I’ve been in seminary for a few years now, and I am loving the journey.

I have the unique opportunity to be in full time ministry (at Pine Cove) while I am taking classes via distance education (at Western Seminary). What I love about this is it provides a tangible “laboratory” setting for me to teach and apply what I’m learning in seminary.

I came into seminary aware of a potential pitfall that I call “Academic Christianity”. This is the idea that what I’m learning in seminary becomes the substitute for my personal relationship with the Lord.

That instead of a “quiet time”, I’ll just read my text book.

I have to read 30 chapters from Genesis for seminary; I’ll just let that be my “devotional” reading as well.

The danger here is that my relationship with the Lord is reduced to a syllabus. That the seminary structure becomes king and dictates what I read and how I interact with God, and when that structure isn’t there, neither is any real substance in my relationship with the Lord – because it’s been purely academic.

At the end of this road, I’m smarter and more knowledgeable about God and His Word but hollow at the same time.

Until recently, I hadn’t considered the pitfall on the other side of the road. The reality is that if the pendulum swings the other way completely, it can be equally as dangerous.

This is the pitfall I call “Disconnected Christianity”. This is the idea that what I’m learning in the seminary setting becomes totally disconnected and distinct from my personal relationship with the Lord.

The more I learn about God’s Word, the more I understand that His Word is meant to effect change in me – not just make me smarter. The goal of God’s Word in my life is transformation, not merely impartation.

If I disconnect what I’m learning as a student from my own personal experience with God, then I’m neglecting the purpose of that knowledge in the first place! They are meant to go together!

I’ve been wrestling with this question… What does it mean to read with my heart? I hope to engage in my seminary studies not merely on an academic level, but with my heart involved.