Are Christian seminaries necessary?

[Giver]

I personally think that; not only are seminaries not necessary, but are in most cases dangerous to a person’s spiritual health.

After a person has been brought to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, by the Christians preachers, teachers, pastors, and have been given the Holy Spirit it is no longer necessary to be taught by man, right?

Did Paul go to a seminary? Did man teach Paul? Doesn’t every Christian have the same Holy Spirit given to them as Paul had given to him?

(John 10:16) “And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.” (John 10:27) “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

(John 16:13) “But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come.”

(1 Corinthians 1:19-21) “As scripture says: I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing all the learning of the learned. Where are the philosophers now? Where are the scribes? Where are any of our thinkers today? Do you see now how God has shown up the foolishness of human wisdom? If it was God’s wisdom that human wisdom should not know God, it was because God wanted to save those who have faith through the foolishness of the message that we preach.”

(1 Corinthians 2:10-16) “These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depts. Of everything, even the depths of God. After all, the depths of a man can only be known by his own spirit, not by any other man, and in the same way the depths of God can only be known by the Spirit of God. Now instead of the spirit of the world, we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore we teach, not in the way in which philosophy is taught, but in the way that the Spirit teaches us: we teach spiritual things spiritually. A spiritual man, on the other hand, is able to judge the value of everything and his own value in not to be judged by other men. As scripture says;’ Who can know the mind of the Lord, so who can teach him?’ But we are those who have the mind of Christ.”

 

[WarriorAngel]

So, this is your idea that you have?

That men need not be taught exactness, and as long as we think we have the Spirit then its ok to interpret scriptures the way we see fit?

Let's look at the Apostles....they taught other men....to go out and be men of God and BE teachers. This continues even today...in semenaries.

I want to ask you...how did you know about God?

Were you taught by another human?

 

[icxn]

Did Paul go to a seminary? Did man teach Paul? Doesn’t every Christian have the same Holy Spirit given to them as Paul had given to him?

Yet...

When Christ Himself spoke to Paul and called him, He could have opened his eyes at once and made known to him the way of perfection; instead He sent him to Ananias and told him to learn from him the way of truth, saying: 'Arise and go into the city, and there you will be told what you must do' (Acts 9:6). In this manner He teaches us to be guided by those who are advanced on the way, so that the vision rightly given to Paul should not be wrongly interpreted; otherwise it might lead later generations presumptuously to suppose that each individual must be initiated into truth directly by God, as Paul was, and not by the fathers. - St. John Cassian(On the Holy Fathers of Sketis)

 

[WarriorAngel]

Yet...

When Christ Himself spoke to Paul and called him, He could have opened his eyes at once and made known to him the way of perfection; instead He sent him to Ananias and told him to learn from him the way of truth, saying: 'Arise and go into the city, and there you will be told what you must do' (Acts 9:6). In this manner He teaches us to be guided by those who are advanced on the way, so that the vision rightly given to Paul should not be wrongly interpreted; otherwise it might lead later generations presumptuously to suppose that each individual must be initiated into truth directly by God, as Paul was, and not by the fathers. - St. John Cassian(On the Holy Fathers of Sketis)

 

[Giver]

Yet...

When Christ Himself spoke to Paul and called him, He could have opened his eyes at once and made known to him the way of perfection; instead He sent him to Ananias and told him to learn from him the way of truth, saying: 'Arise and go into the city, and there you will be told what you must do' (Acts 9:6). In this manner He teaches us to be guided by those who are advanced on the way, so that the vision rightly given to Paul should not be wrongly interpreted; otherwise it might lead later generations presumptuously to suppose that each individual must be initiated into truth directly by God, as Paul was, and not by the fathers. - St. John Cassian(On the Holy Fathers of Sketis)

Jerusalem Bible: (Galatians 1:11-12) “The fact is, brothers, and I want you to realize this, the Good News I preached is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

King James Bible: (Galatians 1:12) “For I neither received it of men, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

[Tonks]

As Paul was taught by God Incarnate....the concept of a seminary sort of seems silly.

The better question is: what happen during the years after Paul et al died?

 

[Giver]

So, this is your idea that you have?

That men need not be taught exactness, and as long as we think we have the Spirit then its ok to interpret scriptures the way we see fit?

Let's look at the Apostles....they taught other men....to go out and be men of God and BE teachers. This continues even today...in semenaries.

