I am currently in a seminary school to become a minister,?

Question

However I dont know if this is what I want to do, I have this feeling over and over that I should do something else. Plus when you become a minister you get put into this fish bowl and everyone watches what you do? Any advice?

Answer 1

this is not a decision for you to make on your own & not one to be decided upon by your friends.

did God speak to you??
if you have not heard God's voice, you may want to continue to serioiusly pray for HIs will in your life.

do you hunger for God more than life itself??
it is a huge responsibility to be a pastor... you are responsible for many souls & you will be held to a higher accountability yourself.

you say that you have a recurring feeling that you should do something else.
maybe God is trying to reveal something to you.... i don't necessarily mean another occupation.

continue to seek God ... He will show you the way.

Answer 2

Josh, First let us deal with Seminary in General. Even if you had no real knowledge of the Bible, but felt the call to minister we believe God will equip you. It is a shame and a sham to say that you need formal teaching to do the will of God. Now having said that I believe some schooling can help you focus your thoughts and make you a better minister. If you do not wish to have a full four year degree and seminary will aid you go for it, but I have seen Seminary students go in full of God and come out robots spitting out dogma and using Greek and Latin too much thinking it will give them authority.

Now let us discuss your statement as it gives me trouble. You seem to indicate you are unsure of yourself. Going to school and wasting money is a bad way to "discover" yourself. I do not hold this for regular school as all knowledge can be beneficial and you can take general classes and get out fairly cheap and still come away with some useful knowledge.

You need to search yourself and figure out if the Ministry is right for you. You worry about being in a glass bowl waa! What about the people you are to Shepard? They do not need a whinny unsure minister. I suggest you fast and pray. Get friends and family to do this with you and if you feel serious do what I call an "Ester Fast." That is no food or water for three days. I believe it was only uses twice in the Bible, but I cannot remember the second time. Perhaps David when he hoped to stay God's hand against his illegitimate son. Good luck.

Answer 3

You should want to do what God is calling you to do because He made you for his purposes. So is God calling you to become a minister? If so then heed the calling. Your feelings could very well arise from deceiving and discouraging spirits who are trying to hinder God's work in and through your life.

The Devil is a liar and he always tries to discourage God's children by lying to them and telling them that what God asks of them is too hard and that they won't be able to make it and they will be miserable.

As a human you have no way of knowing what your future holds. If you become a minister God could have you serving in a place and in a capacity that you haven't even considered or known about.

My advice to you would be to stay the course and learn as much as you can while remembering that even in seminary school you have to be like the Bereans that Luke commends in Acts 17 and check everything you are taught to what the Bible actually says. I don't know what school you are going to but I've heard of young men who had a heart for God upon entering seminary and who by the time they left had their faith eroded and wreaked because they went to a school that put scientific suppositions and the wisdom of men above the revealed truth of God.

As to getting put in a fish bowl, most every preacher goes through that trial and if they don't then most likely they are proud and God will humble them when they get into the pulpit. God allows this to happen because He wants his servants to be humble and to confess that on their own they can't do God's will and to seek Him in prayer and trust Him to be their source of strength and wisdom and courage.

Answer 4

Josh, this is too important for you to be given the flip responses that, alas, are commonplace here, especially among teenagers. Surely, there is a 'mentor' or a professor or a minister who would sit down with you quietly and hear your doubts and not 'judge' or rush to judgment. Speak with your parents, with a favorite uncle, with a brother or sister. Some great human beings have emerged from a seminary and done great, great things. Consider Martin Luther King, Jr., for one. The time to decide is now--speak to as many people that you respect as you can. Be honest, it is your life, and your life is important. I am not religious, I am an atheist, but, believe me, I am 100% on your side in this quest, in this journey. Be well.

Answer 5

The best would be to take some time off from school, and if possible inform your teachers of why you are taking time off. After all if you do decide this is not for you, you will definetely be telling them the true reason, so why not indicate it now.

Regarding being put into a "fish bowl", do you mean everyone will be judging you to a higher standard? Well it is only logical in that kind of profession. But this is also expected from many other professions.

Answer 6

So,....like how did U get to where Ur at now??? Born into it??? Pressured by Family??? Gun held to head??? How far along are U in Ur course of study??? If I were U, I'd worry More about God, than what anyone else thinks!!! What are U in Seminary for, "Glory, Fame, $$$, Crystal Cathedral" or Service to God??? There are Many "Paths of Service" to God, that one can "Trod" throughout Life. I, for example, am Disabled & spend my time Studying & Providing Answers for people here, which is a kind of "Computer Ministry" if U will. What God wants is a "Willing Heart" eager to share God with the rest of the "Lost World". So "Formal Education" is Very Good, but God said He will give "Wisdom" to any who asks. A "Formal Education" if un-used is of No Value to anyone!!! Make Sure U are "Right with God" and let Him Direct Ur Life. John

Answer 7

Is there an objective person you can talk to about this? I don't really know you, so I feel funny giving you advice. However, if you are having doubts then perhaps you should get out. Only you can know what you want. Are you at a point where you can take a year off to decide? If you are, maybe you should. I do agree with you about the fishbowl part. I have a friend who used to be a minister and the fishbowl thing was part of the reason she stopped. The people she served were so judgmental it wasn't even funny. The ministry is a very rigorous profession. If you are having doubts, then you should probably follow your heart and do what you feel is the best for you.

Answer 8

First you must answer the question of why you are there. Are you there to meet someone else's expectations or your own. If you are there to please someone else (spouse, parents, etc.) then you are in the wrong place.

However, if you felt called by the Lord to serve Him, then you should stay. It is a challenging job that you have been asked to do. The Lord doesn't choose just anybody. He obviously thinks you have the characteristics and fortitude to be able to do His work in today's society. That is not an easy job.

Continue to pray about it. God will answer you ~ in HIS own time. Remember that little voice you hear telling you about the doubts, probably isn't God talking to you. It could really be Satan trying to turn you away from God.

Only you can decide what you need to do. When in doubt, get on your knees and pray. Continue to talk to God and pray to Him about what He wants you to do. He will tell you and He will never lead you astray. That you can count on.

Good Luck and May God continue to Bless You!

Answer 9

I went to one of those cemetery schools for a while too. I would go with your gut feeling -- it is closer to faith then most people ever get.

Are you there for what you want? What you think you ought to do? Or because you don't know what to do? Do you think you are going to be doing God a service?

Before you get the idea that what you are doing is important check out some truth about ministers and other church prelates. If you see yourself being watched; then you believe there are religious orders set in authority at higher standards then others. That in itself is demonic delusion.

When it comes to church "positions" check out the following: It will save you many wasted years in the cemetery of your choice. And, if you are ever converted, you might still be able to serve other brothers and sisters.

http://www.ptmin.org/straight.pdf

Answer 10

Hi Josh,
Is it nerves maybe of being in the Fish Bowl? I know people expect a minister to be above reproach. And that is kind of scary because we all fall short of something sometimes.

The best advice I can give you is to search your heart about it. Pray about it and you will find your answer. Maybe God does have a different plan for you....... But again you may be just where He wants you!

Answer 11

Consider getting a real job. It seems to me that there are very few ministers who have the credibility to tell other people how to live their lives.

And from a practical point of view there are a way too many well intentioned ministers who can't make a living.