Modern Leaven: Cemeteries (Seminaries)

From called to corpse

God is taking away the wisdom and understanding of our men, especially our spiritual leaders. We profess with our lips to be serving God, but refuse to submit to His words in our heart; prioritizing the instruction of men instead.

One way He is achieving this is through Bible colleges and seminaries, where we believe our preachers and missionaries must go before they can preach the Gospel and nurture disciples for Christ. Though these now wicked organizations have attempted to bear this responsibility, God only entrusted this with the local church. Those who say you must attend a seminary are adding to God's words.

By this point, many are probably thinking that I am some conspiracy theorist and that God would never do such a thing. God certainly sent false teachers in the past: read I Kings 22 and II Chronicles 18. There were also instances of false prophets, whom God did not call, spreading lies to pacify the people: as seen in most of Jeremiah.

This isn't some conspiracy theory—just look at the results of these schools. Most preachers in America are seminary-educated, yet are speaking empty, lifeless words to their flocks. How is it that we Americans have more Bible colleges and seminaries than any nation in history, yet we have a Biblically illiterate populace, even among professing Christians? This isn't a coincidence.

If you still don't believe me, go search for "free seminary video lectures" online and watch or listen to some of their courses for yourself. Part of the inspiration for creating this website was that I originally listened to many of these courses to learn about the Bible and preaching, but was sorely distressed and sometimes disgusted by how erroneous they were.

When these schools proclaim that Moses wasn't the human author of the Pentateuch,¹ the King James Bible is corrupt, and the teachings of rabbis are to be deferred to, it's no wonder why America's pulpits are filled with spineless academics who have led their congregations headlong into the judgement of God.

Rejecting God's Words

Perhaps the core reason why these schools are propagating such mass lethargy and doubt in God's power stems from a wrong understanding of what the Bible is ("Bibliology" for you scholar types). It is taught that the "meaning" or "general idea" of the Bible matters more than the words themselves. This sounds innocent at first; surely the meaning is important. However, the meaning originates from the words: the words must take precedence, so that the true meaning may be extracted from the words.

When the "idea" of the Bible is prioritized over the actual words, the language may sound familiar and Christian, but it results in hidden meanings where many heresies will be taught. There's a reason God gave us a book and emphasized the words in the book, rather than the gist of it.²

For instance, notice how many contemporary churches emphasize the word "relationship" in their preaching now. "It's all about a relationship with God," they'll say. This sounds so pure to our excessively feminized culture that claims to value love, connections, and feelings, yet is becoming more selfish, disconnected, and apathetic every day. However, ask some of these pastors what they mean by this "relationship," and you'll probably hear more nebulous nonsense (that will leave you more confused) or even discover that they're actually preaching works-salvation or Lordship salvation. Heresies like these have existed since Judaizers first invaded the local churches that the apostles founded. They are greatly condemned by God as much now as they were in Galatia in the first century.

These schools do not have a very high view of the Bible and will say things like, "It contains the Word of God," or, "It's inerrant: but only in the original manuscripts," (which no one alive has seen) rather than stating that it is the very words of God Himself, preserved by God, for God's people!³ With this notion, it is taught that either you must learn the original (dead) languages, or that any English translation is basically good and communicates the meaning; just be sure to stay away from the King James.

They place "the Greek" text (by which they mean the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament) above the English text at all times. Instead of explaining a language you do know, they pretend to explain a dead language that neither you nor they understand. They get in the pulpit and undermine the Bible, saying, "In the Greek, this words means…" or, "This word would be better translated as…," but then proceed to substitute a word or three in English; often the complete opposite of what is staring you plain in the face on the pages of your English Bible.

You don't need to know the original languages to understand the Bible—those preachers certainly don't know them! Go ahead, ask one of these Greek "scholars" to translate directly from their beloved Greek text to you, in English; without any aids. They won't be able to do it, because they don't actually know the language. Instead, they rely on lexicons, which are essentially English dictionaries of Biblical Greek words. These are what are consistently used as "authorities" for translating the text. Try to learn a foreign language by using a dictionary for that language in English and let me know when the native speakers laugh uncontrollably when you try to communicate to them.

God says that the main prerequisite to understand the Bible is the Holy Ghost, not knowledge of a dead language.

The other repulsive doctrine they teach is that multiple English translations should be consulted—except for the dreaded King James! Why? Because they usually want to teach their "idea" that's in line with a man-made tradition. The King James contradicts their precious denomination's pet doctrines, so they wittingly place the traditions of men above God's Word.

They usually attend a college that exclusively teaches their denomination's tradition, instead of seeking God directly in His Word. They don't learn how to interpret the Bible at these schools, but they learn an interpretation of the Bible; thus replacing a true fear of God with the precepts of men.

Sins of Seminarians

Look at the leadership of these seminaries and you'll quickly find the influence of Judaism among their faculty, who are educated in the doctrines of the Pharisees and have received degrees in Jewish studies. These schools also have entire programs for Jewish studies themselves.

These professors emphasize the teachings of Judaism, as if modern Judaism is simply a continuation of Old Testament worship. They'll say, "In order to understand what this passage means, you need to understand the culture (by which they mean the religion) of the Jews." They'll quote Second Temple literature to "enlighten" you with what the people who rejected and crucified our Lord believed, as if that's more important than what the New Testament expressly teaches.

