Pastor Everhard, Thank you for your gracious follow-up video. It's very helpful to let everyone know we're on good terms. Here's what I'll say regarding RPTS: 1. Yes I am planning to go to seminary, but because I need to provide for my soon-to-be wife, I'm not sure if it can be soon. Multiple elders and pastors that mentor me say I should get a secular job for a bit first. 2. I would still love to visit RPTS. I love the RPCNA, because they are historic and never split from anyone, while also being extremely faithful to Scripture and the Reformed tradition. My fiancée and I recently visited an RPCNA in rural Kansas and loved it. I have a video coming out soon about how much I like the RPCNA and their Covenanter principles. 3. As for WHICH seminary, I am planning to attend a moderate mainline seminary like Dubuque or Perkins, at which I could get good education from some professors while still being able to have an influence in the mainline. However, if I were to attend a conservative seminary, it would definitely be RPTS since, unlike WTS and RTS, it's historic.
Awesome to here. I think you should definitely look into the rpcna. Especially on their purity of worship. Few Presbyterian denominations have maintained purity of worship. Anyways, God bless.
Growing up near Dubuque and seeing at least one grad (this was in UCC) from Dubuque, I would say it is a very liberal seminary (not even moderate). This as at least the case in the 1980's/1990's and I would assume it would be even more so now. On the West Coast, most moderate to conservative PCUSA (a lot now former PCUSA) did draw from Fuller. Even Fuller, which I would consider moderate is drifting liberal. I would say Dubuque is closer to SF and far to the left than even Princeton. In my former church (was PCUSA, now EPC), they have had many candidates and a lot are now using John Knox Theological Seminary (Distance Course). I would agree that it would be best to associate with a Church that has staff positions where you can work in ministry while also being under care. I think that is a better model than trying to do fully on your own. I also think working in ministry will also attending seminary can keep you more connected to the daily challenges. Even the few pastors that have went through their Doctorate work after being ordained and being associate pastors still kept daily ministry work while working on the masters. Heck, even in normal world, most MBA's or teachers getting Masters have day jobs while working towards advance degree. Again, I would be really hesitant with Dubuque. To me, it is SFTS of the midwest. Only United Seminary in MSP (UCC affiliate) may be more liberal. Again, a key to any seminary is also being under care of a Presbytery and local church. This is one area where I believe the Presbyterian (all the branches that I am knowledgeable of) Church does a good job (even the PCUSA).
Thank you for addressing the Matthew 18 thing. Public disagreement on issues, where there is no sin, is fine to be dealt with publicly! This is not complicated.
RZ recently stated in a Q&A that he will not be attending a conservative seminary and will instead hope to go to a mainline one because it yields better prospects to being ordained in the PCUSA. In my opinion, that is a poor investment of time, work, and money. Seminary is about being prepared for ministry and going to a liberal seminary will teach you theological problems (we should know the issues of our day but) not that which you can affirm. I'll read heretics and unbeliever's writings so I can better interact with them in defending the faith, but to not rest on a solid foundation is dangerous. I will be attending RTS starting this Summer and while I will still critically engage with my professors, so that I actually learn and grow, I know them to be far more reliable. RZ, if you're reading this, I urge you to reconsider. At the very least, visit Everhard and his seminary. You would be able to make a good video out of it.
As far as I understand RZ takes exception to the ordination of women to the office of Elder and Deacon. This stance is not permitted in the PCUSA. You cannot even hold this position as a matter of conscience and still be ordained in the PCUSA. To be ordained in the PCUSA Zoomer would need to change his conviction (which I do not recommend) or he would need to intentionally conceal it (which I also do not recommend). Even if he goes to Princeton , how can he ever hope to be ordained in the PCUSA?
I don't think Redeemed Zoomer realizes if the mainline seminaries are as bad as they are now. They will only be worse once he gets ready to join. This is if they *don't* excommunicate him and his family during the vote that's happening soon. He will either be forced to cross the Tiber or be forced into a conservative sect. I honestly think the former is more likely despite his claims to the contrary.
@@A_T_O_M_I_C_Rooster I'm with you there. I also doubt Zoomer, for all his love of Rome understands just how different the Romanists and the protestants are fundamentally.
