Four Reasons Seminaries Get a Bad Rap
If you’re in seminary, have ever considered seminary or are nursing a grudge against seminary, no doubt you’ve heard the following:
“Seminary? More like ‘cemetery’!” (Insert Beavis and Butthead chortle here).
Why is this? It seems as though the collective consciousness of North American Christianity dislikes the concept of seminary. Most mainline denominations require it of their leaders, so why does seminary get such a bad rap?
I’m going to be graduating from Bethel Seminary in May. I’m a fan. A huge fan. As such, I’ve become a seminary apologist of sorts. From where I sit, here are a few reasons why seminary gets a (mostly) undeserved reputation:
4. Cost.
As with any sort of master’s degree, seminary usually costs a healthy chunk of change. Sometimes, people who want to go to seminary simply can’t afford it. It’s easier to deal with the death of a dream if the dream becomes unappealing. Hence, the vilification of seminary. I wish that everyone who wanted to attend seminary had the means to do so. (As a matter of fact, we have some ideas on the back burner that will help facilitate this for some of you!)
3. Elitism.
This one’s legit. I’ll admit it: I’ve used words in conversation since I’ve been in seminary that I never would have used otherwise. This can be a good thing (broadening vocabulary), but most often it’s a bad thing. Because seminarians spend so much money on their degree (see #4), we feel like we need to get our money’s worth. So we say things like “pre-dispensationalism,” “substitutionary atonement,” and “behoove.” (No joke, a fellow student used the word “behoove” in class and I laughed, out loud, at him. That was unfortunate. He was not a fan after that.) The words aren’t bad, it’s the attitude behind them.
2. The “Jesus” Excuse.
If you’ve spent any time in ministry circles, you’ve heard this at work before. “Jesus didn’t go to seminary, so why should I?” Fair enough. But then the “argument” escalates: “The disciples just followed Jesus around for three years and they didn’t need no seminary. Neither do I!” Or, worse yet, someone tells you they went to “seminary in the Spirit.” *shudder*. Most often, people who use this line of logic do so because of the other three reasons listed on this list. Which leads me to the last one. . . .
1. Anti-Intellectualism.
This, by far, is the number one reason seminaries get a bad rap here in the U.S. Our Christian culture smacks of anti-intellectualism–the subtle but lethal belief that engaging God with the mind is somehow unspiritual, or even sinful. There are myriad (seminary word–see #3) reasons why this belief persists (Gnosticism, Hellenistic thought, the Church’s reaction to the Enlightenment, Romanticism, etc.). It boils down to this thought: Flesh (material world) is bad. Spirit (unseen world) is good. The mind gets lumped into the “bad” category and the intellect is looked at as a villain to be eliminated rather than an ally to be utilized in understanding this great God we serve! Dallas Willard says that “Jesus is the most brilliant man who ever lived. He is the smartest person in the history of the human race.” Our charge in Scripture is to love God with all our heart, strength, soul and  … anyone? …. mind!
So there you have it. Some reasons why seminaries can be the neglected step-child of the evangelical world.
To the skeptics out there, I understand your concerns. But listen to this: The very first class I took at seminary, the professor got up in front of the class and said, “I want you to learn this stuff so you can know God better.” Another professor of mine said, “If you can’t connect your theology to your love for God, it’s worthless. Your theology becomes worthless.” Isn’t that something you can get behind?
Question: What have been your experiences with seminary? Either yourself or watching people you know?
I'm glad you wrote this article Justin. I came from a church (KJV only) that was definitely anti-seminary and I think the reasons you give are dead on. I am now in a church (not KJV only) where the pastor holds a doctorate in something NT, so obviously, the view about seminary at my new church is different.
From my experience, it seems a lot of the “KJV Only-ists” that go into seminary, come out not believing in “KJV Only-ism”. I know that KVJ Only-ism and a negative view of seminary aren't always bedfellows, but that seems to be the case most of the time.
This exact issue is one I've been wrestling with lately. I know your article does not speak specifically about KJV Only-ism, but I see a direct correlation. Being formerly “KJV Positive”, I have noticed that those who go to seminary come back with a different view on Bible translations then when they entered.
Do you know of any legitimate KJV Only seminaries? I know this comment is kind of random, but there seems to be a deep “unlearning” that happens (in 2-4 short years at seminary) of a “lifetime” of knowledge learned from non-seminary pastors/leaders.
Have you experienced this at Bethel?
Buddy
I have not heard of any KJV only seminaries. The ones that I know and trust–DTS, Fuller, Gordon, and obviously Bethel–are all pretty open when it comes to translations. Certain professors have their “pet” translation, but there's room for more than just one.
Explain what you mean by “unlearning”? I think I know what you mean, but I need clarification. Thanks man.
