Alternatives to seminary education

["Lil" Possum Preacher man]

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.

 

[revmwc]

Our association is doing this"

How can our 41 churches reach the 70,000 people in the area covered by Trinity River Baptist Association? Those 41 churches must start new churches that will start new churches. We are in the process of "building" a Church Planting Pipeline which will produce new church starts.

Some of these new churches will eventually have buildings and a full-time pastor. But many will be small groups of people who meet in borrowed or rented space and are led by a bivocational or volunteer pastor. Some may last only a few years or even a few months. But during their existence those churches will reach, win, baptize and disciple people. And they will also start other new churches.

In order for new church starts to come out of the Pipeline, there are three things that need to go ito the Pipeline: Men Called by God; Churches Led by God; and People Loved by God.
How will we prepare men called by God to plant churches?

We are calling out the called, men who live in our area, already have a means of earning a living, but are called by God to plant a new church here, or perhaps become pastor of one of our exisitng churches. The association's responsibility is to prepare them.

Rather than send these men away for training, we offer local, excellent and culturally relevant training through the one-year Pastor Essentials course taught by our own pastoral leadership on Monday evenings. The course is taught continuously so men called by God may begin at any time.

We also offer them a six-month internship in one of our churches. And, as they begin to pastor, we continue to help them by providing ongoing coaching.


How will we equip churches led by God to plant new churches?

We are asking each of our 41 churches to seek God's will about starting one or more new churches. The association's responsibility is to equip the churches.

We provide a one-day Church Planting 101 event for each church that feels led to start a new work. As they move forward with their plans, we provide guidance and assistance. In those cases where financial suport is required, we partner with the sponsor church, the new church plant, and the state convention.


How will we discover people loved by God who need churches?

Where do we plant a new church? What people are we seeking to reach? The association's responsibility is to help discover those people loved by God who could be reached by a new church.

The phrase "people loved by God" is motivational. When we remember that all around us are people whom God so loved that He sent His Son to die for their sins, then we are compelled to find ways to reach them. If they are not being reached by our existing churches, then we need to plant a new church to reach them.

Those people loved by God may be a community, a neighborhood, a language or ethnic group, a socio-economic classification, or some people connected by common careers, interests or backgrounds. As we pray, survey our community, and open our eyes to see the darkness, Jesus will enable us to discover people loved by God.

 

[exscentric]

There are Bible colleges, but most are about as spendy as seminary these days. There are a couple of Bible Institutes that are cheaper. They operate on faculty that raise their own support so the tuition is minimal.

Buy some good books and be hard on yourself and study though that is a hard to do kinda thing

 

[Greektim]

There is always TNARS.

http://www.tnars.net/

 

[BrotherJoseph]

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.

Brother Possum Preacher man,

Theological Seminaries, in attempting to qualify men to preach the gospel, virtually profess to hold at their disposal the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and to impart them to men for money. This is anti-scriptural, and consequently anti-christian; as it was fully demonstrated by the apostle Peter, in the case of one Simon. "20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." (Acts 8:20). Seminaries are an invention of man, with no scriptural basis in the New Testament. One who is called to preach is done so and enabled by the Holy Spirit himself as were the apostles (considered unlearned fishermen who never went to seminary as can be said for all preachers of the gospel in the New Testament). Primitive Baptists require all of their ordained ministers to be called of, taught by, and enabled to preach by none other than the Holy Ghost, not a mere man, and thus do not send their preachers to "seminaries".

God bless,

Brother Joe

 

[robustheologian]

Brother Possum Preacher man,

Theological Seminaries, in attempting to qualify men to preach the gospel, virtually profess to hold at their disposal the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and to impart them to men for money. This is anti-scriptural, and consequently anti-christian; as it was fully demonstrated by the apostle Peter, in the case of one Simon. "20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." (Acts 8:20). Seminaries are an invention of man, with no scriptural basis in the New Testament. One who is called to preach is done so and enabled by the Holy Spirit himself as were the apostles (considered unlearned fishermen who never went to seminary as can be said for all preachers of the gospel in the New Testament). Primitive Baptists require all of their ordained ministers to be called of, taught by, and enabled to preach by none other than the Holy Ghost, not a mere man, and thus do not send their preachers to "seminaries".

God bless,

Brother Joe

I can understand that seminary is no substitute for the Holy Spirit, but are you saying one shouldn't go to seminary???

 

[BrotherJoseph]

I can understand that seminary is no substitute for the Holy Spirit, but are you saying one shouldn't go to seminary???

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.

 

[exscentric]

Humm, you suggest the apostles did not go to seminary - true - however they spent many months with JESUS CHRIST the one that taught them what they needed to know - seminary scriptural? Not so much however education is not an unscriptural idea.

"virtually profess to hold at their disposal the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and to impart them to men for money"

Have never heard of a seminary or prof that would in any way agree with such a statement - maybe a bit of a stretch to make your point? Not a great fan of seminaries, they tend to take gifted men and turn them into babbling idiots but I think your impression of them might be a tad off base. Rather a cheap shot to many godly men that have given their lives to assist men in their efforts for the Lord.

 

[TadQueasy]

Humm, you suggest the apostles did not go to seminary - true - however they spent many months with JESUS CHRIST the one that taught them what they needed to know - seminary scriptural? Not so much however education is not an unscriptural idea.

