How to Stay Christian in Seminary

by David Mathis, Jonathan Parnell, John Piper (Foreword)

Seminary is dangerous. Really dangerous. The hard truth is that many seminarians enter pastoral ministry feeling drained, disillusioned, and dissatisfied. But the problem isn’t with the faculty or the material. Rather, the most perilous danger to the soul of the pastor-in-training is the sin residing deep within his own heart. Drawing on their years of pastoral ministry and seminary experience, David Mathis and Jonathan Parnell take a refreshingly honest look at this oft-neglected—yet all too common—experience, offering real-world advice for students eager to survive seminary with their faith intact. In seven short but challenging chapters, the authors remind readers of the foundational role of the gospel in the life of ministry, equipping them with the keys to grow in their faith while making the most of their education.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Theology

82 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2014

About the author

David Mathis (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando) is executive editor at desiringGod.org and an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. His seminary experience includes Reformed Theological Seminary and Bethlehem College & Seminary, where he now serves as adjunct professor.

Reviews

[Ryan Linkous · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two-stars may give the perception this is a bad book. It is not a bad book, just not a great one. Here are my thoughts and summary.

Mathis and Parnell share their wisdom on important ways to remain spiritual vital throughout seminary, mainly: focus on Christ and the gospel, don't forget your need of the gospel, make sure to pray and read the Bible for devotion, and be a good husband. Many ideas are drawn from classic works such as "The Religious Life of Theological Students" (B.B. Warfield), A Little Exercise for Young Theologians (Helmut Thielicke), and "Learning at Jesus Feet: A Case for Seminary Training" (John Frame). It handles more about the seminarians heart than pragmatic matters. You can read this book in an hour or less.

I think the book does a few things well:
1. It reminds the seminarian that their time studying is for Christ. If they leave seminary less concerned about Christ and not treasuring him, then they've tragically missed the point. This is really important which makes me glad the book was written.
2. Every seminarian knows that things feel dry from time to time and most seminarians know the temptation to drift into an academic superiority complex. You know more, therefore a) no one should refute you and everyone should listen to you and b) spirituality is less important in some areas, risking coldness and failure to allow your studies fuel your faith and devotion. The solution: make sure you pray. Without prayer, seminary is likely to be fruitless. Prayer keeps one humble. Prayer is warfare against demons and beckons the work of God in your life and in the word, while simultaneously being a platform for worshiping God. (that's my version at least)
3. They have an excellent list of things a seminarian can pray for his wife.

My critiques are as follows:
1. The book doesn't say anything new. It's main difference is that it infuses John Piper-esque (Piperian?) language with wisdom and ideas that are pretty general (thought nevertheless important). I believe new seminarians would be better served reading on the tracts by Warfield, Thielicke, or Frame (listed above) who have some more novel things to say.
2. A few opportunites this book misses out on are opportunities to talk about 1) technology and the seminarian, 2) the important of the seminarian to do physical exercise, and 3) to take a break from theology to enjoy other things in order to help your studies be more palatable and enjoyable.
3. The book reads like a bunch of blog posts, which limits the depth they can apply to each chapter. They are also writing to seminarians they know have little time to read extracurricular books, so that's ok.

I wouldn't recommend this book, not because it is bad, but because you can read better things. Check out the resources listed about by Warfield or Frame. Thankfully, those are similar in length (Frame might be shorter), but likely more helpful and insightful.

[Kaitlyn Pindak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book was very encouraging in how to continue to keep perspective, specifically in seminary, but in general of any/all things: knowing and loving and glorifying Christ is the goal!!!

[Collin Scribner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goes straight to the heart of seminary studies and preaches from every page. Should be required reading for every seminary student!

[Scott Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have been very useful either during seminary orientation or the first month of classes. Why no-one recommended it or the texts that it draws from, I do not know. While I am thankful to have stumbled upon the much shorter and better essays such as B. B. Warfield’s word to theological students, I found this book to be an effective “modernized” rendition of the old. If the Lord gives me an opportunity to mentor or befriend future generations of theological students, I will be sure to recommend this short read.

[Samuel Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough, practical preparation, not shying away from the difficulties and trials of ministry life.
It is very focused on those going into ministry ‘careers’ after their studies, however as I was aware of this from the outset, I didn’t find the book title misleading.
Brilliant stuff, with some vulnerable honesty from Piper about the pain and suffering involved in the pastorate. A very worthwhile read for any prospective theology/ministry student.

[Chase Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly would have loved it if the book was longer, part of the purpose for its shortness is that it’s meant for the seminary student to pick up and not have to add it to the list of their books for classes. In the book they recommend B.B. Warfields letters to theology students and I found this as a great resource and recommend everyone to read it regardless if you are in seminary or not.