I want to ask you...how did you know about God?

Were you taught by another human?

Did you read the following? After a person has been brought to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, by the Christians preachers, teachers, pastors, and have been given the Holy Spirit it is no longer necessary to be taught by man, right?

Now a person has to come to know of Jesus and about him, but after one accepts him as their Lord and God, the Holy Spirit becomes their teacher.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Did you read the following? After a person has been brought to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, by the Christians preachers, teachers, pastors, and have been given the Holy Spirit it is no longer necessary to be taught by man, right?

Now a person has to come to know of Jesus and about him, but after one accepts him as their Lord and God, the Holy Spirit becomes their teacher.

WRONG!

WE do not need to TAUGHT BY MEN TO BELIEVE IN GOD.

But the doctrines of Christ were established IN His men, through out the ministry He led them in.
And then they UNDERSTOOD it when they received the Holy Spirit.

What does Paul mean then....?

2 Timothy 2
2 And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also.

 

[xristos.anesti]

Did Paul go to a seminary? Did man teach Paul?

Actually yes. St Paul DID go to seminary* and was taught by a man.

I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.(Acts 22, 3.)

Gamaliel was a teacher of the law (Acts 5,34.).


*Seminary in a sense that he was taught Theology by Rabbi Gamaliel the First, Grandson of Hillel the Elder.


Many years.

 

[tadoflamb]

If you are totally committed to a priesthood of all believers, I don't see why seminaries would be necessary. Seems contradictary to me.

 

[sunlover1]

I personally think that; not only are seminaries not necessary, but are in most cases dangerous to a person’s spiritual health.

After a person has been brought to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, by the Christians preachers, teachers, pastors, and have been given the Holy Spirit it is no longer necessary to be taught by man, right?

Did Paul go to a seminary? Did man teach Paul? Doesn’t every Christian have the same Holy Spirit given to them as Paul had given to him?

Hi Giver!

They can do more harm than good.
I also believe that if a man has a "calling"
to be a pastor or teacher/preacher of the
Word of God that the Lord can use anything
and everything to develop, prepare, equip that
man.

I have a son who's majoring in religion
at a private Protestant Reformed College,
and honestly, God is the one who sent
him. Some man heard him 'preach'
to the local youth group, and offered
him a full scholarship.
I am confident it was the Lord, because God
had spoken to me that very week.
NOT the sort of place I would maybe have
chosen, but we just never know where/
who/what God plans to use to further
the kingdom.

So, no, it's certainly NOT necessary
to go to seminary, it certainly CAN
do more harm than good, but God
can and does use different avenues
to reach different groups.

Personally, I'm more interested in
my son's heart attitude than in his
theology classes. But I know that
God is as well.

God bless you,
sunlover

 

[icxn]

Jerusalem Bible: (Galatians 1:11-12) “The fact is, brothers, and I want you to realize this, the Good News I preached is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

King James Bible: (Galatians 1:12) “For I neither received it of men, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Yet again...

St. Paul did not assume that he became infallible after that, and was humble enough to seek instruction/correction from the other Apostles:

1: Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2: I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain. - Gal. 2
​

 

[WarriorAngel]

Hi Giver!

They can do more harm than good.
I also believe that if a man has a "calling"
to be a pastor or teacher/preacher of the
Word of God that the Lord can use anything
and everything to develop, prepare, equip that
man.

I have a son who's majoring in religion
at a private Protestant Reformed College,
and honestly, God is the one who sent
him. Some man heard him 'preach'
to the local youth group, and offered
him a full scholarship.
I am confident it was the Lord, because God
had spoken to me that very week.
NOT the sort of place I would maybe have
chosen, but we just never know where/
who/what God plans to use to further
the kingdom.

So, no, it's certainly NOT necessary
to go to seminary, it certainly CAN
do more harm than good, but God
can and does use different avenues
to reach different groups.

Personally, I'm more interested in
my son's heart attitude than in his
theology classes. But I know that
God is as well.

God bless you,
sunlover

OK..nm, I see you are agreeing we need taught....

 

[Nachtjager]

I kinda' see where the original poster was going with this. Through the years, particularly with what's considered "regular" college professers, I've seen so many that are downright ignorant it's unbelievable. There are so many self-taught experts in particular fields that dwarf the knowledge of those teaching it I can't begin to list them all.

