Some advice for Seminary students

Not from me, but from a fellow student on the East coast. Jake Belder writes in "Make Yourself at Home":

"… seminary can sometimes come to be viewed more as a means to an end or as a stepping stone than a time of formation and growth…. Understanding seminary as a stepping stone to something else will only lead you to view your whole life at that particular time and place as a stepping stone. You will never fully unpack the boxes, so to speak. Your apartment will be more like a hotel room than a home." (He then offers some advice on two fronts: relationships and church.)

Read the rest at goingtoseminary.com …

Considering seminary?

I wrote a brief and hopefully helpful article on "Considering Seminary When Others Do Not ," aimed at helping those who sense the call of God to go to seminary while serving in a church context with leaders who don’t specifically rally around the idea.

Here’s a brief excerpt:

Consider all aspects

Both the good and the bad. Jesus commanded that we truly “count the cost” before following Him (Luke 14:28 ), and this must certainly include life-shaping decisions like heading to seminary. What are your motivations to attend seminary? What school(s) are you considering? Do you know anyone who has gone or is going there? Are they more mature, godly, worshipful, and joyful as a result? What are the theological bent of the schools you are considering? What are their positions on the exclusivity of Christ, the Gospel, biblical authority and inerrancy? As for the “bad”: What will school cost? How far is it from home? Is there a healthy church in the community? Is it too soon to go, or shall you wait another year? (If married: be sure your spouse is on the same page. Whatever you choose, as long as you are of one-mind, you will do well.) Lay everything out on the table and make an informed, honest and wise choice. And while the gravity of the decision may overwhelm you, know that God is sovereign and He delights in the deliberate thinking and humility of His children. By all means make the process towards seminary one of prayer and worship (1 Peter 5:5-6 ).

Consider others who have gone before

Do you know a pastor or mentor who navigated through seminary? Any men and women you hope to be like? Much of mentoring is informal, yet can become more intentional, as you ask. Paul wrote to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11:1 ); thus following in the steps of others, while being our own unique person, is part of this Christian life. Have you considered asking others to help you make this decision in community (and not on an island)?

Invest in the meantime

Not financially specifically, but relationally, in people. As Jake pointed out recently , this vital aspect of life is key while in seminary. It is also important before (and after) seminary. The academy is aimed at serving the local church, and well, if you aren’t investing in people now you likely will not later.

I ended with a few practical suggestions:

• Clean your room . A wise pastor noted how his Dad reminded him about discerning God’s will of when and where to go in His will, “Johnny, be faithful in cleaning your room, and God will open the door to the room next to it.” Sound advice on excelling from the heart.
• Take your time . There is perhaps a fine line here, as all schools have deadlines. Yet know that if God wills it for you to start in Winter or Spring instead of Fall it will be alright. Wherever you are, be all there. (In our case, we arrived on campus (at a different school than we first planned) two years after dreaming about heading to seminary.)
• Do the necessary paperwork . Be on top of school applications and deadlines, and especially the financial aid documents with FAFSA. Relates more to organization than to be being in hurry.
• Get out of debt ; at least as much as possible.
• Talk about it . Are there legitimate reasons why some resist you going to seminary? Specifically, are they against a certain seminary? Can you interview anyone who has “successfully” completed seminary? How about those who are students now?
• Live with an open hand . Praying, not begging. All of life is preparation and the end goal is to know God (John 17:3 ), even more than fulfilling a lifelong dream.
• Be ready . This relates to consumerism, debt and unnecessary ties to our world.
• Love the Church . The Church is Christ’s chosen Bride, and with her He had determined to share the glorious truth of His Gospel of grace. God will not do it without the church and He purposes that you see yourself wrapped up in the story of others, broken and in need of the Gospel (me and you too!)
• Interview others . Worth mentioning twice, especially because even a campus visit and the best publications cannot convey the value of a seminary education. (Note that any of the writers on this site are more than willing to discuss personal considerations and our own journey. Let us know how we can help – the Forum is a good place for discussions.)

Adam Poole, friend, pastor and now seminary graduate

This morning Kari and I were able to attend the Baccalaureate Chapel at Multnomah Biblical Seminary to honor our fellow students who have finished their studies and reached graduation. Congratulations to all Multnomah graduates! Tonight they will get their diplomas; this morning some of the seminary students received aways.

One fellow student, a dear friend of ours, Adam Poole received the John G. Mitchell Award, given to the student who best embodies the grace and truth of the gospel (the specific description was a bit longer). While none of us ‘deserves’ anything, Adam is about as close as you can get to deserving recognition. Lets give honor where honor is due.