[Anthony Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read this for seminary class, i was bored so i actually read it, and i'm glad i did. It is a good reminder to always keep Jesus in the center and to focus on him devotionally, especially in academic work. The kingdom and covenants matter, but the king and the mediator matter more. Keep Jesus central.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Seminary is dangerous.” | “Staying Christian in seminary is about staying Christian in general.”

Should be required reading for anyone who is accepted into seminary. Reading this at the end of my seminary journey rather than the beginning, I can attest that you will see & hear a lot of un-Christian things. Keep Jesus at the center, seekers of the Word, and everything will be all right!

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and refreshing little book to read. It focuses in on personal piety and why it should shape your studies. In that regard it was a good book. I appreciated the chapter on prayer the most.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this was better than I thought it’d be. An encouraging little book exhorting the reader to do all of life devotionally and with the aim to enjoy Christ! Helpful for anyone and definitely recommend to those in seminary or full time ministry especially.

[Drew Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone in seminary or going to attend it.

[Emily Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and Jesus centered

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful and (mercifully) short book for seminarians feeling the struggle to maintain regular Christian practices while in the fervor of seminary studies. Each chapter is short but brimming with encouragements and applications. (The chapter about being a faithful husband and father was particularly moving for me.) Highly recommended for current seminary students and anyone planning to start soon!

[Katelyn McGuffin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title is a misnomer. Instead it should be titled "How to stay a Conservative Evangelical Complementarian Father in Seminary." This book is not written for me, even though I am a seminary student, because I am a woman. It did not take me until chapter 6, which is titled "Be a Real Husband and Dad" to notice, either. That entire chapter is demeaning to read as a wife, who is in seminary alongside her husband. Instead of "husband" the entire chapter could have been about "spouses" and "parents," but instead the authors chose to exclusively glorify husbands and fathers. This book is written to seminarians who are married complementarian fathers.

This book is not written for single seminarians, women seminarians, or even wives of seminary students, seminary students whose husbands are not in seminary, or to non-parents. I had to mentally insert "woman" and "spouse" for every time it said "man" and "husband" to make it even close to relevant to me. In general, it's just not a very helpful text. It has some good prayer suggestions, but there are plenty of books about prayer than are better than trudging through this one, especially as a woman seminarian. This book is not worth the time or money. Instead, to all, I highly recommend "Surviving and Thriving in Seminary: An Academic Spiritual Handbook" by Daniel Zacharias & Benjamin Forrest. Zacharias's text is inclusive of ALL seminary students out there, including women, single seminarians, and those who don't have kids.

My copy of "How to Stay Christian in Seminary" was a gift by a dear friend and mentor who fairly assumed that the title meant this was applicable to me as a seminary student. The Gospel Coalition should STOP writing books that are deceptively marketed to "all seminary students" and instead have a disclaimer that they are written for men ONLY. Otherwise, please stop attempting to market this book as if it is relevant to any other kind of seminary student.

[Brenden Wentworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a joy to read every year while in bible college

A sobering and concise reminder to pastors & pastors in training to not “academize” the faith, lest you lose the devotion and zeal that called you to train in the first place

[Philip Mcduffie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It had a great deal of practical application in it that was completely Gospel centered.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way to stay Christian in seminary is the same way you stay a Christian in life, by fixing your eyes on Jesus and staying a Christian every day.

[Alex Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

1: A Gospel-centered, Jesus-saturated, principled and practical exhortation for this incoming seminarian. (7/2/2021)

2: Read before seminary (again 😄). (8/21/2021)

[Eric Michel · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are some truths in this book, but the authors have missed the mark and I understand that they couldn't give the true answer because it would invalidate most of their life's work. That, I understand.

Truly, the answer is to IMMEDIATELY LEAVE SEMINARY. 100% of seminaries and 99% of Bible colleges and institutes are designed to indoctrinate the student into the science of textual and biblical criticism. They teach the students to "go to the greek" and that there are errors in the King James Bible. There are not. There are errors in the thinking of the corrupt schools where the only final authority is the teacher's mind. There is no difference between the final authorities of any seminary and any liberal state college. No wonder so many students lose their faith in both institutions.

The book provides a great example of the folly of a seminary education. The authors state that in John 5, Jesus is rebuking a bunch of people who were reading the scriptures but they were thinking about themselves. And so, they think, Jesus rebukes them by saying "you search the scriptures...." This is most certainly NOT what is happening in the chapter. The Jews had exalted tradition over the reading of the Scriptures and Christ is commanding them to "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES". Don't go to "the greek" either translation is acceptable in the Greek. The Jews weren't searching and Christ is commanding them to do so. Nothing in the context is about "how" to search.... Seminary taught them nothing.

