Careful and Wise
COMMENT
The following is an excerpt from the feedback I received regarding my comments on seminary education:
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15-18)
You should be careful and wise how you speak about other men of God. I am glad you have a love for Christ and want to preach it, but you don't need to step on these men for their conviction on seminary. (Anonymous)
RESPONSE
It has been my experience that biblically addressing the matter of of seminary education gets some professing Christians hot under the collar. Nevertheless I believe that a dispassionate review of the bible’s testimony on the subject will not lead someone to conclude that extra-ecclessial, pay-for-play, corporate, seminary education is the pattern set forth in the New Testament for training ministers. That said, let’s look more closely at this comment and the scripture provided.
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15-18)
I agree with Paul's sentiment in that passage. I'm certain that there are MANY who preach Christ with less than pure motives. Indeed, all preachers are sinners who struggle with the flesh every day. Having said that, one should resist the suggestion that Paul's words are an endorsement of envy, strife, contention, and insincerity in ministry. They most certainly are not. Paul preached AGAINST those things. He did not endorse them in some "end justifies the means" sort of argument. We should not set up a false dichotomy based on this text. One can be pleased that men are proclaiming Christ, while at the same time taking issue with the errors that exist in their instruction, their theology, or in their philosophy of ministry. Moreover, the correction and conversion of erring brethren is a profitable endeavor (James 5:19-20).
OTHER MEN OF GOD
“You should be careful and wise how you speak about other men of God.”
I can think of nothing more "careful and wise" than using the word of God to demonstrate how there is absolutely no biblical support for the extra-ecclesial, pay-for-play, 501c3, seminary training of men for ministry in the Lord's New Testament church. In contrast, what seems careless and unwise is that men who claim to have a high view of the scriptures promote seminary training as a proper, biblical model for training men for the ministry when there is no biblical support for this idea whatsoever. “Men of God” should give that observation its due consideration rather than dismissing it because it does not conform to the traditions of men they received.
To make that point more explicitly I would ask you to produce the biblical evidence that supports the notion of extra-ecclesial, pay-for-play, seminary training for the role of Elder or for ministry in the Lord's NT church. I am happy to listen to your argument. What's more, I believe that trying to build that case is a very profitable exercise in underscoring my broader point: namely, that we should allow the word of God to shape our doctrine of ministerial training rather than what a cadre of so-called "men of God" suggest is the proper model. When we do that, we discover that the almost universally accepted seminary model has NO biblical support whatsoever. I offer that insincerity.
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth
“I am glad you have a love for Christ and want to preach it, but you don't need to step on these men for their conviction on seminary.”
Do you believe that it is profitable to correct a brother who is erring from the truth? The bible does: “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20). Learning, correction, reproof, and instruction are all essential components of discipleship. As a result, you have no basis for objecting to my correction of Washer and others who promote this unscriptural innovation. Sadly, there are many things that Christians have come to embrace as a result of "popular evangelical tradition" that have no basis whatsoever when examined in light of the word of God. I offer that in sincerity for your consideration.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, (Proverbs 27:6)
- Elder Daniel Samons