What I’m Learning in Seminary

I have to say that my first week of seminary has been amazing. It definitely is a lot of work and I’m continually learning how to balance out my studies with my ministry life. Past experience has taught me that it’s a lot like riding a bike – gotta keep moving in order to maintain balance, even if at times I’m leaning in one direction. 

More than just the education, I’m really humbled by the experience of being in seminary. Undergrad and Grad School is really different. During my undergrad, I was taught what I should know. In Grad School, I’m presented with options and different perspectives. The challenge is to humbly consider and fearfully discern. 

After one of my long car rides from La Mirada to Corona, I felt like God was saying to me, “It’s easier to stand on the outside and dismissively pass judgment than it is to enter in and humbly consider.” Prior to going to grad school I had a little circle in my mind of what are things worth learning and what are things worth ignoring. I realize now that many of the things that I chose to ignore was done simply out of ignorance. 

I’ve been really challenged in two areas during my time at Talbot. 1. my view of spiritual formations 2. my view on liberal theology (ie. liberation theology). Prior to entering grad school, I rather stand on the outside of these things and dismissively pass judgment. Seminary has slowly forced me to enter in and consider. Consideration does not mean acceptance, it just means to respect those who have gone before me and came up with this ideas. A respect for their situation and the reason of where these ideas came from really help me have a greater perspective on the world. 

So here are some key things I’m learning:

• Humility is a must if a person really desires to get the most out of their time in Seminary. Agendas, dogmas, and dispositions can blind a person from what God might be doing through other “camps.”
• Discernment – Seminary today has changed from seminary 20+ years go. The amount of information that is now available to the average student is AMAZING! With the increase of information, an increase of discernment become even more valuable for a student. It’s not so much about accessing the information as much as it is about filtering through it. 
• Faith – I have no idea how I’m going to pay back my tuition, but I know God wants me here.