I’ve heard it more times than I can count: “Church-based ministerial training is just as good as Bible college/seminary-based ministerial training.” Personally, I think this statement is not well thought out. The two training methods cannot be equal because they focus on different aspects of ministry. In some matters, ministerial training within a local church from a pastor is superior to the training one can receive in seminary. In other matters, the training one gets in seminary is superior to the training they could obtain from their pastor in the local church. Seminary-based ministerial training excels at preparing one’s mind for ministry, while church-based ministerial-training excels at preparing one for some of the more practical aspects of ministry (such as performing ceremonies, administering the Lord’s supper, counseling, praying for the sick, etc.) Both are needed, and thus whenever possible, both should be sought.
If someone wants to prepare themselves theologically for the ministry, church-based training is no substitute for seminary, and for good reason. Seminaries exist for the primary purpose of preparing ministers with the theological knowledge needed to more effectively minister the Word of God to the people of God. The amount of time spent learning theology in a seminary can never be achieved in a local church (at least not within the same timeframe, if not the scope of learning itself) for two reasons. First, most pastors are not equipped with a seminary-level education, and thus could not provide it.
Second, most pastors do not have the time to dedicate 15-20 hours a week teaching someone theology. They have many other responsibilities. Michael Patton recently compared the difference between a church and seminary to the difference between a hospital and medical school. He asked, “Could local hospitals provide a better place for training than medical school? Not really. Why? Because that is not their focus. They are there to practice medicine. There is a reason why a different type of venue needs to be set up for both—effectiveness in all things pertaining to the training as well as a concerted effort with a very particular purpose. The local church and hospitals serve for residencies, not the primary training venue.”[1] Well put. In the same way a doctor needs to prepare himself academically in medical school because that is a more suitable environment, likewise a minister should prepare himself academically in a seminary since that is a more suitable environment for learning what needs to be learned to effectively minister to hurting souls in the church.
[1]Michael Patton, “Why Traditional Onsite Seminary is Still (by Far) the Best Option”; available from http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2010/03/why-traditional-onsite-seminary-is-still-by-far-the-best-option/; Internet; accessed 10 March 2010.
March 16, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Greetings! Brother Dulle
I wholly disagree with men going to seminary, biblical institutes, and bible colleges to prepare for the ministry citing that in the sacred scriptures men were prepared direct of the Most High God for the ministry and sent direct by him. And those men whom God prepared for his ministry were given the authority to prepare men for the ministry as bishops, deacons, and evangelists. Therefore, I contend that if a man desire to be effective in the ministry of God then he must be prepared, ordained, and sent by the Lord of all glory.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth mercy, grace, and power upon your soul to direct your steps in the way of truth. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 16, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I’m not surprised.
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March 16, 2010 at 7:26 pm
It amazes me that some don’t see in Scripture how much preparation and discipleship went into their commission. The disciples, who later became the Apostles, were with Jesus (intimately in conversation, action and daily living) for three years. That’s dedicated learning. Also, they learned first-hand what we try to understand much further past third-hand. We try to peek into the teachings of Jesus from a different time, place and culture, with a different knowledge base, and seek to make sense of it all. This is the primary reason seminary is so critical in Pentecostalism. Encouraging thoughtful reflection, and not just imminent evangelism is how we plan for the future of the church. Pentecost has long taken it’s knocks for being low on the totem pole of academia, and only recently has that begun to change.
I believe Keith Warrington’s “Pentecostal Theology” really adds some background to this discussion (p152-161) as well.
Thanks for posting this. There is an essentiality for both components, and both are distinct from the other. I believe it wouldn’t heard Pentecostalism to have a higher percentage of pastors/teachers with Seminary experience.
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March 16, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Thanks for chiming in James. I couldn’t agree more. The disciples had three years of Bible school prior to really beginning their ministry. Paul, with all of his education in theology, had the knowledge-equivalent of two modern PhDs I am told.
The fact of the matter is that many want to take the lazy way you today. They want to go straight from receiving a call to the spiritual operating room. If we wouldn’t want our doctors doing that, neither should our ministers. Am I saying everyone has to get a theology degree before they can effectively minister? No, but if they can obtain a theological education, then they should do it! We need to get past this minimalist approach to ministry in which we know just enough of the Word of God to preach some sermons, but don’t really grasp the depths of the Bible. The early apostles dedicated themselves to the study of the Word and prayer they considered the ministry of the Word so important. Today, we have many ministers who couldn’t tell you what the point of Romans is. Sure, they can quote verses from it, but the ability to quote the Bible is vastly different from being able to understand it in its context.
