminary program is (can be) God's boot camp. And if someone cannot learn to trust God for that outcome how then will he make it in the cold cruel world of ministry.

Some of the same issues you and I JOJ have discussed with young men in the past who wanted a "doctorate" but wanted to go to some cut rate diploma mill just to get the title.

Nice to read your posts again brother. I trust you are doing well. We are back in the US now after 33 years in Japan. I mostly teach Bible and Greek, but it's a small college so I was shanghied into your field and also taught the Survey of Church History course. Fun!

I was looking at an online seminary the other day and it said I could have 6 credits--free--for every year of ministry. I figured out that would give me 234 credits. That should be enough for another master's and maybe a couple of doctorates, don't you think? :laugh:

The truth of the matter is, that taking up the Cross of vocational ministry is a lifelong pursuit with no short cuts and only promotion out by death.

And if the truth be known, JOJ and myself, such as we are by the grace of God would never be who, what, and where we are apart from the rigors of our education and experience through which the Master has brought us. Praise His name!

Just the ramblings of an old man trying to understand why young guys want a quick and cheap and painless way in the ministry?

Go figure!!!

Keep in mind there is no offense intended in the particular case only a questioning in the general sense. :smilewinkgrin:

rd

Amen, brother well said.

 

[John of Japan]

No thoughts, merely observation. The professional minister today is being shunned because if they ever had, they have lost touch with people in the street.....so (now my conclusions) are that there is very little desire for the "professional" minister anymore. In my area, it has sunk into a secular society. Now with all these highly educated professional seminarians walking around, why is it that there is very little need for them (in my community)?

There are many academicians who get out among the people. Having a seminary degree does not force one to stay in the ivory tower.

When I was in seminary I went on visitation with my Hebrew prof, a well-known scholar. My son the PhD prof was a bus captain for VBS last week and reveled in it. His mentor for the PhD, Dr. David Alan Black, calls himself a missionary first and a prof second, and goes regularly on missions trips to Ethiopia, China, etc.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

There are many academicians who get out among the people. Having a seminary degree does not force one to stay in the ivory tower.

When I was in seminary I went on visitation with my Hebrew prof, a well-known scholar. My son the PhD prof was a bus captain for VBS last week and reveled in it. His mentor for the PhD, Dr. David Alan Black, calls himself a missionary first and a prof second, and goes regularly on missions trips to Ethiopia, China, etc.

Whats that got to do with my community?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Are you called to preach? If so, consider what God's will is for your training. At your age it may be an internship rather than actual seminary.

Internship by whom?

Elijah had a school for the "sons of the prophets," Jesus trained the 12 for three whole years, and God sent Paul into the wilderness for three years to directly train him (as Jesus had directly called him). The Spurgeons in God's service are precious few. The rest of us need training, whatever that training might be.

But the point, that you would be hard pressed to ignore is that Spurgeon had no formal training in ministry, but was called into pastor-ship at age 17....and look at his accomplishments! So do you just ignore that mans ability to serve?
No you don't. Do you poo poo the"Spurgeon Experience" as an anomaly....I certainly hope not. God could raise up stones if He wishes.

 

[Rhetorician]

Rhetorician Response

Nice to read your posts again brother. I trust you are doing well. We are back in the US now after 33 years in Japan. I mostly teach Bible and Greek, but it's a small college so I was shanghied into your field and also taught the Survey of Church History course. Fun!

I was looking at an online seminary the other day and it said I could have 6 credits--free--for every year of ministry. I figured out that would give me 234 credits. That should be enough for another master's and maybe a couple of doctorates, don't you think? :laugh:


Amen, brother well said.

JoJ,

Would you PM me please.

rd

 

[reverist]

Hi BrotherRobust,

Seminaries are not found in the Bible, therefore I disagree with churches that have this as a prequalification for one to preach. There is no warrant or sanction for them from the New Testament, nor in the example of Christ and the apostles.

This standard is not itself found in the Bible, and thus is self-refuting.

 

[Rhetorician]

Are there alternatives to Seminary education? I ask because of the cost of going to seminary and was wondering if there any alternatives to seminary education.

Hello Lil,

Why do you think you cannot afford Bible College or Seminary?

I know you have heard this, but if you think education is expensive--try ignorance.

Get yourself quick fast and in a hurry to an SBC seminary. They are one of the best deals on the planet.

rd

 

[Wanderer]

There are some low cost or free alternatives. Such as Alaska Bible Institute in Homer Alaska. That is where I met my wife back in 2008. There is also one in Montana, but forgot the name and location.

Edit: However, they are usually unaccredited, but there are some seminary's that do accept their credits.

 

[Rhetorician]

Brother, if money is what is keeping you from seminary, then you might as well forget being a preacher. Bible college and seminary taught me to live by faith. Also, God gave me a good, 40 hour factory job so that I was able to pay as I went.

If it is God's will for you to go, then He will provide a job and other funds to get you through. This will teach you to live by faith as a preacher, because let me tell you, there is not salary out there in any church that will meet all your needs. You'd better learn to live by faith sooner than later.

JoJ,

How is the bio of your granddad coming along. Always good to hear from a brother who has lived his life living out the Gospel as you have. I thank you for your devoted service.

I was almost drug into this discussion. But how do you argue with people whose mind is already made up and closed.

I would submit (and will be castigated for doing so I know), that those young men who do not want to go to seminary should really get alone with God for a season of prayer and fasting to see if they are justifying some of their motives to themselves?!

My thoughts and I am done..

And, I could not have said it any better than JoJ has said it. This topic has been beaten to death and is a dead horse.

"That is all!"

rd

 

[John of Japan]

JoJ,

How is the bio of your granddad coming along. Always good to hear from a brother who has lived his life living out the Gospel as you have. I thank you for your devoted service.

Hi, Rhet. The work on the bio has been kind of slow, since the last semester was hectic. I don't have as big a load this semester, so I'm hoping to get a lot done and finish it this summer. And I may have to do a volume 2 on the theology of JRR. He had an interesting mix, Christological and historic premil.

I was almost drug into this discussion. But how do you argue with people whose mind is already made up and closed.

I would submit (and will be castigated for doing so I know), that those young men who do not want to go to seminary should really get alone with God for a season of prayer and fasting to see if they are justifying some of their motives to themselves?!

My thoughts and I am done..

Amen to that.

And, I could not have said it any better than JoJ has said it. This topic has been beaten to death and is a dead horse.

"That is all!"

rd

I've never understood why some Christians think less formal study of the Bible is a good thing.

God bless.

 

[PilgrimPastor]

You've got a lot of good low cost options, what John of Japan is saying is on point, and philosophically I think we need to be incorporating local church - pastor mentoring in the process.

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastor...is-surber-training-lay-preachers-why-not.html

http://www.sermoncentral.com/pastor...hy-you-should-train-others-to-preach-1515.asp

 

[Marooncat79]

I have a Bible Cirriculuum for those interested

Costs are $125-150 per 3 hour class

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NT
OT
Doctrine of God
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Pastoral Ministry
Preaching
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Missions

Others as well