Value of Seminary Education

I can't imagine someone trying to pastor prior to seminary ed who then obtains seminary ed who would say they saw no benefit. It's kindof like saying "I preach much better sermons when I don't study".

 

I wonder what the survey would show if the same pastors were asked if they keep up their language skills?

 

There is value in a seminary education, but it probably the kind that isn't measured well. The value is in how individuals apply their lessons to the ministry. Honestly all the faculty can do is develop and equip students with the right tools. If the workman goes into the workplace and doesn't use their tools...what do you expect.

I heard someone say, the other day, that they were glad they dropped out of seminary. It, in their view, did nothing to help their ministry. Just sorta rolled my eyes and then moved on. Not much you can do for someone who has created their own argument against higher education.

Seminary has absolutely helped me in ministry. I don't know how I could have been better equipped for my time now.

 

It probably did not help him in his ministry but if he had a different attitude it would have helped him in His service to Christ. In the classes I teach I always find that the lowest grades in class are among those who think they do not need the information.

 

Kind of like eating I would think, you know there is benefit, but was it the spinach or the big mac that you ate in 1985 that gave the benefit. Not sure asking the question is all that sensible, of course there is benefit, only a fool would say there was none. :smilewinkgrin: Any learning situation gives benefit if it is positive teaching.

 

I had Bible College, B.A., then 20 years later went to seminary, M.A.C.E.

I found that the seminary experience was very worth the time, effort, and struggle. It was much more intense, and was coordinated so that each class was not in isolation from the others. The intensity was difficult, time was a big factor, and I was often frustrated at not being able to perform to my best quality because of the time factor. Some assignments were an abbreviated version of what I would have liked.

A wise person saw my frustration and gave me some wonderful counsel. "When you graduate, people are not going to be concerned with whether you got all "A's" - they are going to see that you graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary, that you made it through a rigorous course, and succeeded."

That helped me remember to get all I could from the experience, and leave the rest to God.

Seminary has immensely helped my Bible teaching, my concern for others, and gives me a broad background for any book of the Bible that I approach, whether personally or for teaching others. In fact, the intense (there's that word again) academic reading has broadened my horizons. I can tackle any reading with confidence, and know how to glean the vital information I need.