Comments on: Failing Seminary for the Glory of God http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:29:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sovann http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1065 Sovann Mon, 12 May 2008 22:45:22 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1065 Good article, even though I fell more in the camp of those who the act of faith is not procrastinating and actually turning papers in on time and actually studying. I think the title of this blog points to a pressure that contributes the problem - "failing" at seminary. Who says that anything less than a 4.0 is failing? Seminary is a tremendous investment of time, energy and money there is a pressure not to fail. I like the suggestions and you, Jake and Jeff have suggested the solutions may be better with the happy tension, both/add instead of either/or. Looking back, I definately would do more of the seven suggestions. Cool thing is these are still great suggestions for the "Real World" after seminary. Life hasn't really slowed down or gotten less busy. Thanks. Good article, even though I fell more in the camp of those who the act of faith is not procrastinating and actually turning papers in on time and actually studying.
I think the title of this blog points to a pressure that contributes the problem – “failing” at seminary. Who says that anything less than a 4.0 is failing? Seminary is a tremendous investment of time, energy and money there is a pressure not to fail.
I like the suggestions and you, Jake and Jeff have suggested the solutions may be better with the happy tension, both/add instead of either/or.
Looking back, I definately would do more of the seven suggestions. Cool thing is these are still great suggestions for the “Real World” after seminary. Life hasn’t really slowed down or gotten less busy.
Thanks.

]]> By: TimothyPaulJones http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 TimothyPaulJones Mon, 12 May 2008 13:39:15 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1063 I just noticed that I left out the "er" on "greater." The sentence should read: "What you do for God beyond your home will typically never be greater than what you’re practicing with God within your home." Sigh. One more reminder to be more merciful to the students. I just noticed that I left out the “er” on “greater.” The sentence should read: “What you do for God beyond your home will typically never be greater than what you’re practicing with God within your home.” Sigh. One more reminder to be more merciful to the students.

]]> By: Failing seminary for the glory of God? | deTheos http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1062 Failing seminary for the glory of God? | deTheos Mon, 12 May 2008 12:03:08 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1062 [...] the title refers to a good reminder posted a while back at Goingtoseminary.com: "Failing Seminary for the Glory of God [...] [...] the title refers to a good reminder posted a while back at Goingtoseminary.com: "Failing Seminary for the Glory of God [...]

]]> By: TimothyPaulJones http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 TimothyPaulJones Sun, 11 May 2008 18:38:20 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1060 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 great 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." 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 great 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.”

]]> By: Going To Seminary: Practical Help For Seminary Students | Said at Southern Seminary http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Going To Seminary: Practical Help For Seminary Students | Said at Southern Seminary Fri, 02 May 2008 01:45:20 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1032 [...] Failing Seminary for the Glory of God [...] [...] Failing Seminary for the Glory of God [...]

]]> By: Failing Seminary for the Glory of God | ENGAGING CULTURE http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1026 Failing Seminary for the Glory of God | ENGAGING CULTURE Thu, 01 May 2008 21:41:34 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1026 [...] has some good advice for those entrenched in Seminary or theological college. Seminary isn’t the most important [...] [...] has some good advice for those entrenched in Seminary or theological college. Seminary isn’t the most important [...]

]]> By: Jeff Patterson http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 Jeff Patterson Thu, 01 May 2008 03:36:15 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1007 Jake makes a good point about "tension." Let's call it a "happy tension," since navigating these priorities is part of what makes for good life and ministry prep. Jake makes a good point about “tension.”

Let’s call it a “happy tension,” since navigating these priorities is part of what makes for good life and ministry prep.

]]> By: Terry Delaney http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1006 Terry Delaney Thu, 01 May 2008 02:09:48 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1006 JaG--great post! I think this should be taken to heart by all seminarians, especially those with families and spouses. I have thrown my two cents in on the seven categories. Perhaps being a bit older and not fresh out of college and high school has been a benefit to me. There are so many times when I sit in class and ponder (yes, ponder) the glory of God being revealed in class. I can honestly say that I have been transformed in many areas by a couple of classes and professors in my two semesters at Southern. Does giving a qualified wrong answer count? I have given answers that I know the teacher was not looking for, but I qualified them heavily. As for Bible reading, the Lord has answered my prayer and given me a thirst for His Word among all the other stuff. I will have actually read the entire Bible this semester albeit at the expense of a couple of assigned books. Unfortunately, the times of spontaneous prayer have been few and far between. I am more likely to meditate on what I am learning than pray about what I am learning. I do differentiate between the two. I will not study in front of my children. It is a personal conviction that I have only had to go against once. I just do not want them to grow up thinking that I put my school work before them. Besides, I don't think when I graduate I will be saying, "Man, I wish I wouldn't have gone to the park that one day because it cost me a letter grade on my Hebrew exam." Loving the church has been somewhat hard for me--I want to serve in a church and not just be an active Sunday morning pew sitter. I have struggled with having a limited role. JaG–great post! I think this should be taken to heart by all seminarians, especially those with families and spouses. I have thrown my two cents in on the seven categories. Perhaps being a bit older and not fresh out of college and high school has been a benefit to me.

