For those of you who do not know me, I have an MDiv from an ATS accredited seminary. That’s the top accreditation board for seminaries in North America. I was also working on a PhD in theology, in an ATS accredited Theological School, but had to quit because of ill health.
I did a 3 year degree in 7 years. That gave me time to really dig into all sides of the different subjects. I graduated with distinction, and the outstanding Greek award. This is not to brag, but to show you that a seminary education can be of the highest standard, and the candidate led by the Holy Spirit. In fact, it was God who called me to go to seminary, not once, but twice. The first time I disobeyed, my life turned difficult. Including major health issues. But God used that for good, and gave me the time & ability to learn & study.
When I heard a seminary trained pastor preach, it gave me a hunger to know God and the Word better. I did go to a conservative, Bible believing Baptist seminary. I learned how to correctly divide the Word of God. I learned the importance of having Biblical ethics, which Evmur, above, does not have. Like putting up some shoddy nonsense about Spurgeon that was unverified & untrue. That post was totally unethical, basically a lie. Spurgeon was never even close to a pentecostal. In fact, he suffered severe depression, most of his life.
Seminary was utterly transforming for me. I took several prayer courses, and we prayed! It was amazing. I learned tools of ministry, skills on how to correctly read the Bible, including the original languages and hermeneutics.
I am not a pastor of a church, but the leadership skills I learned in seminary, I use every day to lead a forum of 4000 people on Facebook, who have RA. I share love and compassion people with suffering people. I witness to God as to how he has helped me and changed me and given me hope. My goal in my PhD was to find a way to connect these lost suffering people with Christians, who could witness and possibly lead them to Christ - the only hope we truly have.
It seems like every time I come here some ignoramus is standing in a soap box saying Bible school and seminary are “man made” and all you need to do is let the Holy Spirit lead you. The Holy Spirit leads teachers & professors! Not only do the students gain head knowledge, but heart knowledge as they grow closer to the image of Christ, with the help of the models of godly men & women who walk the walk. All my professors had life long careers on the mission field to win people to Christ. Some with a fervent passion, that came through in every class they teach,
Seminaries and Bible colleges equip leaders. That is who God, through the Holy Spirit has appointed to do that job! the writer of Ephesians is very thorough explaining this process.
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Eph. 4:11-16
Christ gave who? Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Why? To equip his people for works of service. Again, the writer of Hebrews says:
"20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21
We need to be equipped to do a job for God. Do we need to know the Bible? Or course we do! I've read the Bible 60 times in my own studies, plus surveys, book studies in the original languages, and Bible studies I have taught to various women's Bible studies. I also use the Word to preach. I hope I also live the Word, in my thoughts words and deeds. While no seminary can teach you that, it can give you a huge grounding in the faithful walk of a Christian, who has studied to show themselves approved.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17
I studied and read the Bible every day for 25 years, and did not learn as much about the Bible, or to know God as well as just 7 part time years in seminary. And yes, you have to be careful to pick a conservative seminary, that will not lead you away from your faith. It isn't hard! I've found 2 so far. I can only praise God he allowed me the privilege of attending seminary, and then a theological institute to get to know him and his Word and to learn how to minister to God's people.
Anyway, this poor OP asks a question and people who have never been to Bible College or seminary jump on the thread and tell them that it is all manmade. They've never been to a Bible College, but they are experts in a topic they know nothing about! But, yes! God works through our human hands! I probably won't be back for a while again. I would like to find a forum that can rationally discuss topics like this, without someone derailing the thread with hate-filled slander. I think the more Bible education you can get, the better. But, stay away from Youtube videos and self published books, and fiction like the Left Behind Series. Learn to discern true Christian character in your teachers, and also find someone who knows more than you do, to teach you. That is the system that Jesus left in place, whether some of the malcontents in this forum understand this or not!
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