Bankrupt Theology
A Call To The American Seminary
Recently one of America's oldest seminaries made somewhat of a stir in the internet headlines by tweeting a photo and post from a chapel service. Now, one would assume that in an ever increasing Post-Christian world that a Christian seminary posting anything from their chapel service should be more than enough to warrant a response from a culture such as ours. However, the stir from the post has not come from those "without" as it were, but from those who have serious cause for concern from within.
The concerns rise from the seminary calling for and allowing students to confess their sins against the planet to plants in chapel. A spokesman for the seminary said in the original tweet: "Today in chapel, we confessed to plants. Together, we held our grief, joy, regret, hope, guilt and sorrow in prayer; offering them to the beings who sustain us but whose gift we too often fail to honor." The call to confession comes from the ongoing discussion of climate change and the human impact on our planet and its climate. After many responded with outrage and confusion to the original post, the school responded with further explanation saying: "In worship, our community confessed the harm we've done to plants, speaking directly in repentance. This is a beautiful ritual."
Later in the statement, the spokesman stated that our climate crisis demands a new approach and that part of the approach demands that we "unlearn the habits of sin and death" to build a new bridge to the natural world. These are the lessons that are being taught from one our of countries oldest seminaries. In fact, in 1893 it became the nation's first independent seminary when it split from the Presbyterian Church after disagreements over the inspiration of the Bible, among other things.
German Pastor and Nazi Dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer was once a teacher at this once prestigious seminary and saw the patterns emerging even then that we now see in full effect today. He often spoke of the rampant liberalism and apathy of the students and professors. Once he said that the students: "openly [laughed]" at a lecture on sin and forgiveness, and accused the seminary of having "forgotten what Christian theology in its very essence stands for." As we read these words from history, we see their relevancy once again played out in the halls of this institution, and many places like it day after day. The sad reality is many have turned aside to other teachings and have refused to stand for truth. This should not come as a surprise to us. We've been warned this would happen.
2 Timothy 3:1 - "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty."
There are many passages we could use here, but these in 2 Timothy may be most fitting. The Apostle Paul begins to warn this young pastor that there are days ahead when Doctrinal Difficulty will come. Here in chapter 3 it will be manifest in many ways: lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unapeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. All of these are heart matters. All of these issues stem from the lostness of the soul. The answer is the Gospel of Christ - Faith in Him! We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Paul continues by pointing out that they deny truth at every turn and immediately charges Timothy with the foundation and means for all truth: "You however...continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed...All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (3:10-16)
Timothy faces the spiritual and moral decay of his day with the ultimate authority of the word of God. But he also stands accountable to the charge from the word of God. Paul's warns Timothy that there will be a turning away from truth. It is not a matter of if it will happen, but when. For us, we are beyond the when and are reaping the fruit of generations who have long since turned away. Paul's warning to Timothy has become a reality and now we must give careful attention to his admonishing of the young preacher as we now face the whirlwind. "You however" falls on us, in the midst of this doctrinal difficulty and decay, to stand for what is true regardless of what others may do. Paul warns Timothy that many will turn away and will resist the truth, so he must stand with the truth and proclaim it all the more. It is that which he learned and has firmly believed that has laid for him the foundation for all truth in the midst of this bankrupt theology. He is called back to this truth - the word of God which is God-breathed and profitable to do the work that must be done. All the issues that the Timothy will face can be dealt with by the Spirit of God working through the word of God. Paul affirms nothing in Timothy to address or even asses the issues of those who have fallen away. Nothing. He has no leadership qualities that are up to the task of setting the people straight. But the Word is able to do the work.
2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the Word..."
As we consider the role of a seminary in the preparation of men and women in the ministry, it can easily become lost in the details of all we "must" do. There are many institutions in our country who are and have been faithful to their purpose and call to the preparation of students to both the gospel call, and specific roles of ministry over the years. Covington is blessed to have many students and professors who have learned and earned degrees from these seminaries before coming here. There has been a great resurgence in the last two decades among evangelical seminaries for fresh and focused teaching and curriculum that seeks to prepare students biblically and glorify Christ supremely. We cannot neglect this reality in light of news such as this I have mentioned above. However, this trend is not isolated or new to our circle of theological institutions and warrants our attention and demands a resolution of our beliefs. As we engage and recruit students for a biblical education, we offer them a range of options in degrees, classes, schedules, methods of learning, and all sorts of experiences to fit their needs as a student. We want to reach them where they are, and enable them to learn at their pace without feeling like they have to uproot their lives to earn their degree. We have prayed over curriculum and professors and worked hard to ensure that what we are offering is a benefit to those who come here to learn. We constantly evaluate our resources and ask how we can improve to reach more students and seek to make the experience better for those who attend. We even work to make our Facebook more valuable and attractive so more folks will click and share. (By the way, feel free to share...) We desire to do all these things and more, and do them well for the glory of God.
But in the end, none of this describes the role of the seminary.
Our role is simple. We have acknowledged the God-breathed Word will make us "complete, equipped for every good work" and so we must proclaim that Word. In every class, from every text, in every context, proclaim the Word. It is the most precious resource we can give our professors. It is the most beneficial lesson we give our student body. It is the greatest authority by which we can send out our graduates. It is the foundation by which we are formed and by which we will stand for generations to come. It doesn' matter the opinions that are shared around us, it only matters what God has said in His Word. It doesn't matter what the culture may dictate about the subject, it only matters what God has establish about all things. When Paul tells Timothy that they will not "endure sound teaching" the answer is to preach the Word. When the warning of itching ears and greedy natures abound, the answer is to preach the Word. When they turn away and run to myths and fables, preach the Word. Our call in the midst of all the crookedness, is to "fulfill your ministry" and preach the Word.
Because of Christ - Tracy Trivette
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