Bridging the Gap Between Seminary and the Local Church

There is a large gap that divides the halls of the seminary and the pews of the local church. One is filled with learned men whose minds are constantly devoted to the latest theological discussion, while the other is filled with everyday men and women who lead their daily lives trying to survive in a “dog eat dog” world while maintaining their Christianity. Upon graduating seminary or bible college there must be an immediate refocus of the mind and heart before entering full-time ministry in the context of pastor in the local church. Not that seminary or bible college is not ministry focused or that the church is not theological, but to be honest, it is a different world. Below I have listed some practical points to consider as we strive to bridge the gap between the seminary and the local church.

1. The “High-Horse” Syndrome
In order to bridge the gap between the seminary and the local church the man of God must be cured, of what I like to affectionately call, the “high-horse” syndrome. There is a tendency in the life of the seminarian to feel they have “arrived” at a place historical, theological and biblical that the rest of the world has not been privileged. They have some special knowledge that others in the church have not been privy too. This mentality causes seminarians to ride the “high-horse”. You have just come out of seminary where you learned many wonderful and marvelous things about the kingdom of God and enter a church feeling like you are God’s gift to kingdom work.

Learned from personal experience, there must be a quick cure for this syndrome. The cure is true humility and sincerity. Be humble before the people. It may be true that you are the smartest one in the room, and perhaps you should be if you are shepherding this church, but don’t act like it. Abigail Adams gave practical advice to her husband John, “You don’t have to quote great men to show that you are one.” Be simple, be humble, be sincere, and be loving. The result will be a church that loves you and cares for you and will grow to thank the Lord for your biblical knowledge because they see their lives transformed by the exposition of the Scripture. A word of advice men, get off your “high-horse”.

2. Be Teachable
You think you have learned all there is to learn in seminary or bible college? Surprise, you have just started. Many lessons learned will be first hand and on the actual battle field. It is one thing to sit in class and talk about holding the hand of a dying saint, it is quite another to be at the bedside of a faithful member of your church, surrounded by their family holding tightly to their hand as they slip into eternal glory. The only way to learn hospital visitation is to do hospital visitation. (In fact, I am shocked at those in seminary who have never been in an actual hospital room or a funeral home.)  The only way to learn how to handle an unruly deacon is to handle an unruly deacon. Seminary is only the preparation ground and as wonderful as it is, it will never be the place where you learn the actual DOING of ministry.

Never neglect the white-haired ladies of your congregation because many of them can quote more Scripture than you. Never push aside the elderly men of your flock because they will be at the same church long after you are gone. Be teachable, moldable, and open. In order to bridge the gap between the seminary and the local church the seminarian must be teachable all the days of his ministry.

3. Be Willing to Do What You ask of Others
There is a tendency, upon entering the pastorate, to put “less important” ministry work upon someone else while you attend the “more important” matters. I will be the first to say that the pastors primary job is the exposition of Scripture, and the study and preaching thereof should come first and foremost before anything else. But being a good pastor is more than preaching; as hard as that is for us to swallow. The ministry aspect accompanies what is said in the pulpit. If you preach on visitation and never visit what example is that setting for your hearers? If you preach on evangelism but never evangelize what is that telling your people about the importance of the gospel? If you preach on picking up garbage in the street as an act of service but your people never see you with your sleeves rolled up in the garbage what is that telling your congregation about your idea of service? Your preaching can and will quickly become void if the people never see you live what you preach.

In order to bridge the gap between the seminary and the local church we have to crush the idea that we are mere ivory tower theologians and invigorate the fact that we are servants in the kingdom of Christ.

Bridging this great divide will not be easy. Many churches like to say they want a seminarian as a pastor but they really don’t if it comes with all the unnecessary baggage and haughtiness that we all tend to carry around. This will take hard work on our part as we descend the halls of knowledge into the pews of ministry.  Luke reminds us in Acts 20.28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

Filed under: Ministry, Pastors, The Church