Jason
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March 17, 2010 at 9:38 am
Greetings! Brother Dulle
Again I say unto you all that if a man desires to be wholly effective in the ministry of God then they will be sent direct by God Almighty whom is the only one qualified to make a man into an effective minister for him. However, if a man desires to be effective in the ministry of man then he will attend bible school, theological seminary, or some other institute of man learning the ways of men that they may become palatable unto men and thus rejected by the Almighty God.
Therefore, I am totally against theological seminaries, bible schools, and biblical institutes citing that only God Almighty makes righteous messengers such as the Honourable Minister and Holy Apostle Gino Jennings.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth grace, mercy, and patience upon you all. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 17, 2010 at 10:29 am
Marquest,
Using your own King James vernacular, Thou hast spoken in ignorance.
Surely you jest. You speak of God sending ignorant messengers, or sending messengers that never prepared, trained, etc again. If he’s given you a task to tell the lady at the grocery store that He loves her, sure — don’t apply for a theology degree. But if your life will be consumed with the call, teaching others about the Bible, etc then understanding who you are is directly connected to understanding where you came from, and God’s story. Removing study and discipline from the call overlooks even instruction in 2 Tim 2:15.
The fact is, all that you know of God today has been taught. It seems you are against “formal” teaching, but you are not against teaching and training. The difference being the breadth and width of scope and intention.
There is great availability and opportunity for our generation to have people who are aware of God’s story and understand, why would we sit on our hands? Do you not believe God is scratching his head wondering why we aren’t showing redeeming value to the call, and putting work into it?
You know what combats heresy? Not a red-faced “called preacher,” but learned men who know their history, scriptural context and who understand their theology.
The core of the Gospel centers on Discipleship. Do you oppose that as well?
Your views reflect the Pentecost of old. Like it or not, people are refusing the rhetoric of ignorance in exchange for learning and growing. And yes, they also feel called and sent by the Almighty — they are finding ways to become effective, with opportunities God has given us.
Could you kindly respond to the posts of gentlemen above? Responding, meaning interacting with what they’ve said.
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March 17, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Marquest,
Jake is absolutely right.
Your logic reminds me of a story Chuck Swindoll once told about a youth pastor who showed a missionary film to his youth in a church that preached against movies. The elders confronted him about it. In response the young man asked them why it was ok for them to show picture slides, but not ok for him to show movies (which are just picture slides moving very quickly). If the pictures stood still…fine. If they moved…sin.
That is the same twisted logic you seem to be employing here. If one obtains theological training from their pastor at their church…fine. If one obtains theological training from individuals gifted by God to teach, but does so in a formal setting at some other building…wrong. The difference is the breadth and depth of the training. Since we have a Biblical mandate to study the Word, any reasonable Christian should support avenues that help us fulfill that.
Finally, I must say I have been bothered for some time by ythe way you speak about your pastor: “righteous messengers such as the Honourable Minister and Holy Apostle Gino Jennings.” I believe in respecting the man of God, but the way you speak of him seems to go above and beyond mere respect. I’m not sure where exactly it ends, but personally, you need to make sure you are paying him respect, and not elevating him to a place that is not fit for a man.
Jason
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March 18, 2010 at 11:08 am
Greetings! to all
Truly, truly ye lack an understanding of the way of the one true God of all creation for all true messengers such as the Honourable Minister and Holy Apostle Gino Jennings are sent direct, taught direct, and equipped direct of the Most High God. However all false messengers are not sent direct, taught direct, and equipped direct of the Most High God but they are taught, equipped, and sent by men which means they are ill effective to lead a person unto the kingdom of God. Therefore, I hold firm unto my confession the bible colleges, theological seminaries, and biblical institutes of so-called biblical learning are not of God and thus are of the devil. So I advise you all to sit under a true God called, sent, taught, and equipped messenger that you may be granted with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the kingdom of heaven that ye may be saved lest ye be found heading straight to the fires of hell for eternity.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth mercy, grace, and patience upon your souls to lead you to the truth. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 18, 2010 at 11:40 am
Marquest,
The more you speak, the more you reveal your ignorance, and your lack of ability to be reasonable.
