By Peter Scaer

Our Lord called twelve apostles, and when they followed, they left behind fishing nets and tax collector booths. He continued to call some 70 disciples who left behind not only jobs, but families in order to pursue the Holy Ministry. The Twelve spent a full three years with the greatest teacher, setting a pattern for vigorous education.

Being at the seminary is the greatest of privileges, for every year a new group of men answers the call, leaves behind the lives they once knew, so that they might fulfill the Great Commission, which includes the call to teach all things whatsoever the Lord has commanded.

To be sure, the Book of Acts records great triumphs, the baptism of 3000 at the preaching of Peter at Pentecost. But remember that most of these 3000 had already heard the preaching of Jesus, many had witnessed his miracles. This is what our Lord meant when he had told his disciples that they would often reap that which they had not sowed. But then remember also the many times Paul would be rejected, where he would not multiply disciples, but add one or two, as the Lord would provide.

Do we need more ministers? Always. We pray that our Lord would send workers into his harvest. But so also do we heed Paul's words and our Lord's example not to be too hasty in the laying on of hands. Consider Paul's ministry and its effects. A great evangelist? No doubt. But he needed to be a great teacher. He made great headway among the Galatians, but soon began to lose them to those who claimed the necessity of circumcision. In Corinth, Paul's ministry was challenged by those who claimed to have a special measure of the Holy Spirit. Some things never change. Later there, Paul's ministry was undermined by super apostles. Charlatans arose everywhere Paul went, so also in the church today.

How successful was Paul? It's good to remember that as he neared death, he languished in jail, having been abandoned by most everybody, except for Luke, Timothy and Mark. The ministry is often a lonely way. Seed is scattered, and some have hard hearts, the faith of others is choked out by persecution, has roots that does not run deep enough. Look out at world, and see growing churches clamoring, working for seminaries. Tanzania grows, but knows its churches are challenged by the Pentecostals, but so also Islam. So they build seminaries, and wish to staff them with the best teachers they can find and equip. Siberia arises in a land shattered by the atheism of Communism. So what to they do? Establish a seminary, and get serious about training men. So also in the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, and all throughout the world.

Raise up ministries more quickly in context? Well, that's been the model for many a non-denom, but then for them, it's a church that mirrors the culture, but in ways that are not so good. Then consider homegrown heresies of the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses who found American soil as a land rich for deception. When men are ordained too quickly, they too often do not know what they do not know. They lean on concepts like leadership, relationship, and, of course, the power of the Spirit. When doctrines is downplayed, charisma becomes the determining factor and guiding force.

That's what CoWo worship is all about, setting a mood, a spiritual ambience. But then, let's not ask simply if the songs are false, but let's take time to discern how much of the truth they actually convey. What are your best songs about Lent, our Lord's Baptism, the Transfiguration, our Lord at Gethsemane? Do you sing about the Virgin Birth, the annunciation, the two natures of Christ, the Ten Commandments, Confession and Absolution, and the Lord's Supper? Say that you believe in the body and blood, but how does the way you treat the altar convey that truth? Those who don't believe in the real presence are almost always casual and "contemporary," but then, that makes sense for them, as their demeanor, their actions matches their belief, or in this case, unbelief.

Build quickly, we are told, but be mindful as to whether the materials are gold and silver, or simply hay and straw dressed up, particle board with a shiny coat of paint. We are living in an age of charlatans, in a world of deceivers. And in such a world, we need the best pastors we can possibly get, educating them in the most vigorous way. And if we are serious about discipleship, if it not just a business model, then we will foster a faith that does not wish to ape the the non-denoms, but will truly hunger for food more solid, will wish to learn to sing songs that are more lasting, will want to join in the chorus of great, great grandfathers in the faith.

But, if we truly do embrace these so-called new model of formation, we will end up with a generation of those who have no clue that they are clueless, a generation ripe for the devil's picking, sheep in the midst of wolves. No, the liturgy is not out of date, nor does the context of any ministry call for a worship style that looks, frankly, like just another big box down the street. We have better food to offer, a fuller truth to discover, a richer heritage that nourishes us still as we take our place in the communion of the saints throughout all ages.

So, yes, seminaries, faithful seminaries, now more than ever.