Is Seminary Important? - The Expositor Podcast

[@emansandude]

All I want is to go to the Masters seminary! How will I attend and care for my family? Have no idea but I think and pray about it a lot. The Lord will provide

[@chasingtheLord96]

A beautiful desire. Any updates?

[@jwm66]

The subjects studied in seminary can be gained through private study. You don't have to be Spurgeon to do this. And the giftedness of Spurgeon is more common than not and more men today and in the near future are purposed to be more effective than Spurgeon. Is seminary useful? Yes. Why? Primarily for having a 3rd party (a theological institution) to somewhat verify your theological knowledge in the form of a certificate or degree. This degree or certificate is useful in pursuing an employee position in a Church organization, including the Pastor position. However, if one is willing to be an entrepreneur in pursuing his Pastoral calling (in other words, starting a Church organization), he would not need a 3rd Party (seminary) validating what he theologically knows(having a degree or certificate). I believe the best prep for a Preacher or Pastor is being a dedicated member of a local Church, being called by GOD to preach His Word, and studying His Word and supplements(his own library and he could look at a seminary M.Div program plan of courses to get an idea of what books he should read for his supplements) very often.....and engage in plenty of prayer, loving people, and being holy.

[@ArmandoBN497]

Amen! The Holy Spirit will bring understanding of the word of God. All that must be done is consistent reading, praying and when possible preach or share the Gospel evangelize and while doing so practice people skills

[@carsonkrueger5608]

Loved the perspective! I have a follow up question since this video is 6 years old. Is Seminary Important? YES. Everyone should be a life long learner. The question that I would love an answer for is, "Is Seminary in its current design Relevant?" If you remove the cost and the denominational bias is the design still equipping and providing the best training for pastors? We are able to research, converse, and exposit unlike any other time in history with all of the advances in technology and social communities. Would a hybrid training program that helps bolster communication skills and incorporate the pieces of seminary that are still relevant? A practical method that honors the time already invested for those that have been doing ministry working daily or paid in a pastoral position.

[@Feralfax]

I respectfully disagree with Dr. Lawson. I believe the local church should be responsible for equipping the saints for ministry. The fact that seminaries exist imo is an indictment of the local church’s abdication of this responsibility.

[@markleslie7294]

Theoretically, it is possible. In practice, however, there will not be enough men in any given local church, who would have the necessary, diverse backgrounds to properly prepare a man for ministry. There is much to be gained from a broad education and seminary experience that is not available in a local church. Fortunately, the online seminary experience combined with a faithful, healthy church, can make an education possible for many more men than ever before.

[@theearstohear]

M: I respectfully disagree with Dr. Lawson. TETH: I agree with you completely in that regard. M: I believe the local church should be responsible for equipping the saints for ministry. TETH: Yes. That is clearly the biblical model and there is absolutely NO MENTION of extra-ecclesial, pay-for-play, seminary institutions for the training of ministers found anywhere in the New Testament. What I find incredibly interesting in this video is that Lawson insists upon what is required to be a "biblical expositor," but he builds his case without employing scripture at all. That is because there is absolutely no way to build a case for seminary based on an exposition of the bible. NO WAY WHATSOEVER. M: The fact that seminaries exist imo is an indictment of the local church’s abdication of this responsibility. TETH: That is precisely correct. While that statement may be a splash of cold water on the face of Christendom so wedded to an unscriptural tradition. It is the truth nonetheless. You might find this analysis interesting: Paul Washer on the Importance of Seminary EXAMINED kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6qtiaSvirCnq6c TETH: The bottom line is that the Lord never established a seminary institution. Neither did he or his apostles ever instruct anyone to attend such an institution to enter the ministry. The Lord established a CHURCH and the CHURCH is the mechanism for training men - it alone is the pillar and ground of truth. God bless, TETH

[@theearstohear]

Mark Leslie: Theoretically, it is possible. In practice, however, there will not be enough men in any given local church, who would have the necessary, diverse backgrounds to properly prepare a man for ministry. There is much to be gained from a broad education and seminary experience that is not available in a local church. Fortunately, the online seminary experience combined with a faithful, healthy church, can make an education possible for many more men than ever before. TETH: Where does the New Testament support the idea of attending a seminary institution for ministry training? What is the expository case for that?

[@beginningtosee7457]

I believe God works all things for the good- even the disadvantage of a seminary INDOCTRINATION- and having to unlearn the error and retaining the profitable information- however judging from the something to do another Gospel that Mr. Lawson peddles - seminary doesn't seem to have done him any good at all. Nothing takes the place of being taught of God.

[@SCRaetz]

If only Seminary institutions weren't full of atheist, philosophical, liberal professors maybe then they would be more received. I've known more fire-of God people who enter Seminary and leave it and atheist than I do real Christians. Modern seminary is a farce.

[@fredmcelroy2839]

Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones is just that, a Doctor. He was a trained medical doctor. Now you can learn a whole lot on your own with a desire to read and read a LOT.

[@damarrbrown6853]

I do agree if i was called to preach i would go to seminary

[@msgantoniogiulianousaret.2589]

AMEN.

