Seminary 101: if you don't go
Maybe the one thing you know is that seminary isn't for you. Maybe you wanted to go and it didn't work out. Maybe you never wanted to go. Maybe you thought about it and decided God is directing you another way. I would like to cup your face in my hands and remind you that this is not a problem. (Wow, between holding your face and making people read the Bible on car trips, I’m surprised I have friends.) We attended a church years ago where the most important thing was going to Bible college and being a missionary or a pastor. Obviously, I was excluded from that as a woman, but I was surprised to hear that my husband who, at the time, had two master’s degrees* and a secular job, felt excluded and less-than in this narrative as well.
When we start ranking people we get into trouble almost every single time, unless it’s related to some tangible metric (and even then- is it wise?). I’m all for a ranking of favorite books or best restaurants in town, but when we start comparing people to other people, we run into problems. God has different plans for our lives; look at the varied stories we have from the Bible of God’s people or what we see throughout church history. Variety is the baseline, the foundation. And the work of God in the world is so vast that there are many different ways to participate.
All of our work matters. It’s not a greater calling to be a pastor than to be a plumber or to be a domestic worker. If you come from any amount of privilege, it’s easy to forget that many people don’t get to decide what they do with their lives anyway. What matters is not so much the work (unless you are ignoring something God is clearly asking you to do) but the person you are being formed into in the work. If you’ve looked into seminary and decided it’s not for you, for whatever reason, here are two thoughts: a starting place if you will.
Nurture your own spiritual growth. Practice spiritual disciples. Dig into The Deeply Formed Life if you want a starting place. Make a book list or a podcast playlist based on topics you would like to learn about. Disciple someone: this doesn’t have to be fancy. I think we expect theological books and homework with discipleship, but you don’t have to do that. Teach a class at church. Being a disciple of Jesus and making disciples isn’t for people who are in seminary. That is for every believer. You aren’t capped because you don’t have a seminary degree.
Pay attention to your own work. What is God asking you to do? How has He made you and how does that intersect with the world around you? Spend some time evaluating how your life is a signpost to the kingdom and how your work reflects your love of your neighbor. We need believers who are doing good solid work in all of life.
Not going to seminary is never a step back. Often, it’s obedience. Sometimes, it’s necessity. Do your work faithfully, with love and joy and perseverance. Don’t feel ashamed at how God has directed your life and don’t shrink back from participating.
Always,
Lisa
Links I Love:
The entry and playroom in this home are so light and lovely.
Our basement renovation is almost done and I’m putting this wallpaper on one wall.
Joel Muddamalle posted about (the lack of) women teaching in seminary. We need each other.
*my husband still has the master's degrees; he's just added a Ph.D. since then.