The Talmud, the greatest compilation of the beliefs of those who thrived in the Second Temple period, is the main text for Judaism. It is the written record of the oral tradition of the Pharisees, which Jesus expressly denounced. Whenever you see the Bible speak of the "tradition of the elders," or similar, the Mishnah and the Talmud are what this became.

Now, American churches see Jewish traditions as a long-lost and superior commentary on the Bible and say that Christianity is a sect of Judaism. These are impudent and dangerous lies.

This is literally giving heed to Jewish fables! Texts like the Talmud, Midrash, etc. and the interpretations of "Hebrew scholars" (Talmudists) are not an authority for interpreting the Scriptures.

It has gotten to the point where churches in America are performing the Seder, which is a fancy word to mask what they're really doing: blaspheming the work of Christ on the cross by performing a Passover sacrifice; trampling upon the blood of our Savior.⁴

One of the most striking characteristics of modern seminary-educated preachers is their effeminacy. Go ahead and ask a pastor what the meaning of "effeminate" in I Corinthians 6:9 is (in the King James, since the modern translators didn't like that word for some reason…) and you'll find him quickly substitute that word to anything other than effeminate.

In case you don't know what the word means, here's a definition from Webster's 1828:

1. Having the qualities of the female sex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; tender; womanish; voluptuous.
"The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate and less sensible of honor."

I know many preachers won't believe this definition of the word, so here's a definition from the Oxford English Dictionary as well:

1. Of persons: That has become like a woman: a. Womanish, unmanly, enervated, feeble; self-indulgent, voluptuous; unbecomingly delicate or over-refined.

We have more Bible colleges and seminaries in America now than ever before, yet our preachers, and thus the Christians of our nation, are growing weaker. This has led to the vanishing of churches at a rapid rate.

These schools are producing scholarly, weak, uninspiring "preachers" that bore their congregations with 25-minute sermonettes packed full of fluff, "historical background," and a weak, effeminate portrayal of God. The result is a lazy and unfruitful congregation, eventually leading to no church at all. The "historical context" isn't what we need to understand the Old Testament: the New Testament tells us how to interpret the Old.

Men attend these institutions to learn how to lead a church and preach, but end up learning skills better suited for running a business and how to teach a bloodless, false gospel. They worship the gods of education and knowledge and should be properly branded as idolaters, not men of God. These schools require several years for the young man seeking a degree to complete, destroying his spirit; when he should be getting "on-the-job" training, by preaching at a local church, while he still has testosterone left.

Many professors at these schools are simply bookworms who haven't pastored a congregation. How can someone who doesn't have any experience feeding a flock possibly teach others how to do this?

Bible colleges and seminaries, especially those backed by denominations, are little more than job networks. After all, they view churches as businesses! Greed is why most churches in America are incorporated, 501(c)(3) institutions: they value the money they can bring in with this tax-exempt status more than obeying God's commands for the local church. Instead of submitting to the headship of our Lord Jesus Christ, they willingly surrender His churches to the authority of the State; rendering unto Caesar what is rightfully God's.

Nowadays, most pastors aren't called by God and are just intellectuals masquerading as preachers. Being an overseer isn't an intellectual exercise though, so they should stop lying about their call to preach and get out of the pulpit.

They view this duty as a "job" to retire from some day—after they've collected enough money from their congregations to fill their retirement accounts. Most pastors now are wealthier than the average congregant. Where are the days of God's men living in low estate, relying by faith in God for their provisions?

Oh, how we are falling back into the Dark Ages of the Romish empire! We have brought back a scholastic class, where the Bible has been taken away from the congregation and replaced with a new form of humanism. The old adage, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs," may soon be said again by these wolves in sheep's clothing.

Most congregants unfortunately have been taken by this deception, and value secular qualifications more than God's qualifications. They believe that the local church's calling of the preacher is the only call needed—taking God out of the picture. These seminaries do not qualify pastoral candidates from the requirements clearly given in Scripture—many churches don't even qualify pastors this way.⁵

Is All Lost?

This problem has been going on for many years in America, but we have refused to hear the warnings about it given by God's men preached over 40 years ago.⁶ Instead, we Americans have been too busy worshipping the nation, our screens, and mammon to realize how dire these warnings really were.

So, what are we to do? There may be some good Bible schools out there, but the vast majority are actively harming the nation and will only get worse.

At the very least, we should immediately stop valuing and recommending Bible colleges and seminaries as institutions to learn the Bible and preaching from. This responsibility lies squarely within the jurisdiction of the local church and their pastor.⁷

To the few, truly God-called preachers who have perpetrated these heresies: repent of your sins and submit to the authority of God and His Holy Word!

Congregations: repent, pray, and read your King James Bible every day! Secularism has invaded the churches and the people think the problem is the liberal sinners outside. Submit to God's Word: the great commission is the charge for the church to go forth and make disciples for Christ.

Young men interested in learning about the Bible and preaching: study the Bible. Find a local church that places an emphasis on discipleship and visit the Library on this website for free resources to aid in your study.

We must humble ourselves, ask forgiveness for the sins of pride and greed that we have encouraged and rewarded, and pray for God to send men who will preach His Word, for His glory; without compromise.

Pray for our men, that they would turn from the wickedness they have embraced, rely on God, and fulfill their obligations as men.

A man unwilling to perform his duty for his posterity is effeminate and void of honor. His laziness will sink further into apathy while these schools train mindless puppets who are delivering his descendants into slavery.