My advice, get a King James. Believe it. Find a King James only, dispensational church. And you'll learn more in a year than in 10 in seminary. And you won't lose your faith.

Your choice.

[Peter Severian · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Stay Christian in Seminary is a book focused for a particular audience: well, those entering seminary. It is a very short book aimed at ensuring that students' intellection growth doesn't disproportionally exceed their spiritual growth.

The book starts out strong, guiding new students to craft personal mission statements for their years in seminary. And there are many good points of advice in the chapters that follow, ranging from the idea of making your studies devotional, finding Christ in all your studies, and making both prayer and personal reading of Scripture regular habits.

I found the chapters to be at sometimes random. For example, there was a specific chapter about being a husband and father in seminary. This actually applied directly to me, but my guess is that it has less direct application to most readers. I found a lot of the advice to be personal anecdotes and thoughts rather than a cohesive whole meant to guide the reader in a central idea. However, don't let that take away from the book's value. There are many great thoughts for students to consider and look at implementing as they create a final mission statement that they intend to live by in their seminary years.

Overall, this is a very easy read and the thoughts are critical for new students to think through and apply if they are studying for ministry.

[Tyler Velin · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want seminarians to read your book, chum the water with names like Warfield, Frame, Carson, Flavel, Calvin and Vanhoozer. “How to Stay Christian in Seminary” by David Mathis and Jonathan Parnell draw you in with the footnotes seminarians love, but behind the veil of scholasticism lies a deeply practical and necessary message. I loved everything that was written in this book, it made my heart sing. But I was also disappointed in one huge gap I believe the authors left when it comes to “staying Christian in seminary.” (This omission is what knocks this book from 4 stars to 3)

When I saw the book was up for review, I lunged at the opportunity. I am a pastor, who is in seminary, who has a wife, and a growing family, and I really would like to stay Christian. In fact I would love to stay Christian in seminary. Mathis and Parnell go to great lengths in such a short book to present a picture of God which is attractive, demanding, and captivating.

Seminary is not a place where one should go to put God under a microscope. It is not a place where we attempt to enlarge and enhance aspects of a small God. Seminary is a place where we get the privilege and the challenge of viewing God through a telescope. We have a God who is beyond our comprehension and grasp, and those in seminary get the privilege of diving in and attempting to better understand the nature of this big God in small, yet transformative ways. Parnell quotes Edwards saying, “God glorifies himself in communicating himself, and he communicates himself in glorifying himself.” Seminarians are left tumbling in observation and worship. For the authors, the study of God is innately devotional and must be worship stirring. This is something I must constantly remind myself of as I can easily narrow my view to mere “study.” My study should always lead to worship, if it doesn’t, I’m not studying the God of the Bible.

This idea of seminary as worship stirring is a necessary message. Mathis and Parnell avoid the blame game, and cut straight to the heart of the “seminary as cemetery” argument: “But even the best of the evangelical, confessional seminaries can be spiritually dangerous places, not mainly because of the administrators at the top or the teachers at the front, but because of the sinners in the seats.” It is a sin to gaze into the throne room and not be stirred to worship. In true “Piperinian” fashion (Piper also wrote the forward for the book), the key to staying Christian in seminary is to provide an anchor amid the studying: “that Jesus must be tasted and treasured by us and through us.” Mathis adds, “If seminarians lose their taste for grace, they have no good business calling themselves Christians, much less putting themselves forward as leaders in the church.”

I loved this aspect of the book, but I was pressed most in the latter chapters which get into the practical applications of prayer, weakness and the Christian home. For me personally my failure to see myself as Biblically weak leads to a deficiency in my prayer life and as a husband/father. I highly recommend these three chapters by Parnell to any man, seminary or not. I have talked with a Pastor who hosts seminary students at his house over the school year. His message: “Be a ‘B’ student.” Often times the amount of time and energy required for an ‘A’ can come out of energy and time best spent on your family or the leading of your church. Obviously we should seek to work hard and diligently, but we should have a right value and weight on what it is that we are doing. I was extremely grateful for Parnell’s 10 ways in which he prays for his wife (Chapter 6). These are simple ways where I can focus on my family and lead them in silent and powerful devotion.

