About six weeks ago, I went to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary to compete for scholarships. There were fourteen of us in the group of prospective students.
I was the only one who had a Bible with him.
After three days at Garrett, I no longer wondered why.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
John! I am doing my D.Min at Garrett Evangelical... and I keep my Bible on my PDA...! Seriously -- was it to liberal? to strange? or what?
Pen! I had no idea that you read my blog. Cool!
Well, Garrett courted me, and for that I felt very warm and fuzzy. They really want conservative voices on campus, and offered me a 75% scholarship. For a variety of reasons, mostly location issues, I chose Asbury/Orlando with 0% scholarship offer.
When I heard that Garrett was a traditionally liberal Methodist seminary, I was thinking about issues like ordaining homosexuals and whatnot. But I heard many students espouse universal salvation and pantheism. It was shocking! Reasonable Christians can disagree on doctrinal issues like homosexuality or election, but monotheism is an absolutely core issue -- non-negotiable under any circumstances for a Christian seminary.
Anyway, the scholarship was very tempting, but the need to be here, in my own conference during the candidacy process became critical, as well as the difficulty of finding a job for my wife when relocating.
I am sad to hear that. I am only in the middle of my first year as a Doctor of Ministry student in Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy. All told I will only be on campus about 12 weeks -- with my clinical hours being done here at a Samaritan Center in Texas.
Being from Duke -- where I got my M.DIv -- I find it a little sad that Garrett is allowing heresey in its students. Seems there should be a line drawn somewhere.
Peace-Pen
John,
Although I don't consider myself a pantheist or universalist, I do believe that Christ's saving grace works in a broader and less legalistic fashion than conservatives might be willing to accept. For that reason, some might consider me a heretic. I believe that one must have been offered a genuine or authentic encounter with Christ before one is condemned. I believe God takes into account the opportunities we have been afforded and life circumstances that may have limited our ability to comprehend who Jesus is and what he does.
It pains me to admit it, but Joel has an argument to make here. Reading Romans might lead one to conclude that those who had never encountered the Christian faith might have an out.
But I don't think that Scripture would at all support the case that those who explicitly reject the Christian faith have any chance of salvation.
I don't mind Joel's comments on this because he correctly identifies Christ as the one at the heart of salation. I can hardly disagree with that. It is one thing to see the attonement as universally offered and universally encountered. It is quite another to buy into universal acceptance. The Bible is pretty clear than many will not yield not Christ no matter what.
So far as Garrett, well, just be thankful for Asbury. Though I do highly suggest doing at least one semester in Wilmore so you can get take Jerry Walls and Sandra Richter. They will both force you to think more deeply than you ever have before. I can't recommend them highly enough, even at a seminary with as many great profs as ATS.
Post a Comment