Seminary and the Local Church: What’s the Difference?

4 thoughts on “Seminary and the Local Church: What’s the Difference?”

1. Timmy, after posting at sbtsbloggers, I decided this blog was designed for the students, faculty, and alumni of The SBTS. So I’m moving my comments over here.

   My first thought when seeing your question, “So what’s the difference between the seminary and the local church?” is that it is a two-part answer: (1) What is the difference as touching the laws of the U.S.A and (2) what is the difference based on Biblical teaching and principles?

   I don’t think we should say it is a church issue, but rather a para-church issue. At the risk of appearing hypocritical, contradictory, and living in a dichotomized world, I think this is (at least partly) why we need to look at two aspects of the situation. As a legal issue, it will have to be resolved according to the Constitution and laws of the United States. While, for example, I may not believe the seminary is a New Testament institution, that is up to me to decide according to my Bible study, meditation, prayer and religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution — rather than for the government to decide. It would become a travesty for the government to start deciding — as an example, I don’t know this is even a possibilty — that a United Methodist seminary such as Perkins had ecclesiastical protection because the UMC is all one monolithic organization; as opposed to deciding SWBTS does not, because Baptists are congregational, autonomous and independent. IMO, these kinds of issues are outside of the purview of the legislatures and the courts. But because of the nature of law and legal mumbo jumbo, it may become necessary for lawyers in a case such as is described to use the “required” terminology for it to be understood “legally”. Now, I’m no lawyer, so I’m just supposing. Maybe this is a good example of why Christians ought not go to law against one another in secular courts??

   Finally, as far as the difference based on Biblical teaching and principles, the congregation of Jesus Christ was formed by Christ according to the eternal counsel of God, and the seminary was formed by men apparently based mostly on pragmatism and secular models. Right or wrong, I don’t see how we can confuse the two.

2. Mr. Vaughn,

   Thanks for your comments, and you are welcome any time to participate at Said @ Southern. 🙂

   In summary, I agree with what you have written. Regarding the law, I know as much about jurisprudence as the soccer mom watching the O.J. Simpson trial. But I do know a little about the Church, and the seminary is not the same thing as the Church.

3. Timmy, thanks for your kind words and invitation to participate at sbtsbloggers.

4. Mr. Vaughn,

   I look forward to future dialogue about certain issues and learning from the contributions you bring to the table. Have a blessed week!

   Timmy

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