[@randycadkins]

Im vary suprized more people havent watched this

[@nagaseminarian]

Liked and subscribed!

[@crvoltagel3745]

I agree in the validity of Seminary as a source for pastoral training, however I place a slightly lower emphasis on it than Dr. Lawson. I believe it is the primary function of the church to raise up and train pastors, and that that is the way it was done in the early church. Understanding that education from men of God on a worldclass level is excellent, and something I personally deeply long for. In many situations, if would be best to just buy the books and go to the conferences you can. I mean, it seems strange to me that removing yourself from the local church and running hundreds of miles away to the most decent seminary nearby is the primary option for teaching pastors. In many's eyes.

[@someperson9536]

Let's say someone wants to teach at Sunday School or at a Bible study, but he does not want to go into full-time ministry and he doesn't want to be a pastor. What kind of training should he get?

[@PopoyDominguez]

Hello. I'm a seminary student and you have a good question. Actually, seminaries do recognize the wide variety of roles and ministries in churches. In reality, seminaries are not just for aspiring pastors. If you will check the courses offered in a typical seminary, they usually have the so-called "associate degree" or "diploma degree." There is even what they call "audit." All of these are short programs that are intended for those who want to be equipped for ministry but are not necessarily after a BA or MA degree or even aspiring to be a Pastor. So in short seminaries have a diverse educational offerings for all Christians seeking to be trained professionally.

[@terencealbertmcbain8041]

I would like to be able to go to the Masters Sminary, but not able to afford it.

[@Prayingman7is]

Lawson is smart. However he is biased given he is currently or formerly the dean of a seminary. So, of course he is an advocate.

[@blairwillis9199]

Yikes! Some very prideful comments here. A sign of not having humility and not wanting to be under the authority of learned, experienced men.

[@JaeSaw]

Amen. 100%

[@livinlovinleo9496]

The thing I keep hearing is “men” why aren’t you saying “women” ?! Even though a woman submits and understands the Man is the head of the family and leads the church she too should be and can be equipped with how to rightly divide the Word of God. Mannn this is a sad thing that even now 2021 men still think a woman shouldn’t learn the Holy Word of God at a higher level!!!!

[@jc6618]

He was saying “men” because he’s specifically addressing going to seminary to learn how to exposit the Bible in order to preach. Which women aren’t called to do.

[@livinlovinleo9496]

@@jc6618 but the Bible says older women are to teach younger women. How can that happen if they aren’t being taught?!

[@darnellpierre-canel9723]

@@livinlovinleo9496 lol good point

[@JonyGiler]

@@livinlovinleo9496 they can teach younger women but can't preach over a congregation. 1 Tim 2:12

[@uchihadabba699]

@@livinlovinleo9496 learn from your pastor or husband. You can take courses and even get any degree. But if you plan to preach to a congregation or take a Pastor, elder role, you can’t according to Scripture. you can have a degree but will not be able to do those roles.

[@major_inc]

I need seminary. I need to get away from this world for awhile...

[@christophercunningham5434]

I believe Dr. Lawson is part of the old mindset. For one, most people cannot pay $10,000 per semester for a job that will pay less than $50,000 per year. Also, it’s not possible to just work a summer job to pay for two semesters of seminary. Now, I’ll be honest, I did spend two years in seminary and learned a lot about history, Bible study methods being the most helpful, and I also was taught that the fire in hell is not real, I was told that I’m an oppressor and need to preach the whole gospel by including social and racial restoration. All that at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I have a family with three children, and do not have the ability to go spend another four years at Masters Seminary. Now, I will however take a couple of classes online and go to the expositors conferences in the summer to better my ability to serve the church in which I pastor. But the answer is simple, no, you do not need seminary. I am not ashamed to say that. Most godless heretics I know in the SBC are MDiv graduates from so-called “orthodox” schools.

[@cavolpert]

And a whole lot of good men cannot afford seminary

[@carlmoore6674]

Yes it is

[@tammywisecup5634]

What seminary do you recommend , and are there bible colleges that you would steer away from?

[@allensagalla1579]

May I suggest Dallas Theological Seminary? The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary? Westminster Theological Seminary? etc. :-)

[@allensagalla1579]

I would steer away from bible colleges that don't believe 'The Fundamentals' of the Christian faith

[@annerector8765]

Don't go to Liberty, which is Rawlings School of Divinity. It is cheap and available, but very lightweight and you won't learn much because you won't be taught much.

[@cavolpert]

Far too many are coming out of seminary with liberal views and click bait sermons

[@colel.1560]

What if almost all the seminaries have been infiltrated by worldly philosophies and the puke that is Calvinism?

[@mark5694]

If this ain't a sales pitch then Santa Claus is for real. For further information just subscribe by clicking the link button below.

[@textscholar3775]

This is so flawed. I went to seminary and trust me when I say you do not have to go to seminary to be a very effective pastor or teacher. You do have to study on your own and constantly learn about resources. You have the option of writing books and yes even journal articles (many scholarly societies will accept submissions on the merit of scholarship demonstrated in the work not degrees). So to even hint that seminary is this required element to be effective in ministry is a flat out lie