Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

You’ve been thinking of doing something new. You’ve talked it over with your wife, your pastors, your friends, and they all give you positive encouragement. But you’re still not sure. You keep wondering, “Should I go to the seminary?”

For some time you have been considering the possibility. Being in God’s House feels like home to you. Hearing the gospel preached and receiving the Holy Sacrament are central to your life.

You enjoy being active at church. People whose judgments you value are saying you’d make a good pastor. People respond well to you when you teach bible classes or do stuff for the youth group.

You love to study God’s Word. You look forward to going to Bible classes. You read books or websites and magazines in your spare time that pertain to religion, Christian theology, and church-related news. Further, you like to talk about what you learn. You enjoy being with other Christians who like to discuss their faith.

It may sound corny, but you have a love for people. It matters to you that there are people in your family and community that do not know Christ. When you hear missionaries talk about their experiences, you feel like packing up immediately and hopping aboard. It is exciting for you when your VBS has a terrific turnout. It is not unusual for friends to come to you for advice at all hours. You think little of giving more than you can afford to support your congregation.

But there are so many obstacles. You can’t see how you will pay for the humongous seminary tuition. Even though your family and your pastor tell you not to worry so much about it, you genuinely don’t think you’re cut out for the ministry. You worry how this will affect your wife and children. The last pastor you knew was treated badly by his congregation because he stood firm on a teaching of God’s Word and you don’t want to go through something like that. . . ever.

It’s a difficult and even painful deliberation. What to do? The bottom line is that you have a passion for the gospel and you have a passion for helping people. You should come to the seminary now and you know it. All the obstacles can be overcome. No one says it will be easy. Certainly, if you are not willing to suffer for Christ, you should not become a pastor. But as Amos the prophet wrote: The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken— who can but prophesy?