Having said that, in regards to seminary, yes, I believe it is still neccesary because it helps us overall to gain a deeper knowledge of God's word and see it from different viewpoints.

But having said that, I've seen entirely TOO many churches, particularly Baptist ones, ignore very wise and very spiritual men and women already in their church when a position needs to be filled simply because they have NOT gone to seminary. The church I recently left passed over a mighty man of God who felt called to be the youth leader, and served brilliantly as an interim youth leader, but they replaced him with a young lady who's completely destroyed the youth group just because she had a diploma and he didn't.

That is not listening to God's will, and that's just plain terrible. Too many churches are obsessed with old-school traditional doctrine, and they must realize they're only hurting the Body of Christ with all these pointless rules and regulations.

I agree, seminary is a good thing, but just because someone hasn't been to seminary, if they've shown themselves a capable leader and are being used by God for His glory, it's wrong to throw them under the bus just because they don't have a piece of paper saying they know the scriptures.

Take care and God bless!

 

[sunlover1]

OK..nm, I see you are agreeing we need taught....

Not completely.
My opinion is that we should let
God decide. That each individual,
each seminary is different.
So we need to look at it from God's
POV, not man's carnal pov.


I do believe there is much harm done
in seminaries in many ways, and much
good is as well. But it's the same with
churches, there are churches that I'd
never want my children to enter.

Same with everything, we need to have
discernment and be able to hear the Lord's
voice.

IMO,
sunlover

 

[tadoflamb]

I'm thinking that anyone who really believes the premise of the OP should stop attempting to teach me anything about faith and morals. I read on these boards a lot about not being taught by 'men' (and women) and then these same 'men' (and women) attempt to tell me what the bible really says.

I'm telling you, if it weren't for the Catholic faith, I doubt I would be a Christian.

 

[Giver]

Hi Giver!

They can do more harm than good.
I also believe that if a man has a "calling"
to be a pastor or teacher/preacher of the
Word of God that the Lord can use anything
and everything to develop, prepare, equip that
man.

I have a son who's majoring in religion
at a private Protestant Reformed College,
and honestly, God is the one who sent
him. Some man heard him 'preach'
to the local youth group, and offered
him a full scholarship.
I am confident it was the Lord, because God
had spoken to me that very week.
NOT the sort of place I would maybe have
chosen, but we just never know where/
who/what God plans to use to further
the kingdom.

So, no, it's certainly NOT necessary
to go to seminary, it certainly CAN
do more harm than good, but God
can and does use different avenues
to reach different groups.

Personally, I'm more interested in
my son's heart attitude than in his
theology classes. But I know that
God is as well.

God bless you,
sunlover

Hi Sunlover, yes if Jesus tells someone to attend a seminary they should of course do what he tells them. My thinking is though, anyone entering a seminary should be sure it is God telling them to do so, and when there make sure they remember to ask Jesus, if what ever they are told about God, is right or wrong.

 

[sunlover1]

I agree, seminary is a good thing, but just because someone hasn't been to seminary, if they've shown themselves a capable leader and are being used by God for His glory, it's wrong to throw them under the bus just because they don't have a piece of paper saying they know the scriptures.

Take care and God bless!

Amen!
I'd rather be with a person who has
a heart for the things of God, who
cares about our souls and about our
lives, who wants to feed the poor and
minister to the orphans and widows,
and pour out his life for God
than the one who cares nothing about such,
but was at the top of his religion class.

 

[tadoflamb]

Hi Sunlover, yes if Jesus tells someone to attend a seminary they should of course do what he tells them. My thinking is though, anyone entering a seminary should be sure it is God telling them to do so, and when there make sure they remember to ask Jesus, if what ever they are told about God, is right or wrong.

I'm not in the seminary, not planning on going to one, but both God and Jesus are telling me very clearly that I need to be in the Catholic Church. I'm absolutely sure of this as I am also being led by an indwelling of the Holy Spirit. My personal interpretation of scriptures affirms this for me everyday.

So, what's going on? I'm doing everything the Protestants are telling me to do and I'm still 100% Catholic.

Does this mean I'm not truly saved?

 

[Kristos]

If you are totally committed to a priesthood of all believers, I don't see why seminaries would be necessary. Seems contradictary to me.

Good point - why do they have seminaries then...?