My life has been profoundly shaped by formal theological training. I don't say this to brag, honestly. I just want to explain my situation and reasons for writing this. I have had the privilege to learn for months and years from some of the most godly and biblically knowledgeable people I have ever met. As a result, I have a greater love for God and His Word than I ever could have imagined. However, I frequently hear people deriding formal theological training. It is often portrayed as carnal, full of man-made doctrines, arrogant, useless, the problem of the modern church and even demonic. Most of the time, such people have never stepped foot on a seminary campus. Yet, I wanted to take a moment to engage in a discussion on the issue and answer some frequent charges cited against formal biblical training:
1) "Seminaries merely force people into their own theological molds."
This is simply not true. Of course various theological institutions are going to have distinctions that make them different in various areas of doctrine. Anyone who has spent any amount of time seriously studying the Bible is going to have particular convictions. This is to be expected. However, these institutions do not force their perspectives on others. I have been in numerous classes where I was in a very different place theologically than my professor or the institution. It is not uncommon for half the class (especially in graduate work) or more to be from different denominational backgrounds than the school they are attending. Seminaries are actually very welcoming to people of different backgrounds because it not only stretches the entire class, but it increases the student population of the school. While professors may make their position on a debatable issue known, every professor I have studied under is very gracious and often will even defend other positions (especially when know-it-all students want to make fun of a different view).
2) The disciples were "unschooled, ordinary men."
True. No one is saying a seminary degree is mandatory for being a good or mature Christian. However, let us not forget that the disciples followed Jesus for three years and watched him day and night. Yes, if I had the opportunity to spend three years hanging out with Jesus then I would say I had been rigorously educated. However, it is wrong to say that Jesus took them right out of the boat and made them leaders of His church overnight. He trained them personally and empowered them by his Spirit. They were schooled under Jesus. They were not ignorant.
3) I listen to the Spirit, not the doctrines of men.
Last I checked, the Holy Spirit works through people. He gave some to be evangelists, teachers, preachers, and so forth. This means that the Holy Spirit uses teachers to "teach." It is unbiblical to suggest that because I have a Bible and the Holy Spirit that I don't want or need any other voices in my life. In fact, this kind of attitude is arrogance. This is similar to what brought Paul's rebuke to Corinth. Can the eye say to the hand, "I don't need you?" Yet, this is exactly what we are saying when we claim that our voice is the only voice that matters.
4) Seminary professors are nothing more than modern day Pharisees
It grieves me when I hear people, over and over again, throw mud at the leaders of such institutions. First, most who do so have never actually met a seminary professor. Second, they like to quote verses of Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and say, it applies to them. Usually the connection is that both the Pharisees and the seminary professors were dedicated to studying the Scriptures. There is one problem with this. Jesus' primary frustrations with the Pharisees was that they looked down on the sinful and they rejected him! Seminary professors do neither. So when someone quotes, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have life..." with regards to a formal seminary education, they have no idea what they are talking about. Jesus was not rebuking the Pharisees because they liked to study God's Word. Rather, he was rebuking them because their study did not bring them to faith in Jesus! If seminary professors rejected Jesus, then maybe you could quote that verse...but that is not the case. Jesus never attacked anyone for loving God's Word too much or spending too much time reading or memorizing it. He went after people to arrogantly looked down on others and exalted themselves. Think about that before you start deriding people who love Jesus and commit themselves to study his Word.
I could go on an on, but the discussion to follow can take it from here. My gut feeling is that most people like to attack seminaries because they feel insecure about their own beliefs, or are envious of a leadership position in a church but are unwilling to commit themselves in a way that would open those doors. In any event, seminaries are more than mere institutions, they are people. People who, for the most part, love Jesus with all their heart and have determined to put everything else in their life on hold so they can know His Word and learn from other believers.
Times yours.
1) "Seminaries merely force people into their own theological molds."
This is simply not true. Of course various theological institutions are going to have distinctions that make them different in various areas of doctrine. Anyone who has spent any amount of time seriously studying the Bible is going to have particular convictions. This is to be expected. However, these institutions do not force their perspectives on others. I have been in numerous classes where I was in a very different place theologically than my professor or the institution. It is not uncommon for half the class (especially in graduate work) or more to be from different denominational backgrounds than the school they are attending. Seminaries are actually very welcoming to people of different backgrounds because it not only stretches the entire class, but it increases the student population of the school. While professors may make their position on a debatable issue known, every professor I have studied under is very gracious and often will even defend other positions (especially when know-it-all students want to make fun of a different view).
2) The disciples were "unschooled, ordinary men."
True. No one is saying a seminary degree is mandatory for being a good or mature Christian. However, let us not forget that the disciples followed Jesus for three years and watched him day and night. Yes, if I had the opportunity to spend three years hanging out with Jesus then I would say I had been rigorously educated. However, it is wrong to say that Jesus took them right out of the boat and made them leaders of His church overnight. He trained them personally and empowered them by his Spirit. They were schooled under Jesus. They were not ignorant.
3) I listen to the Spirit, not the doctrines of men.
Last I checked, the Holy Spirit works through people. He gave some to be evangelists, teachers, preachers, and so forth. This means that the Holy Spirit uses teachers to "teach." It is unbiblical to suggest that because I have a Bible and the Holy Spirit that I don't want or need any other voices in my life. In fact, this kind of attitude is arrogance. This is similar to what brought Paul's rebuke to Corinth. Can the eye say to the hand, "I don't need you?" Yet, this is exactly what we are saying when we claim that our voice is the only voice that matters.
4) Seminary professors are nothing more than modern day Pharisees
It grieves me when I hear people, over and over again, throw mud at the leaders of such institutions. First, most who do so have never actually met a seminary professor. Second, they like to quote verses of Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and say, it applies to them. Usually the connection is that both the Pharisees and the seminary professors were dedicated to studying the Scriptures. There is one problem with this. Jesus' primary frustrations with the Pharisees was that they looked down on the sinful and they rejected him! Seminary professors do neither. So when someone quotes, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have life..." with regards to a formal seminary education, they have no idea what they are talking about. Jesus was not rebuking the Pharisees because they liked to study God's Word. Rather, he was rebuking them because their study did not bring them to faith in Jesus! If seminary professors rejected Jesus, then maybe you could quote that verse...but that is not the case. Jesus never attacked anyone for loving God's Word too much or spending too much time reading or memorizing it. He went after people to arrogantly looked down on others and exalted themselves. Think about that before you start deriding people who love Jesus and commit themselves to study his Word.
I could go on an on, but the discussion to follow can take it from here. My gut feeling is that most people like to attack seminaries because they feel insecure about their own beliefs, or are envious of a leadership position in a church but are unwilling to commit themselves in a way that would open those doors. In any event, seminaries are more than mere institutions, they are people. People who, for the most part, love Jesus with all their heart and have determined to put everything else in their life on hold so they can know His Word and learn from other believers.
Times yours.