How can you possibly say that men of God who are taught by other men of God in an institution focused on Scripture can be of the devil?
And do you honestly believe that Gino Jennings hasn’t learned anything from other Christian scholars? Has he never read a book about the Bible? Do you honestly believe that everything he knows he knows by direct revelation of God? If you believe that, you are naive. If Gino Jennings claims that, I suggest you run for your life.
Jason
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March 19, 2010 at 6:57 am
Marquest posts do have a certain entertainment value to them. I laugh my butt off when he said bible colleges, theological seminaries, and biblical institutes were of the devil. I think i should be careful this blog might be tainted. 🙂
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March 19, 2010 at 8:51 am
Greetings! Brother Dulle
Get this good and take heed. The Honourable Minister and Holy Apostle Gino Jennings has never went to no bible college, theological seminary, or biblical institute to learn the scriptures of truth. But he (Gino Jennings) has received all of his teaching direct from the most High God which greatly blesses me to have a man whom is sent direct of God. Therefore, as I said before if a man went to a bible college, theological seminary, or biblical institute then his information did not come direct of God which means he will be ineffective to preach and teach the word of truth. So, I advise you all whom went to some institute of man to learn the scriptures to sit down and stop preaching and come sit under a true apostle of God Almighty namely the Honourable minister Gino Jennings that you may learn the pure, undiluted, and infalliable truth of the kingdom of heaven.
May the God of all grace continue to have mercy, grace, and patience upon your soul. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 19, 2010 at 8:54 am
Greetings! Brother Dulle
One more thing I am not saying this in a corner but the holy scriputures affirm my view point in that every messenger that God has sent was ordained, called, equipped, and sent direct by him which means that that messenger is fully effective in his ministry. Therefore, all true holy messengers must be sent, called, ordained, and equipped by the Most High God of all creation.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth mercy, patience, and grace upon your soul. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 19, 2010 at 9:04 am
Marquest,
I do not know Gino Jennings, but if he says of himself the things you say of him, I honestly believe you are in a cultic environment.
The Scripture says God appointed teachers in the church. Paul told Timothy to teach faithful men who will in turn teach others. Never did he say to teach men to get their doctrine by being taught directly by God. Your position is unbiblical and downright spiritually dangerous.
And how can you say that those who are teaching Scripture are not getting their doctrine direct from God when what they are teaching is Scripture: the direct revelation of God preserved for us in writing?
Jason
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March 19, 2010 at 10:28 am
Greetings! Brother Dulle
Truly, truly you do not know the one true God of all creation if you do not affirm that a true messenger of God is sent direct by him. And a true messenger of God is given the authority to send men into the vineyard to work in the ministry as elders, deacons, and evangelists–this is the true function of the Lord God Almighty and his church. For instance if a man whom calls himself a minister of God yet he teaches things contrary to the word of God such as teaching that God became a man, or the word of God consist of only 66 books, or that God’s religion is Christianity then he is a liar and is not sent by God. For a true messenger of God will speak forth infalliable truth.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth grace, mercy, and peace upon your soul to lead you to the infalliable truth of heaven. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
P.S. The Honourable Minister and Holy Apostle Gino Jennings is taught direct of God and is given authority from on High to send men to be elders, deacons, and evangelists. Elders, deacons, and evangelists are not sent direct by God Almigty but only apostle’s and prophets are sent direct by God Almighty.
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March 19, 2010 at 10:30 am
Greetings! Brother Dulle
A man may possess the letter (written word) yet not posses the word of God (direct revelation) to understand the letter. Therefore a true messenger must be sent and given direct revelation and continued direct revelation to preach and teach the word of truth.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth patience, grace, and mercy upon your soul. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 19, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Wow. That’s all I can muster on this one.
“Run for the hills!”
Let’s play a little game. It’s called connect the dots! Real fun.
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March 20, 2010 at 11:14 am
Greetings! To all
Irregardless of what you all say against the truth of God it does not negate the fact that what I have put forth before you and what the Honourable Minister Gino Jennings is preaching and teaching is the infalliable truth of the kingdom of heaven. And all those whom have been ordained unto eternal life will believe the truth and those whom have been ordained unto eternal damnation will reject the truth. Therefore, I do pray that God stirs your heart to true repentance unto the acknowledgement of the truth.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth mercy, grace, and patience upon your souls to lead you unto the truth. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 20, 2010 at 11:45 am
Marquest, I have been sent from God. He told me that all Jews must die. How will you respond? To what will you hold me accountable? I will prove through Scripture that the Holocaust was righteous. To what will you appeal. You can’t. After all, I’ve been commissioned by the Almighty.