Justin, love this post. Love it. I avoided seminary for a long time because of every one of these things. The last thing I wanted to be was “that guy” dazzling uninterested congregations with my new knowledge. I always thought, “I don't need seminary to be in ministry.” In fact, I use to think of seminaries as dusty old places with white-haired professors answering questions that nobody was asking. I'm so thankful for seminaries like Bethel that are proving this perception wrong through holistic degree programs and innovative methods (like in-ministry, allowing students to learn in the context of real ministry). There's a lot of reasons to go to seminary (good and bad), but I think the best ones are to simply grow more like Jesus, and to have more of his heart for this world. Great post. Finish strong and congrats!
Another reason, and it might have roots in one of the things you mentioned, is that I've seen people go into seminary full of passion and fire, and come out with all of that fire doused, but with tons of debt and knowledge to accompany their new life. I know that wasn't your experience. Did you do something to avoid that, or did you not even experience an environment that could douse whatever raw passion someone brought in with them?
My church is a very pro-seminary community but I think that may be a result of our close proximity to Philadelphia Biblical University and Princeton Theological Seminary. A strong Christian education is the expectation of not only leadership but for young adults as well.
One of the challenges I've noticed for many of my friends is that during their time in seminary, their time is rooted in learning and debating theology and they stop doing. They forget under the mountain of learning that they also need to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Without the deliberate intention of mission work, the act of living one's beliefs falls to the side. This could be a regional issue but I suspect that it could feed into some of the resentment that is directed towards seminaries.
Great post, I appreciate how you are able to be in- and pro- seminary, yet see the trees through the forrest.
I'm a seminary drop out…
On the up side, I did all my Greek, Hebrew, Theology and Church History in seminary, and there is no better place to do it. For this reason, I'm very pro-seminary.
I left when my degree turned to the day-to-day side of ministry (how to lead in church). I was sitting under guys who hadn't lead in a church in 15+ years. And in class with guys who hadn't been to church since they enrolled in seminary. (Which is a tragedy that goes without consequence where I was attending.)
So, all that to say, I totally understood why I was in school with guys from all over the world, some of which had entire communities sacrificing so they could get theological training and come back to lead a church. What I never understood was why my seminary didn't partner with local churches to (1) keep students engaged in front-line ministry, (2) bring in guest speakers who were currently reaching people and (3) use the energy of ministry to keep them out of the dangers of rampant institutionalization.
Great post! I have recently began to wrestle in my mind with the thought of going to seminary. I had shaken it for a while, but the desire is creeping up on me again. With us heading back to Des Moines, Bethel seems like a legit choice. Maybe we can get together and chat about it? I'll buy the java juice!
You guys are coming back to the DeMo? As in, for good?
For good, or at least for a while
It's been a year here, and we feel like we have done what we set out to do. We also have a sense of completion, knowing this isn't IT for us. So you'll be seeing us soon!
Great perspective. As a new pastor with no seminary degree, I actually often feel completely inadequate and unqualified, like I have to defend the call. And the beauty in what you shared, is you've separated the two. All too often, I think people associate a call with schooling. Believe me, if the opportunity presented itself, I would probably love to pursue the mdiv…in the meantime, I know my inadequacy reminds me of the grace I've got to do what God called me to do. It's all in the frame…it's a tool that helps you know God more…
Can I interest you in Bethel . . . .
? Maybe you could be a “former seminary dropout”? 
Churches that are pro-seminary = good. Stick with it!
One of the things I loved about my seminary experience was remaining in my local context while engaging the with the material online. It allowed me to “explore” what I was learning in a real-time atmosphere.
In all honesty, I didn't encounter anything close to “doused fires” at Bethel. Like, not even once. It is a phenomenal school!
Bethel rules, plain and simple!
That's where my crazy idea comes in ….. Deviant-sponsored seminary education. It's coming …. It's coming!
Yeah, this makes sense. But nowadays, there are many movements that are trying to eradicate these things. One of such is us- Reformed Theological Seminary, RTS was established to provide serious, realistic training for ministry so that people would be won to Christ and built up in the faith, resulting in healthy, growing churches and a perceptive application of the Bible to all facets of life.
We also offer online seminary programs that I believe atleast lessen the cost and the cemetery feeling of it.
Love it. Can't wait to hear more…love your crazy ideas.
I'm a current Bethel student (SemPM) and loving every minute of it! The one thing that held me back for so long from starting was cost, and to be honest, now that I'm the only $ earner in my newly expanded family, that's going to be a real issue, though I'm sticking with it as far as I can.
Like you, I'm an advocate for a seminary-level education, but I'd be curious to hear your ideas on the cost issue (if not for myself, then for many who otherwise can't afford to do it).
I am someone who is looking to go do this after I finish a much delayed bachelors degree at Devry. Cost is a concern, a student could graduate with so much debt that they'd be forced to go to a big church with a big budget, or be bi-vocational.
I am someone who is looking to go do this after I finish a much delayed bachelors degree at Devry. Cost is a concern, a student could graduate with so much debt that they'd be forced to go to a big church with a big budget, or be bi-vocational.