Why Seminary?

I have had some conversations with fellow believers in the past who expressed their thoughts on the necessity of seminary training for a pastor.  I have heard many times that going to seminary isn't a requirement to be a preacher in the Bible or that seminary is only for scholars with their heads stuck in books.  Musing over those ideas this morning gave rise to a few thoughts...

1)  Sure, Paul didn't go to seminary.  However he was a well-versed Jew who would have had the equivalent to seminary schooling prior to his conversion.  So lets set him aside, what about the other early church leaders - they didn't have the status of Paul and they didn't go to seminary.  They did just fine, doesn't that prove that seminary is unnecessary?  Short answer, no - the didn't go to seminary because there was no seminary.  Remember that the Bible is relevant to our lives today in many ways...yet, it also must be read in context.  Just because seminary isn't mentioned in Scripture does not mean it is unbiblical.  There were no cool audio/ visual powerpoint worship band experiences in the early church either - don't see a lot of people hating on that advancement.

2)  Would you hire a lawyer who didn't have his law degree (J.D.) based on the fact that lawyers in the 16th century didn't necessarily go to law school, they were often self-taught or mentored?  Of course not.  Law is a complicated and deep subject that requires years of study to properly practice, much less teach to others.  Why do we think that we can trust pastors who are devoid of higher education to preach truth instead of a false gospel?  I'm speaking generally of course, there are always some exceptions.

3)  If seminary exists today, why not go?  Doesn't a high-school football star stand a much better chance of doing well in the pros if he heads to college to refine his game for awhile?  Our young leaders should do the same.  If one feels a calling to pastorship and that call is confirmed, I believe that God will open the financial and logistical doors necessary for the person to seek seminary training.  Pastors who are against seminary training often tend towards a warped view of the gospel that they came up with.  A truth that no one in 2000 years of Christianity ever stood on before.  I believe that you will find a huge portion of pastors in today's most damaging false gospel, the prosperity gospel, to be without degree.

4)  On the flip side, a degree itself isn't saying much if it comes from some fruity liberal seminary - and they are everywhere.  One must be careful in choosing which seminary to attend.  A high view of Christ, the Bible, and the Gospel must be foremost in determining where to get an education. 

5)  Last point - I am only speaking in this blog of head pastors or teaching elders or whatever designation is given to the speaking head of the local church.  He is the person responsible for the decisions about sermon prep and what people hear on Sunday morning.  I think it would be great if all the staff and elders at a church had seminary training, but it seems like a good compromise and a fair requirement to mandate the preacher at least be accredited.  As for seminary being for bookworms...I believe that every pastor should be a theologian and every theologian should be a pastor.  Some people are more inclined towards academics and the like.  Others are more geared for practical ministry measures.  We should never elevate or degrade one from the other - both are essential elements of a good leader for Christ.  Without foundational truth, ministry is nothing but secular charity...without ministry, truth is dead head-knowledge.  Embrace both.

In summary, I think that our lead/ head/ teaching pastors in modern Christianity should be graduates of at least a Masters degree program in theology from an established seminary with solid-beliefs.  A seminary education can only assist the young man in his desire and his admonishment to meet the requirements of James 3:1, 1 Timothy 3 and Titus, particularly to:

"...hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sounddoctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

Thoughts?