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March 22, 2010 at 6:35 am
Marquest, so Gino is infallible? I have heard of him but haven’t heard of you.
You can be sent of God and attend seminary too. Being sent does not exclude getting an education. Luke and Paul were likely very educated and well used of God.
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March 22, 2010 at 6:36 am
I think you make a valid distinction Jason in that some people may want theologial training and others may not. I think God calls us and prepares us for a special purpose and I believe that education can be part of the preparation process.
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March 23, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Greetings! Brothers
The scripture saith that “He whom is sent by God speaketh the words of God” which means God’s true messengers will speak the truth of God which will not contradict all messengers that God sent before him. And no true messenger will go to a bible college, theological seminary, and biblical institute but he is sent, taught, ordained, and made direct of the Almighty God. So, all those whom went to some “hand me down” bible college, theological seminary, and biblical institute then you are not a true messenger of the Almighty God and I advise you by the grace of God to sit down and come sit under a true God called, anointed, and directed minister of the kingdom.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth grace, mercy, and patience upon your soul to lead you to the truth. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 24, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Wow Jason. I bet you didn’t expect all that response to a simple post! 🙂
My two cents is as follows: the most effective ministers I have personally known are those who combine the two methods of learning. Bible school for Theology training and Church training for pastoral training. Personally I wish when I was a youngun, I had gone from Bible College to the pastoral training school at Alexandria. Though it wasn’t around then.
There is no substitute for not only a sound understanding of the Bible but also the knowledge of how to study the Word for yourself. (2 Tim 2:15) Likewise there is no substitute for experience in pastoral ministry, preferably under the teaching and guidance of an elder.
One thing I DO KNOW for sure. Anyone who thinks they are the direct line to God when it comes to understanding the Bible, is someone I am scared of. I have noticed that most of those who claim this “privilege” have not been to Bible School. Surprise huh? (2 Peter 1:20)
Personally the more I have learned the more I realize how little I know.
there’s my 2 cents. 🙂
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March 24, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Darren,
I couldn’t agree more!
Jason
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March 25, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Greetings! Darren and Jason Dulle
I thank God Almighty that I’ve never went to a bible college, theological seminary, or biblical institute to learn the holy scriptures. But God Almighty has given me a divine understanding of his will that I may properly represent him in these last and evil days. Also the Honourable Minister Gino Jennings has never went to a bible college, theological seminary, and biblical institute to learn the scriptures for he was sent direct by the Most High God himself. Therefore, I pity all you theological, seminary, and bible college “boys” whom learned the way of man and still is ineffective to preach and teach God’s word. As brother Paul of Tarsus hath said, “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
May the God of all grace continue to shine the light of his divine revelation into your hearts and minds that you may understand and follow the truth. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 25, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Why wouldn’t a called man of God sent by God go teach at a seminary so he can share all the wonderful things God has taught him to aspiring ministers? Wouldn’t that be the best way of distributing his knowledge (teaching those who in turn will teach others)? Surely this would be a good strategy. So how do you know that men like this aren’t currently teaching in seminaries? You’ve never been to one.
And what if Gino Jennings teaches X, and Mr. Seminary Professor also teaches X – does that make X wrong? Obviously not. It seems to me, then, that what matters is what is being taught, not who it is coming from. After all, what if a disciple of Gino Jennings went on to start a Bible college, teaching people all the things Gino taught him. Wouldn’t that be acceptable? Of course it would. So what matters, then, is the content of what is taught, not where it is taught (whether in a church or in another building). So your protestation is pointless.
Jason
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March 26, 2010 at 10:18 am
Greetings! Brother Dulle
You said: Why wouldn’t a called man of God sent by God go teach at a seminary so he can share all the wonderful things God has taught him to aspiring ministers?
My response: First of all, a truly God called, anointed, equipped, and sent man of the kingdom will not start a bible college, theological seminary, nor biblical institute but he will concern himself with preaching and teaching the word of the kingdom. Establishing bible colleges, theological seminaries, and biblical institutes is the way of the heathen particularly those whom are religious teaching men how to be eloquent, deceitful, and dedicated liars.
