Do They Deserve Admission to Seminaries?
My son was still in diapers and unable to walk when I received my MBA. I remained up late learning about HR and accounting. My next logical step seemed to be to pursue a business degree.
I’ve always felt the urge to learn new things (maybe it is the product of being the daughter of a college professor). Growing up, I was always aware of the value of earning a college degree and the even greater significance of earning a graduate degree.
But as my faith grew and I started using Bible teaching to spread the gospel, I realized that getting an MBA wouldn’t have prepared me for the job God had given me. At the time, going to seminary was my heart’s desire.
Being a woman and a mother of three made attending seminary seem genuinely out of the question.
I, therefore, put that hope on a mental shelf with the expectation that it will one day come true. Over the years, I applied the knowledge I was able to acquire on my own. I took advantage of free educational opportunities whenever I could. I wanted to learn everything I could.
I was surprised by how little the women I taught in a Bible study knew about theology, how to study the Bible, or even how to reply to the most basic inquiries about the Bible. Women’s ministries in most churches are intended to encourage the women involved, reassure them that they are self-sufficient, and then send them on their way.
The problem occurs when a woman has a heart change but lacks the fundamental biblical understanding required to carry out her new calling.
No matter how much I studied or how many people I taught, I had always wanted to attend seminary. I felt obligated to take on the responsibility of teaching theology to female churchgoers.
After a world pandemic, my kids’ development, and unquenchable hunger, I ultimately decided to enrol at the seminary. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, and I want other women would choose the same path.
The following are the top three reasons why women should enrol in seminary:
The Equal Role of Theology in the World
God similarly calls women to the study of theology as He does males. I’ve heard that there are a lot of men attending seminaries. That was the situation in the past owing to societal norms, but Scripture does not force women to lead a nontheological life. She has a duty to devote herself to studying the Bible as a Christian.
All of Scripture is inspired by God and is helpful for correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness so that the man of God will be fully prepared for every good job (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Reading the Bible to gain knowledge of God’s holiness is what it means to be a follower of Christ. Here, the study of theology is an essential component of education. We are urged to seek holiness and the things of God rather than laze around.
The Bible commands believers to “not be conformed to this world” but rather to “be converted by the renewal of your mind” in order to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This is stated in Romans 12:2. The Bible clarifies God’s will. God’s Word for transformation is the Bible.
Although neither chapter expressly mentions women, they both highlight how important the Bible is to the life of a Christian. Both men and women Christians have an equal responsibility to deepen their knowledge of the Bible and be changed by what they discover about God.
Order for the Disciple to Go Out and Teach, Verse 2
Women work in the fields of education and mentoring. Although I concur that women are not to serve as pastors, I do believe they have a calling to be teachers and role models for other women. Paul gives Titus instructions in Titus 2 regarding the function and direction of the church.
Titus 2:3-5 instructs women of a specific age to conduct themselves with honour and respect. They are to teach the young women the things that are good and right and train them to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to work faithfully at home, to be kind to their husbands, and to be submissive to them in order to prevent the word of God from being misrepresented. It is our duty to educate other women on the truths of the Bible and to lead them on the path of purity. Christian women generally follow Jesus in this manner. It’s a crucial aspect of being a disciple and a spiritual endeavour that adds to the total.
Future Generations’ Benefits
The Bible has a lot to say about mothers, both biological and spiritual, because of their significance to future generations. We do not need to have our own children in order to disciple others and have an impact on the next generation. Because women are fundamentally meant to be life-givers, discipleship is life-giving.
“Her children come riding up and call her happy,” Proverbs 31:28-29 says. “Her husband, too, and he praises her; for many women have done brilliantly, but you surpass them all.” Her family members are aware of and grateful for her inspiring spirit. The effects of a mother’s love and devotion have a lasting effect on her children, both physically and spiritually. She never stops working, and the impact she has on the people she cares about will endure as long as she does.
Children are a gift from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a prize, according to Psalm 127:3. In the hands of a powerful warrior, the children of a good marriage are like arrows. The generations we influence are like battle-ready arrows. The next generation is shaped to become morally upright women through discipleship.
The case for women enrolling in seminaries and pursuing theological education is strengthened, in my opinion, by all three of these elements. Any door that leads to a better comprehension of God and His Word and more effective preparation for our task should be opened.
Women shouldn’t enrol in seminary because they believe it would improve their spiritual standing; rather, they should do so if they have a strong desire to instruct and lead within their local church and community. Seminary is not required to have a beautiful spiritual path.
I’ve learned more about God, the Bible, and the Church through seminary.
