As someone who did go to seminary for 7 years, to earn a 3 year Master's degree, I think the issue, from what I see, is that people are going to seminaries with a lot of apostate and liberal professors.
I went to a very conservative seminary, and I got a first class education in the Bible, hermeneutics, and original languages. We also had a lot of courses that were about learning skills - like teaching, preaching, counselling, discipling, evangelism, missions, and even church administration.
The last pastor in my church was a great preacher. He was great with outreach and community. But he had not taken business, and had no experience on that side of running a church. It literally broke him, the business aspect, and he is now out of the pastorate. So, never discount the importance of learning to run a church, even a small one!
We had people in our seminary from literally every Protestant denomination, from mainline to charismatic, although we were definitely Baptists, and Southern Baptist at that! We had Anglicans, Lutherans, Mennonites, many Baptists who left other conferences because they were too liberal, and didn't really believe the Bible. And all the way to charismatics who knew they needed more skills and bible knowledge. I respect them for that!
The Bible was our standard, and the reputation was such that, these people came for training, because they knew they weren't getting the run around.
I guess I was just blessed that God called me there, even if they didn't believe in women preaching, they sure believed in women in ministry, 100%. Having 52% of the church on the side lines, (women) means the job reaching the lost and discipling them is not getting done.
Anyway, it is not necessary to have a degree, but it is necessary to find a church. My denomination is church based, but the expectation is that if you don't have a theological degree, you will pursue that. Much easier to do it before. I spent a lot of extra time on each subject, doing the degree part time. I think I had more time to absorb both what I was taught and to understand the various aspects of the Bible. Theology, I'm still working on!
I am sure there are people who were driven away from God who went to almost unbelieving seminaries. On the other hand, how many people were driven away from a pastorate, because they really didn't have the knowledge or tools to actually do the job? Probably many! Think about that the next time you think you should put down seminaries.
There are many good, Bible believing seminaries out there. But you do have to be careful, and check them out. I was blessed, because the Holy Spirit just said, "Do this!" And the second time, I did! So, yes, to not be called of God is a big issue. But, I have seen seminary weed out a lot of people, between the language demands and the work load. I know I wanted to quit a few times, but that call of God was so heavy on my heart, I just kept going. And the Holy Spirit carried me through!
I went to a very conservative seminary, and I got a first class education in the Bible, hermeneutics, and original languages. We also had a lot of courses that were about learning skills - like teaching, preaching, counselling, discipling, evangelism, missions, and even church administration.
The last pastor in my church was a great preacher. He was great with outreach and community. But he had not taken business, and had no experience on that side of running a church. It literally broke him, the business aspect, and he is now out of the pastorate. So, never discount the importance of learning to run a church, even a small one!
We had people in our seminary from literally every Protestant denomination, from mainline to charismatic, although we were definitely Baptists, and Southern Baptist at that! We had Anglicans, Lutherans, Mennonites, many Baptists who left other conferences because they were too liberal, and didn't really believe the Bible. And all the way to charismatics who knew they needed more skills and bible knowledge. I respect them for that!
The Bible was our standard, and the reputation was such that, these people came for training, because they knew they weren't getting the run around.
I guess I was just blessed that God called me there, even if they didn't believe in women preaching, they sure believed in women in ministry, 100%. Having 52% of the church on the side lines, (women) means the job reaching the lost and discipling them is not getting done.
Anyway, it is not necessary to have a degree, but it is necessary to find a church. My denomination is church based, but the expectation is that if you don't have a theological degree, you will pursue that. Much easier to do it before. I spent a lot of extra time on each subject, doing the degree part time. I think I had more time to absorb both what I was taught and to understand the various aspects of the Bible. Theology, I'm still working on!
I am sure there are people who were driven away from God who went to almost unbelieving seminaries. On the other hand, how many people were driven away from a pastorate, because they really didn't have the knowledge or tools to actually do the job? Probably many! Think about that the next time you think you should put down seminaries.
There are many good, Bible believing seminaries out there. But you do have to be careful, and check them out. I was blessed, because the Holy Spirit just said, "Do this!" And the second time, I did! So, yes, to not be called of God is a big issue. But, I have seen seminary weed out a lot of people, between the language demands and the work load. I know I wanted to quit a few times, but that call of God was so heavy on my heart, I just kept going. And the Holy Spirit carried me through!
