Are Christian seminaries necessary?

tadoflamb said:

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?

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What's this to do with seminaries?
Sounds like you're fishing for trouble
to me.
You sure it's God you're hearing?

I don't think we need them either. The training of the saints should be done in the Church.

tadoflamb said:

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

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All believers are priests, a minister is no more a priest than any other believer, seminary has nothing to do with priesthood. It seems to me you are confusing being a minister, a servant, with being a priest. Maybe that is due to the Roman Catholic mistake of recreating the Old Testament Levitical priesthood which has priests as just one group of God's people, and not the New Testament priesthood in which Jesus is the high priest and all believers are his priests?

We see that an elder, presbyter, minister, bishop, whatever name you want to use, they are all the same, has certain qualifications, one of which is he is to be apt to teach. In other words able to teach. In order to fulfill that requirement, many go to seminary. Seminary is not an absolute requirement. I don't know of all groups but if a person fulfills the requirements other ways, he should not be required to go to seminary.

I know in our synod, most elders do not go to seminary, but most of those elders that act as what others would see as the minister do. We have a plurality of elders just as Paul told Titus to set up in each town. The minister is an elder, same office but often different in function, being the person who officiates at most rites. But in no way should it be understood that he is the only priest or even the only elder.

The reason you don't understand is you take two different doctrines and combine them the way the Catholic church has mistakenly done and then apply them to Protestants.

Marv

Hmm - good point. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of teaching. Why would you need a seminary if you believe that everyone who has the Holy Spirit is basically taught by Him (or by yourself - depending on your view)? Any type of academic setting would be by default "teachings of men".

Kristos said:

Hmm - good point. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of teaching. Why would you need a seminary if you believe that everyone who has the Holy Spirit is basically taught by Him (or by yourself - depending on your view)? Any type of academic setting would be by default "teachings of men".

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I think we all learn things from men.
And I don't think anyone has ever meant
that we don't need people. But when there's
confusion, we should consult the Lord
for the truth.

I've learned so much here from 'men'.

Btw, When Jesus chose His disciples,
I don't think He sent them to seminary,
but I'm not sure.

Give me a teacher who can hear the Lord
over a teacher who cant, but has a degree,
any day, right?

If I may, I would like to jump in here and share an observation I have from reading most of the posts on this thread.

It seems that some of the posters equate being taught with going to seminary. There is no doubt that we must all be taught through various means the Lord might use in our lives. Be those means, the Bible illuminated by the Holy Spirit to our minds, godly men and women, nature, or whatever else God chooses to use.

But the fact that all of us need to be taught does not justify sitting in a seminary to be taught some of those things.

It seems to me that seminaries are very much in line with the world's thinking in terms of how one is taught and becomes proficient in a given field. Christians may give lip service to the truth that one can be taught by the Holy Spirit and other than through seminary but, the sad fact seems to be that most in practice exalt those with a seminary degree above their brethren who do not have one.

The world takes students into a place called a college, fills them with head knowledge, gives them a piece of paper testifying to their having passed exams to test their accumulation of head knowledge, and then sends them out into the world certifying that they are minimally competent in whatever field requires that head knowledge.

Yet even in the world there is a BIG difference between those who have book knowledge and those who have learned what they need to know in the field.

Head knowledge by itself puffs people up. Love, or the application of the knowledge of God to serve others, edifies.

Man tends to exalt what they see. God exalts and values what man does not see. He values a right and humble heart that can only be seen through the fruit of one's life and not through a degree.

I am of the opinion that there is absolutely nothing taught in seminary that is worthwhile that cannot be learned faster, more thoroughly, less costly, and more in line with God's teaching methods as exemplified in how Jesus dealt with his disciples, in real life. If that is so, then what is the piece of paper for? Even the qualifications for church leadership as listed in Titus and Timothy do not demand a degree of any kind. They are on the whole having to do with character. Something not taught in a classroom.

Carlos

Giver said:

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.”