Adam has labored for three-and-a-half years towards earning an MDiv, all while serving full-time as director, teacher and pastor in Corvallis with Cornerstone School of Ministry . The real hero behind the man is Grace, the embodiment of her name who works tirelessly raising their four boys. (Funny story is that Kari and Grace were very close friends in college while Adam and I hardly knew each other, and conversed only sparingly. Only in the last 3 years of seminary, even while Kari and I no longer live in Corvallis, Adam and I have come to be extremely close friends — "of one soul," like Paul said of Timothy in Phil. 2:20.)

Theirs has not been an easy journey. More importantly, their marriage is a continual example of reciprocal love, being faithful and true to one another, and available to their kids, leading them well.

Congratulations Adam and Grace . Our prayers are with you. May God’s sweet grace shine brightly on you this Summer and provide opportunities to display the beauty of Jesus in all things.

Failing seminary for the glory of God?

No worries — Kari and I are not failing seminary

Instead, the title refers to a good reminder posted a while back at Goingtoseminary.com: "Failing Seminary for the Glory of God ."

I left a comment about the article, and recently Timothy Paul Jones, Assistant Professor of Leadership and Church Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, commented:

I may be wrong, but I do believe that some seminary professors are beginning to glimpse the truth in what you’re saying here—especially with reference to refusing to neglect your family. As a seminary prof, my students probably hear this statement in every class I teach: “What you do for God beyond your home will typically never be greater than what you’re practicing with God within your home. If this class keeps you from being the spiritual leader in your home that you need to be, drop the class and finish later. This seminary has been here 150 years and will probably be here another century or two—but your family, at the stage of life they’re at right now, will not be here forever. Do what they need you to do before you do what I ask you to do.”

Good words.

—

Here’s the list of seven given in the full article :

1. Transformation, not information
2. Give the wrong answer
3. Read the important stuff (the Bible)
4. Stop listening
5. Put your family first
6. Ignore your GPA
7. Love the Church

And a concluding word from the author, "Just a Guy":

Note: I love seminary and I love my seminary. However, I am willing to do poorly in my classes in order that I might excel in the things listed above. These two things are not mutually exclusive, but I’d argue that focusing on the above will very likely result in lower grades (maybe not failing, but would you be willing to fail in order to do the above?)

What do you think?

Seminary meme

Tagged from GoingtoSeminary.com here . Info:

This Seminary Meme is part of a competition sponsored by Going to Seminary and Eisenbrauns . If you’d like to be entered, simply answer the 7 questions below and tag 5 other people. You’ll also need to post this paragraph (links included) with your answers as the links will be tracked back to your blog and will count as your “entry” into the competition. On April 30th, 2008, one blogger will be selected at random to win a $100 gift certificate to the Eisenbrauns online bookstore .

Seven questions:
1. Where do you attend seminary?

Multnomah Biblical Seminary , Portland, Oregon. The experience has been life-changing.

2. What class do you think has most impacted your spiritual life?

Hard to pin down just one course. All have come together in a web of sorts, challenging us and the emphasis on character development has been key. Pastors almost never leave the ministry because of competency issues, but rather because of character issues.

All of my spiritual formation courses with Dr. Calvin Blom. Also learning from Dr. Al Baylis in biblical theology, learning from his wisdom in handling the Scriptures, and how he has taught and persevered through immense back pain (which we share in common, his amplified), knowing his limitations. It speaks volumes of his love and passion.

3. What seminary professor has been the most influential while in seminary?

Dr. Calvin Blom, professor of spiritual formation (3 courses thus far); and Dr. Dan Lockwood, president (one theology course) for his personal care and allowing us to be his theology TAs.

4. What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced in seminary?

Myself. My own impatience and prideful heart.

Practically speaking, it has been a challenge to find a harmony with providing for my family and being able to schedule enough courses to progress towards MDiv completion, and being mutually encouraged by the local church towards that end. Thank God He is making it possible.

5. What has been the greatest reward you’ve experienced in seminary?

Experiencing it together with my wonderful wife Kari , a fellow full-time student. The greatest adventure of our young lives.

6. What are your plans after seminary?

?

Pastoring and serving in the local church, definitely bringing a doctrinal emphasis to the local church, potentially church planting down the road. Perhaps eventually seeking a doctorate (DMin?) and then teaching at the college or seminary level after many more years of maturing, experience, and humbling.

Generally as a missionary to the Pacific Northwest.

All I know is our path involves suffering and future glory , not promised comfort in this life ( Romans 8:14-30 ).