You said: Wouldn’t that be the best way of distributing his knowledge (teaching those who in turn will teach others)? Surely this would be a good strategy. So how do you know that men like this aren’t currently teaching in seminaries? You’ve never been to one.
My response: As I said before a man that is sent by God Almighty will concern himself with instructing people in the ways of God. And those whom God lead him to appoint to be elders, deacons, and evangelists he will do so by the grace, mercy, and wisdom of God. But I will reiterate that a true man of God will not start a bible college, theological seminary, or biblical institute. (Please show me in the scriptures where God Almighty sent his messengers to a bible college, theological seminary or biblical institute institute. While you are checking for that scripture let me tell you that God sent directly the prophets and apostles. And that same God whom existed then is still existing now which means a man must be sent direct by God to fully represent him in the things of God.)
You said: And what if Gino Jennings teaches X, and Mr. Seminary Professor also teaches X – does that make X wrong?
My response: The question comes to mind, “Is the Seminary Professor sent direct of God?” If he is then he either will be an apostle or prophet. But if the Seminary Professor is not sent direct of God he still will be out of the will of God due to the fact that he has taken it upon himself to preach or teach the word of God without God’s permission. Yet I bear witness that Gino Jennings has been sent direct of God and been given revelation from him to fully represent him in the ministry.
You said: Obviously not. It seems to me, then, that what matters is what is being taught, not who it is coming from. After all, what if a disciple of Gino Jennings went on to start a Bible college, teaching people all the things Gino taught him. Wouldn’t that be acceptable?
My response: That would not happen for the express reason those whom labour under an apostle of God or a prophet of God are answerable unto the apostle or prophet and cannot act contrary to his leadership which is God guided, ordained, and decreed.
You said: Of course it would. So what matters, then, is the content of what is taught, not where it is taught (whether in a church or in another building). So your protestation is pointless.
Jason
My response: My presentation is God lead, directed, and inspired and I only pray that your heart will be softened to accept the truth of God before the Lord God of all creation comes back to find you unprepared.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth mercy, grace, and patience upon you brother Dulle. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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March 31, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Marquest,
You said a truly called man of God will spend his time “preaching and teaching the word of the kingdom.” What do you think they do at seminaries? They preach and teach the word of God. What do you think Paul was doing when he taught DAILY in the school of Tyranus for ~2 years?
You wrote, “As I said before a man that is sent by God Almighty will concern himself with instructing people in the ways of God.” Again, why does it matter if the man does so in a church setting 2-3 times a week, or in a different building 5 days a week? The only difference is the location and amount of time spent teaching.
The rest of your responses either made no sense, or ducked the question.
Jason
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April 8, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Greetings! Brother Dulle
Again I say unto you a minister of God of a truth will not attend a bible college, theological seminary or biblical institute in order to become a preacher. But he must be made by the hands of heaven and sent into the world to proclaim the truth of God.
God bless you! in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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April 8, 2010 at 7:45 pm
The best is to have BOTH! :O)
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April 9, 2010 at 8:33 am
Greetings! To all
A true minister of God will not attend, come from, and start a bible college to be trained, made, and sent to do the work of ministry. But a true minister of God is trained, equipped, ordained, and sent direct of God most High.
God bless you. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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June 11, 2011 at 5:39 pm
After Paul was called by Christ, he went to Arabia for 3 years to integrate the new doctrine into his existing structure of knowledge (Galatians 1). In the book of Timothy, Paul says that a pastor must be qualified to teach (Gal 6:6; Col 3:16; 1 Tim 3:2). Paul was one of the most educated men in the Bible. The Apostles learned directly from Christ himself. We must study the scripture; God doesn’t just put the knowledge in our heads. If you wanted to read a Greek Bible, you must first learn Greek. God works through us, and though he is able, he doesn’t do everything for us. We are to study and show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15). The reason for all the heretical doctrine is not the Seminary’s fault, it is mainly caused by all the so called self taught experts who open Churches, but don’t have a real clue to what they are talking about. Those who knock those who have credential are just those who were to lazy to put them through the task of attending school themselves. Understanding the Bible comes through the help of the Holy Spirit. That is, the Spirit guides us through our training in history, language, literature, context, interpretation. It is a lot of work, but the Spirit blesses our efforts.
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