Graduate
This is my final week of seminary work. I have put 3 1/2 years of my life into finishing my Masters. I will graduate(fingers crossed) from a SBC seminary this week. My wife will graduate the same day from the University of Georgia with her masters as well. We have been married four years and have always been in school. Needless to say the Fall months will be different around the Britt household with no nights away for school work. I have heard for some time now people hold high a seminary education and other people bash seminary. The following is some points I want to share about my seminary experience:
1. I went to seminary because I felt God called me to it. I had much growing(and still do) to do Biblically and ministerally.
2. I don't think seminary is a must at all for people to be effective in ministry.
3. At the same time I think there are a lot of guys who have not been to seminary that desperately need it.
4. I heard Louie Giglio (probably one of the top 3 communicators in Christian circles today) say, " I hear guys bash seminary a lot, my question is what is the problem with taking three years of your life to let God form you into who he wants you to be the rest of your life." Great line.....
5. Seminary is great Biblically, and is not so great practically.
6. I learned tons theologically and was challenged a great deal to find out where I really stand on many things.
7. There is not one thing practically that I use day to day in the ministry field that I learned in Seminary.
8. Many say that professors in Seminary could never pastor a local church or at least be an effective pastor. Yes, that is true in some cases, but I also know a lot of pastors who could never teach a seminary class. So I say that is why there is different callings and giftings on men called by God.
9. I think seminary professors understand the world we live in, but struggle to embrace the need for the types of ministry we need in this world.
10. I think much of the Bureacracy problems we have in SBC life spills over into seminary, and much of the Bureacracy comes from seminary.
11. I think going straight to seminary without any ministry experience in the field is dangerous. Guys get stuck in the philosophical, because they've never had to deal with the practical. If you go.....don't go straight from college.....
12. Seminary has made me a better pastor/leader/communicator. How? It made me wrestle with things I would have never wrestled with.
13. Go if and only if God calls you.
Lessons learned from a seminary soon to be graduate!
posted by jaybird at 7:03 PM
12 Comments:
Good Stuff.
Congrats on the wall decoration. I am sure it was hard work and well deserved.
Now you can quit learning and get more busy doing. :)
7:35 PM
Very good, Jason. I'll link to it this week.
7:39 PM
Good word, Jason. Congratulations. 31/2 years Wow. I'm going for a longevity record. See you in the afternoon for our O.T. Final
9:03 PM
Great thoughts, Jason, and congratulations.
4:36 PM
thanks Gary for the kind comments about wall decorations...when I referred to guys not needing seminary to be effective...you were one of the guys I had in mind, no matter what anybody else says...your a great guy :)
marty....i would be blogger famous if you linked to me, dont know if I'm ready for that honor.
Jonas...keep working bro, you will get there. you the man
Gordon, thanks!
7:59 PM
Wise Words.
Really...well said. Lately, my attitude hasn't been so positive towards seminary. As you said, the focus is on the "What" not the "How". "How" being the attitude is just as important as the "What". So, I had to quit seminary because the "What" was overshadowing the "How", therefore, draining the "Life" of God out of me. So my time was up for now...to keep my sanity. But I agree with you that it's all about what God calls you to do.
I've often said that my 45 hours of seminary were to meet a few people (I really mean a "few") and Britt you are at the top of the list.
Congrats on making it through. Again - this is great perception bro!
11:02 AM
bryan,
yea the what and the how seem to not go hand in hand at seminary sometimes. trust me there were times I felt like calling it quits as well. Keep reading and learning though....who knows you may end up back in the saddle at seminary before you know it!
Peace
11:18 AM
7. There is not one thing practically that I use day to day in the ministry field that I learned in Seminary.
Ummmm. You didn't have a preaching class? I sort of get your point, but not "one thing?" I find that a little odd.
7:24 AM
kevin,
i did have a preaching class, but it is more "theory of preaching" than anything!
8:17 AM
J,
You would've never made it this far had you not slept through Economics! :) No really, I'm proud of you bro.
Hopefully one day orthodoxy will be married to orthopraxy in our seminaries. . . maybe the LORD is going to use guys like us to get it there. Selah . . .
10:41 AM
Congratulations on the degree.
I am finishing at the Houston Campus of SWBTS and I would submit that I am at the only SBC campus where the professors would and do make great pastors. Although we have 7 full time faculty members, we have a host of adjuncts that provide superb academics mixed with practical truth. (Dr. Bisango, Dr. Overton, Dr. Autrey, Dr. Woo, Dr. Hamilton, just to name a few)
My experience at Houston has "put my head in the clouds without taking my feet off the ground." Once again congrats.
9:35 PM
Hi Jason -
I read your blog for the first time today, and I was a bit disappointed at what you had to say about the failure of NOBTS to do very much for you practically. I went to Golden Gate (graduated with M.Div. '04) and had quite a different experience. My professors were very practical and "real world." If you ever consider a D.Min. or Ph.D., I would encourage you to look into Golden Gate. Thanks for your thoughts and keep blogging!
Another Jason :0)
7:44 AM
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