"virtually profess to hold at their disposal the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and to impart them to men for money"

Have never heard of a seminary or prof that would in any way agree with such a statement - maybe a bit of a stretch to make your point? Not a great fan of seminaries, they tend to take gifted men and turn them into babbling idiots but I think your impression of them might be a tad off base. Rather a cheap shot to many godly men that have given their lives to assist men in their efforts for the Lord.

Well said. :thumbsup:

 

[Revmitchell]

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.

Toilets are not found in the Bible.

 

[BrotherJoseph]

Toilets are not found in the Bible.

If seminaries were necessary for one to become a preacher or Elder, the New Testament would declared this, however nothing is mentioned when Paul states, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee" (Titus 1:5). Not only did the apostles not go, but men such as Stephen and Apollos who did not sit under the ministry of Christ were preachers in Acts and had no such training. These institutions are man made and have their origin in none other than the mother of harlots the Catholic church themselves. "The establishment of modern seminaries resulted from Roman Catholic reforms of the Counter-Reformation after the Council of Trent.[5]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary

 

[Revmitchell]

It matters not why the Catholics did it. That has no bearing on what we are doing or why we are doing it.

 

[TadQueasy]

No one has said they are necessary for one to be a preacher.

The Scripture also challenges us to study to show ourselves approved. Seminaries are a great asset to that.

 

[BrotherJoseph]

No one has said they are necessary for one to be a preacher.

The Scripture also challenges us to study to show ourselves approved. Seminaries are a great asset to that.

The Holy Spirit in combination with the written word of God is more than sufficient. "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1 John 2:27)

Also, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." If the scripture makes a man "thoroughly furnished" and "perfect" then I do not see what seminary could add as nothing further needs to be added upon (so as long as the reader of scripture has the Holy Ghost in him to teach him).

 

[BrotherJoseph]

Quote From The Black Rock Address September 28, 1832, regarding Seminaries,

"The idea of a Baptist College and a Presbyterian College, etc., necessarily implies that our distinct views of church government, of gospel doctrine and gospel ordinances are connected with human sciences, a principle which we cannot admit: for we believe the kingdom of Christ to be altogether a kingdom not of this world. In the second place, we object to the notion of attaching professorships of divinity to colleges; because this evidently implies that the revelation which God has made of Himself is a human science, on a footing with mathematics, philosophy, law, etc., which is contrary to the general tenor of revelation, and indeed to the very idea itself of revelation.

...But when a person professedly called of Christ to the gospel ministry concludes that, in order to be useful, he must first go and obtain an academical education, he must judge that human science is of more importance in the ministry than that knowledge and those gifts which Christ imparts to his servants. To act consistently with his own principles, he will place his chief dependence for usefulness on his scientific knowledge, and aim mostly to display this in his preaching. This person, therefore, will pursue a very different course in his preaching from that marked out by the great apostle to the Gentiles who determined to know nothing among the people save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

As to Theological schools, we shall at present content ourselves with saying that they are a reflection upon the faithfulness of the Holy Ghost, who is engaged according to the promise of the great Head of the church to lead the disciples into all truth. See John 16:13."

Source-http://www.asweetsavor.info/exc/rock.php#6


I will post one scripture on this matter that I think sufficiently summarizes my position and that of the word of God,-"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13a)

 

[Greektim]

Toilets are not found in the Bible.

Might be why much of what he is saying smells like ______.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Curious......did Charles Haddon Spurgeon ever go to a seminary?

 

[Iconoclast]

Quote From The Black Rock Address September 28, 1832, regarding Seminaries,

"The idea of a Baptist College and a Presbyterian College, etc., necessarily implies that our distinct views of church government, of gospel doctrine and gospel ordinances are connected with human sciences, a principle which we cannot admit: for we believe the kingdom of Christ to be altogether a kingdom not of this world. In the second place, we object to the notion of attaching professorships of divinity to colleges; because this evidently implies that the revelation which God has made of Himself is a human science, on a footing with mathematics, philosophy, law, etc., which is contrary to the general tenor of revelation, and indeed to the very idea itself of revelation.

...But when a person professedly called of Christ to the gospel ministry concludes that, in order to be useful, he must first go and obtain an academical education, he must judge that human science is of more importance in the ministry than that knowledge and those gifts which Christ imparts to his servants. To act consistently with his own principles, he will place his chief dependence for usefulness on his scientific knowledge, and aim mostly to display this in his preaching. This person, therefore, will pursue a very different course in his preaching from that marked out by the great apostle to the Gentiles who determined to know nothing among the people save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

As to Theological schools, we shall at present content ourselves with saying that they are a reflection upon the faithfulness of the Holy Ghost, who is engaged according to the promise of the great Head of the church to lead the disciples into all truth. See John 16:13."

Source-http://www.asweetsavor.info/exc/rock.php#6


I will post one scripture on this matter that I think sufficiently summarizes my position and that of the word of God,-"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13a)

So here he misuses jn 16.....which was a promise to the Apostles ALONE.....They were guided into all truth......not you.......Seminary might have helped here.

 

[John of Japan]

I went to seminary to study to show myself "approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." Oh, hey, I guess that's in the Bible. So is Prov. 1:7, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

I thank God for the godly profs I had in Bible college and seminary.

 

[John of Japan]

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.

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.