Questioning the Seminary Approach
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Per his bio on the Dispensational Publishing House website, Randy White “is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Tex., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forth Worth, Texas (where he received his master of divinity degree), and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary [now Gateway Seminary] in Mill Valley, Calif. (where he received his doctor of ministry degree).”
His father Elbert, who is director of church relations for DPH, “is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas” (where he earned an M.Div.).
You’d think Randy would at least acknowledge his and his father’s degrees and explain why they recommend against doing what they did.
I don’t know too much about how this works, but Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers something called the “Timothy Track” program which is supposed to pair practical internship-like training with their M.Div. program. It sounds pretty neat and maybe a model worth emulating.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[Jay]Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers … the “Timothy Track” program … to pair practical internship-like training with their M.Div. program.
Baptist Bible Seminary takes a similar approach.
Thomas Overmiller
Pastor | StudyGodsWord.com
Blog | ShepherdThoughts.com
[Bert Perry]Meanwhile, your comment also touched on a problem with internships: when the pupil is fully trained, he is like his master… So what internships do is perpetuate whatever is already there.
Yes and no. Keep in mind that very few people know who Calvin’s advisor was, nor do they know the names of the masters under whom Stradivarius and Boesendorfer studied, no? I would argue that the master is the one who knows the ropes and prepares the student, but if the master does his job right, the student is then prepared to surpass the master. One would certainly argue that with, say, the chief professors who taught Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and the like, no?
Perhaps the difference is whether the master teaches the person primarily what to think, or how to think?
My reference to the fully trained pupil being like his master was a quote from Jesus in Matt. 13:52. He was most likely referencing a well known adage… well known because widely recognized as true. The master can only teach the pupil “how to think” if he knows how to think. He can only point the way beyond his own expertise if he believes in doing that and knows how.
For that and other reasons, I’m inclined to think some kind of blend of internship and more traditional academic training is the ideal.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
You sure that it’s Matthew 13:52 you’re referring to? I’m thinking of a general (I’d argue not absolute) principle that I could draw from elsewhere, but I’m not quite sure I follow you here.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
[Bert Perry]You sure that it’s Matthew 13:52 you’re referring to? I’m thinking of a general (I’d argue not absolute) principle that I could draw from elsewhere, but I’m not quite sure I follow you here.
That’s what I get for posting before I’ve had enough coffee… then running out the door.
It’s Luke 6:40
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
I agree, though, that the master can prepare the apprentice in such a way that he eventually grows beyond his master…. after the apprenticeship is over.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
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