There are so many times when I sit in class and ponder (yes, ponder) the glory of God being revealed in class. I can honestly say that I have been transformed in many areas by a couple of classes and professors in my two semesters at Southern.

Does giving a qualified wrong answer count? I have given answers that I know the teacher was not looking for, but I qualified them heavily.

As for Bible reading, the Lord has answered my prayer and given me a thirst for His Word among all the other stuff. I will have actually read the entire Bible this semester albeit at the expense of a couple of assigned books.

Unfortunately, the times of spontaneous prayer have been few and far between. I am more likely to meditate on what I am learning than pray about what I am learning. I do differentiate between the two.

I will not study in front of my children. It is a personal conviction that I have only had to go against once. I just do not want them to grow up thinking that I put my school work before them. Besides, I don’t think when I graduate I will be saying, “Man, I wish I wouldn’t have gone to the park that one day because it cost me a letter grade on my Hebrew exam.”

Loving the church has been somewhat hard for me–I want to serve in a church and not just be an active Sunday morning pew sitter. I have struggled with having a limited role.

]]> By: Just a Guy http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1004 Just a Guy Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:49:06 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1004 "I suppose the struggles make us stronger" Jake - I think this is part of the transformation process. I recently had a difficult time with a paper. In discussing my struggles with a fellow classmate I realized that I was missing an opportunity for transformation. The difficulty in the paper should have been reminding me of my need for grace and mercy. Not only that, but I needed to be reminded that the wrestling with the content of the paper was more than just getting words out for a grade. I needed to be transformed by the text I was writing about. I can exegete all day long, but without implications and applications, then what is the point. I think much of our challenge is to stop for a moment and listen and look for what God is doing in our classes, course materials, and situations. The information is important... but there are all to many people in the world who know a whole lot more than we do and yet don't love Jesus. We have to be careful to not just go to class to know <i>about</i> Jesus... rather we need to go and get to know Jesus. And, hey, I don't have it all figured out... everything written in the post is preaching to myself least I forget. “I suppose the struggles make us stronger”

Jake – I think this is part of the transformation process. I recently had a difficult time with a paper. In discussing my struggles with a fellow classmate I realized that I was missing an opportunity for transformation. The difficulty in the paper should have been reminding me of my need for grace and mercy. Not only that, but I needed to be reminded that the wrestling with the content of the paper was more than just getting words out for a grade. I needed to be transformed by the text I was writing about. I can exegete all day long, but without implications and applications, then what is the point.

I think much of our challenge is to stop for a moment and listen and look for what God is doing in our classes, course materials, and situations. The information is important… but there are all to many people in the world who know a whole lot more than we do and yet don’t love Jesus. We have to be careful to not just go to class to know about Jesus… rather we need to go and get to know Jesus.

And, hey, I don’t have it all figured out… everything written in the post is preaching to myself least I forget.

]]> By: Jake Belder http://www.goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/comment-page-1/#comment-1003 Jake Belder Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:34:30 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/failing-seminary-for-the-glory-of-god/#comment-1003 This is a tough one for me, and I live in a sort of tension. While I came to seminary really wanting to be transformed by what I learned and by the Word of God, I realize that pursuing theology at the academic level requires me to put a heavy emphasis on the information side, aiming quite intently for good grades. And that results in me having to work extra hard to come to grips with the transformation aspect, as well trying to balance the rest of life with what seminary requires of me. It's tough, and sometimes I get so frustrated that I want to give up. But then I don't know what I'd do because this is the path I feel led down. I suppose the struggles make us stronger. This is a tough one for me, and I live in a sort of tension. While I came to seminary really wanting to be transformed by what I learned and by the Word of God, I realize that pursuing theology at the academic level requires me to put a heavy emphasis on the information side, aiming quite intently for good grades. And that results in me having to work extra hard to come to grips with the transformation aspect, as well trying to balance the rest of life with what seminary requires of me. It’s tough, and sometimes I get so frustrated that I want to give up. But then I don’t know what I’d do because this is the path I feel led down. I suppose the struggles make us stronger.

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