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I keep getting threads posted as a joke mixed up with really serious ones.

Are you saying that studying scripture, ancient languages, church history, etc., are dangerous to ones spiritual life?

That is absurd. I know more good, solid, God loving, Bible thumpen, Spirit filled Christians who have gone through seminary than I do, those who haven't.

tadoflamb said:

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?

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Tadster, why you worrying bout what others think?

Heck bro, I stay home not doing what either Catholics or protestants do. I make no disctintions save by the fruit in anothers life in the Lord. Shouldnt that be the same everywhere? Not all those thrown into the protestant pile landed there from the original protest (that split the two) yet not all walk in the same like manner.

Why be 100% Catholic or protestant? Why not be 100% in your heart to be led of the Spirit and leave it at that?

Go wherever you feel comforted and edified. Be that in a building wherein those call themselves "catholic" or in a building among those that call themselves (by the numberous names) found under protestism?

Id not want to lead someone to being a protestant (under whichever name that might be) but Christ.

Dont want no other name on my ~forehead~ but His Fathers if you know what I mean?

Peace

Fireinfolding

sunlover1 said:

What's this to do with seminaries?
Sounds like you're fishing for trouble
to me.
You sure it's God you're hearing?

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You got Tadsters number suncritter?

Tad where are you PRECIOUS??

Peace

Fireinfolding

BigNorsk said:

I know in our synod, most elders do not go to seminary, but most of those elders that act as what others would see as the minister do.

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I am curious...why do some not go and others do? I mean if seminary is not necessary for some why does it seem necessary for others (given that the most of these others go to seminary)?

Carlos

sunlover1 said:

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

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Suncritter hon, never change girl, your such a breath of fresh air (as even another rightly said). I love to hear your thoughts always. I never sense guile or agenda in you. It all speaks well of you sis.

I could stand to learn from the light that shines in and through you sis

God bless you sis

Fireinfolding

yes and no


yes because people wont sit and listen to theological teachings in church - only pep talk sermons generally speaking.

no because we could just be taught by our local pastors - theorectically.

Originally Posted by tadoflamb
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?

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So just call yourself as "Protholic"

LittleLambofJesus said:

So just call yourself as "Protholic"

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There ya go

UBERROGO said:

yes and no


yes because people wont sit and listen to theological teachings in church - only pep talk sermons generally speaking.

no because we could just be taught by our local pastors - theorectically.

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My first pastor went to school (ofcourse) but that man knew not a thing, who passes out these degrees?

Maybe they benefit some but if you heard some of the lame brain things I heard, you'd conclude his education did him no good. It would do those under him no good either. If it is a commanded thing (from tradition) or something(?) I dont know. Id be questioning those who are mandating this sort of education I suppose. I dont know or understand the ins and outs of it, so Im speaking out of my own ignorance. But if someone loves the Lord and desires to serve Him, I betcha (even know) God is big enough to teach them. Afterall, thats the NC

Though, the creature being subject to vanity might come into play here


Peace

Fireinfolding

UBERROGO said:

yes because people wont sit and listen to theological teachings in church - only pep talk sermons generally speaking.

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You know I just wish that I could sit and listen to someone, somewhere who could share (not teach) with me about how God is real to them every day. How they see Him provide for them. Take care of them in tough circumstances. How he comforts their hearts. Reproves them when necessary. How He comes to them in the still hours of the night and speaks softly into their ears about something He wants to say to them.

You know what I mean?

The real deal. Not just intellectual acknowledgement of certain biblical truths but a real relationship with a real being...God our Father.

Most teachings at church are on the intellectual side of things. We need that yes, but I want to also hear about how real God is in people's lives.

That kind of reality can't be taught in seminaries. It doesn't happen overnight. It involves relationship with Him every day, in and out. Through the rough times and the good.

Seminary or not, I would travel an hour each way to go and get with Christians like that. Every day. Anytime. If I could at all do so. Alas they are in shorter supply than gold on the ground it would seem.

Carlos