Comments on: Learning the Gospel from Afar http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/06/08/learning-the-gospel-from-afar/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:50:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: admin http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/06/08/learning-the-gospel-from-afar/#comment-38792 admin Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:09:39 +0000 http://www.samshua.com/blog/2007/06/08/learning-the-gospel-from-afar/#comment-38792 Sadly Tim, it doesn't surprise me that you got that response. But some of the B&M seminaries like RTS and Covenant are getting it. There's a parallel in the secular world concerning music downloading. The RIAA before iTunes refused to have a vision for a digital age and so they resisted online music. Of course, that led to some serious downloading illegally. The fought and resisted, but once they gave in, they saw that they were making more from iTunes and other mp3 sharing sites than ever before. I think B&M seminaries will always be there. But what distinguishes seminaries from the RIAA should be the Gospel's advance, shouldn't it? There are pastors around the world learning some trashy theology because they could never come to the US to learn. And then some people are going oversees to teach some trashy theology. Amazingly, online you can learn from the likes of Sproul, Piper, Carson, Wells, Grudem, etc. and all for free. I hope the B&M seminaries see the future. Sadly Tim, it doesn’t surprise me that you got that response. But some of the B&M seminaries like RTS and Covenant are getting it. There’s a parallel in the secular world concerning music downloading. The RIAA before iTunes refused to have a vision for a digital age and so they resisted online music. Of course, that led to some serious downloading illegally. The fought and resisted, but once they gave in, they saw that they were making more from iTunes and other mp3 sharing sites than ever before.

I think B&M seminaries will always be there. But what distinguishes seminaries from the RIAA should be the Gospel’s advance, shouldn’t it? There are pastors around the world learning some trashy theology because they could never come to the US to learn. And then some people are going oversees to teach some trashy theology. Amazingly, online you can learn from the likes of Sproul, Piper, Carson, Wells, Grudem, etc. and all for free. I hope the B&M seminaries see the future.

]]> By: TimK http://www.wccc.net/blogs/gospelprism/2007/06/08/learning-the-gospel-from-afar/#comment-38791 TimK Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:20:43 +0000 http://www.samshua.com/blog/2007/06/08/learning-the-gospel-from-afar/#comment-38791 Sam, as usual, great thoughts. One source of potential opposition: traditional brick-and-mortar school/seminaries. This may be seen in part in the resistance of these institutions to online learning for $$$. Anecdote - a few years ago I asked a rep of Westminster Theological Seminary what plans the school had to use online education to meet the needs of those who wanted further training but were not located near a WTS campus. The reps response was one of great arrogance and condescension as he sneered at me and assured me that it would never happen. So ... Sam, as usual, great thoughts.

One source of potential opposition: traditional brick-and-mortar school/seminaries. This may be seen in part in the resistance of these institutions to online learning for $$$. Anecdote - a few years ago I asked a rep of Westminster Theological Seminary what plans the school had to use online education to meet the needs of those who wanted further training but were not located near a WTS campus. The reps response was one of great arrogance and condescension as he sneered at me and assured me that it would never happen. So …

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