I love the emphasis on Biblical Theology, and Christocentric eyes in the latter portions of the book, but I wish they had written one more chapter. One of my professors at Western Seminary has engrained into my head, “You never assume the gospel.” Parnell and Mathis will not be accused of that, but in this book, they have assumed church involvement. Certainly this is assumed throughout the book. In the introduction the authors give us the severity of the message: “What’s at stake in this situation? The church is soon to suffer.” But outside of this assumption and some passing mentions (and a portion of a prayer in Chapter 6), there is no explicit mention of church involvement.
Seminary is for Christians. Christians need the church. I think it is a danger to assume that all the men who are reading this book are attending classes, growing in their knowledge of theology, as well as submitting to a local church. The lead pastor at my church often comments on the lack of church involvement from students as he finished his M.Div. This should not be the case. Before we are seminarians, we are Christians, and Christians are called to submit to, participate in, and serve the church (Eph 4). Mathis and Parnell do a fantastic job of presenting the need for affection and holiness in seminary, but the author of Hebrews connects the affection towards the blood of Jesus and the “full assurance of faith” with the need for church involvement (Hebrews 10:19-25). This small omission leaves a big gap in our pursuit of holiness amid the homework. Seminarians will one day steer the church, you best be ready to submit to one for growth, worship, encouragement and admonition in the meantime.

In the conclusion Mathis lists the need for church involvement as a real issue, but it is far too little given the weight of the issue. I loved this book, I recommend this book, but I hope that in a second edition they can weave the affection stirring and devotional nature of seminary in with the need to submit and serve the local church.

A free copy of this book was provided to my by Crossway via the Beyond the Page program.

[Zack Hudson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing particularly bad about this book, but it’s also not good. All the advice offered doesn’t go much further than ‘read the Bible’, ‘pray’, ‘study’, ‘don’t study too much’, ‘be more Christian’. The tagline of the epilogue is literally ‘be a Christian in seminary’. Not particularly helpful. The authors go out of their way multiple times in a 70 page book to ascribe due praise and reverence to John Piper, pope of the Calvinistic-ish Baptists, and did their best to mimic his short, choppy writing all the way through. Nevertheless, if I manage to stay Christian in seminary, it’s all thanks to David Mathis and Jonathan Parnell!

[Kenzie Kraling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for my intro to seminary class and it was so helpful! It’s an easy read that I was able to do it in one day but had really practical insights and challenges. I would recommend this book to anyone who is furthering their Christian education. (The only downside was the chapter where it talked about “taking care of your wife.” It was strictly targeted to men and felt like the authors wrote that section without considering that women could also be in seminary. But the content was great.)

[Bri Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because it’s super concise and practical, which is exactly what I wanted it to be. It’s written to all seminarians but then there’s an entire chapter on being a good husband and father throughout seminary. I would expect that if it were a book written specifically to pastors (I’m SBC, okay!!), but it’s written to ALL seminary students. Many seminary students are women and I didn’t love that the authors didn’t even address women studying as well. The general information in that chapter was solid though so I’m still happy to give this 4 stars!

[Ryan Tankersley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wise and Short

This book is easy to sit down and read through. The author's keep the focus entirely on Jesus and guide you through some important practices to keep in mind.

Any Christian would benefit from this book. The wisdom given applies to any "season" of a person's life. It stays foundational, and reminds us of the beauty in keeping focused on daily enjoying our faith in God and the responsibilities he has given us.

[C.J. Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was helpful. Will definitely be most helpful for someone prior to their starting seminary, and that's what I'll use it for in later recommendations. Seems like the book could've simply been "How to Stay Christian," though - with a few details added specific to seminary students. I was hoping for more contextual application for seminary students than I got. It's not a bad thing, necessarily, since it makes the book's audience a bit wider.

[Caroline McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I really needed to read. The title is misleading. It’s not so much about apostatizing, but rather how to pursue theological academia with humility and an aim on glorifying God and being conformed by greater knowledge of him and his Word. I would highly recommend it for anyone in seminary, starting seminary, or considering whether to pursue seminary education. It’s a short read (70 pages), but it’s convicting and packs a punch.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent devotions for new seminarians, or just for gaining perspective on the role of study and ministry in our lives as a whole. A pithy and wise little book that stirs our affections Godward in our studies. How great the temptations are to drift from cultivating our walk with the Lord as we study!

[Julie Scrudato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and understand why it’s a necessary read when starting seminary— our head and our heart are taking in extremely complex theological concepts at wayyy different rates, and we need to remember the gospel, remember grace, stay near to God, and go back to the basics of sitting at the feet of Jesus.

[Olivia Jones-Hatton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It was underwhelming at best. The information was nothing new and just general advice rewritten a bit. It seems like all of this is pretty basic understandings and practices that everyone should have and I think there are many other resources out there that are simply better. This wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't good either.