7. How many times have you been asked question #6?

Too many! ( James 4:13-17 ; Matthew 6:25-34 )

—————-

Since I don’t know very many seminary bloggers (other than Tyler who already was tagged) … I’ll try the most intelligent, godly (and beautiful) seminarian I know: Kari .

Compellingly beautiful

A couple weeks ago in our Theology Colloquium class we discussed Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation). I was on the ad hoc panel for asking questions of the three making defense of their doctrinal statements. It is a somewhat nerve-racking experience for those giving defense, and all in the room need humility, especially those asking questions. Afterward we are able to amend and revise our written doctrinal statements (after they are graded and returned to us). I see this time as part of the process of helping us “land” doctrinally and leading to convictions about the most essential things, more than mere opinions.

Near the end of our Q&A time another panel member asked a question to the effect, “What does an unbeliever need to know to be saved?” (In contrast to our detailed and structured doctrinal statements. Obviously a person need not exhaustively and logically think through all of these points in order to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.)

One of the students gave the short response, “They have to like Jesus.” That may seem like (and is) an insufficient answer. A whole lot of people “like Jesus.” In fact, I would say that many people want Jesus but don’t want God, in that they want a Jesus after their own liking. Thus they don’t want their Creator at all. (The question could be restated: What must a person believe about Jesus in order to be saved?)

A little bit of argument (constructive and helpful) ensued and during the break I had a discussion with my fellow classmate about his response. Knowing my fellow student as well as the rapid-fire nature of our questions and how their heads might have been spinning at the moment, I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but ask him to think it through. We were talking previous to that question about affections and how the inner desires of the heart are changed so that Jesus becomes compellingly beautiful. So, when sharing the Gospel we realize there is a change that is not merely cognitive. His answer related to the fact that we cannot simply present bare facts as if there are neutral. A person will be awakened by the beauty of Jesus, but as I contend, it is not apart from knowledge about Christ. Knowledge and belief are good friends, and serve one another. Knowing about God has always served to lead me to worshiping Him…

“To love God we must know him. God would not be honored by groundless love. In fact, there is no such thing. If we do not know anything about God, there is nothing in our mind to awaken love. If love does not come from knowing God, there is no point in calling it love for God. There may be some vague attraction in our heart or some unfocused gratitude in our souls, but if they do not arise from knowing God, they are not love for God.”
—John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World, p. 76.

Later on, in a smaller group, we got to a discussion of the role of the affections in seeing the compelling beauty of Christ. That is a key phrase in John Piper’s (and my) theology (see 2 Corinthians 4:3-7 for the biblical context). The following quote relates to our experience of Christ as the fountain of our joy, and not merely the basis and example for our renewed moralistic behavior.

“The reason I use the phrase ‘compellingly beautiful’ is to stress two things. One is that loving God is not a mere decision. You cannot merely decide to love classical music or country western music, much less God. The music must become compelling. If you don’t love it, something must change inside you. That change makes it possible for the mind to experience the music with a compelling sense of its attractiveness. So it is with God. You do not merely decide to love him. Something changes inside you, and as a result he becomes compellingly attractive. His glory—his beauty—compels your admiration and delight.

The other thing I am emphasizing in the phrase ‘compellingly beautiful’ is that love for God is not essentially behavior but affection—not deeds but delight. God’s glory becomes our supreme pleasure. We begin to prefer above all else to know him and see him and be with him and be like him. There are several important reasons for believing that love for God is most essentially an experience of the affections, not behavior.”
—John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World, pp. 77-78.

If we love God something else will happen, living for Him.

One of my students at Cornerstone SOM in Corvallis gave a summary and response to those paragraphs in a recent assignment:

“The first [reason we must see God as 'compellingly beautiful'] is to realize that love for God isn’t some hypothetical decision that you do just cause you do it. It isn’t simply a decision you make. In order for us to love God, we must be attracted to Him. And if we aren’t, something has to change. Once this change occurs, we experience the second reason He emphasizes that we see God as compellingly beautiful: He is our desire. We are in love with Him, and we don’t obey His laws and walk in His light just because it is the right thing to, but because we take delight in living with Him. This is such a pivotal point in a believer’s life. It is this reality, the desire and affection for our God, which makes Christianity more than just a religion. It gives richness, fervency, and meaning behind what we do… not to mention motivation. Out of our affection for Him, our behavior will change. It is automatic, and we need not be concerned with that. We are commanded to love God.”

I noted to her that our behavior may not be “automatic” as in passive, but rather as a response and participation. It will naturally flow from a regenerate person who sees God as all, as compellingly beautiful in Christ. As we love God, our character will transform and we will be living for Him. (Simple, but not easy!)