I’ll admit I have a bad habit of ragging on RZ when in the grand scheme of things I don’t know him personally and probably never will, but I agree that his biggest strength/weakness is his stubbornness despite the entire world being against him. He thinks that if he crowdrushes enough conservative 20 year olds at Harvard Divinity School or Princeston that he’ll magically be able to return them to theological orthodoxy, but he has a propensity to be so high-minded that he doesn’t realize that on one hand the ballgame in those seminaries is soo deep in theological postmodernism that the curriculum doesn’t even resemble something usable in most churches, and that ultimately he’s not only fighting the mainline institutions but *other, more conservative denominations*. He thinks he can tell the PCA and OCA “you’re cowards who gave up the fight and anyone who leaves the PCUSA to join your church should be shamed for doing so” and then expect them to be behind him and his mission. Lastly, he doesn’t seem to realize that very quickly, the “cowards” will be the ones at the helm of the church within 2 decades. The prestige of the old seminaries and denominations won’t mean much when they’re extinct, and considering places like Westminster Theological Seminary and other conservative schools are already starting to liberalize, it makes more sense to save institutions that DO have a chance of surviving another 100 years than to save a ship that’s nearly sunk. But people have been telling him these exact same things for years at this point and he just digs his heels in. The only thing I can say at this point is he’ll have to see it first hand and either prove us wrong or accept rebuke.
I am a Ruling Elder Emeritus in the PCA and a Board member of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in South Carolina. Thank you (and praise God!) for your witness and ministry, Matthew. I've never visited RPTS but have great respect for it. At GPTS, I believe that you will find the same commitment to training pastors, the same close, personal, pastoral attention, and the same spiritual unity among administration, faculty, and students. Besides, it's in the Deep South, and what could be better than that?
Hi Matt How about a video on what to look for in a seminary? Some of the signs God might be calling you in that direction? And I'm sure I'm not the only one who is excited to hear more on what you love about RPTS! Love you too, brother!
Pastor Everhard, I'm very uplifted by the way both RZ and yourself handled your interaction. I hope you give more thought to RZ's take on church architecture and beauty, as contemporary Christians have utterly dropped any and all understanding of the necessity of Beauty from the pursuit of Truth, Goodness and Beauty. It's grieved me my whole life and I tend to think it's an error of certain thinking-style intellectual personality types. Beauty is treated as an unimportant frill. I pray you please incorporate the likes of Roger Scruton and others thinking on the subject. God Bless.
I agree with this. I think beautiful spaces are important because they convey a sense of sacredness. I know ultimately God doesn't need a building and the church is the people etc..., But it's still nice to have a place that is beautiful to worship in. I feel like it's more honoring to God. It shows our love and respect while also serving as a reflection of God's love for us.
In all seriousness this felt like an ad for RPTS with a little bit of a RZ commentary put in. Does RPTS do online learning? I'm in Australia and will never, I mean NEVER, go to the US but would be interested in the possibility of learning through an institution that is how you described RPTS to be.
@@jermoosekek1101 we don't call them "seminaries" here but yes there are Presbyterian "seminaries" in Australia. My own father went to one when he trained for ministry.
As President of PftK, I can gladly inform you that there has been a conservative takeover at Dubuque Theological Seminary (a seminary that my dad used to be in favor of closing down). Theology Matters practically runs the show up there now. Is that to say it’s better than rpts where the whole staff is theologically conservative? No. However, I’m not sure anyone could go to RPTS and be ordained in the pcusa.
That's heartening! I'd left a comment earlier saying Dubuque shifted leftward after Don Bloesch left and Mark Achtemeier departed from his parents' views. I'm happy to hear things have changed. I wish the same would happen at Union. It has some very good scholars, but has moved from liberal to radical.
I'm pretty sure he said it was because the PCUSA would not ordain him if his education was from those seminaries, which would hinder him in his goal of changing the PCUSA from the inside.
Lol it took RZ like 2 days to go back to bashing evangelicals, baptists, offshoots etc. That kid has a SERIOUS ego and pride problem and it earned my unsub too. He hates the PCA, he bashes Reformed Baptists just because they don't fit his criteria of "Reformed", he pretty much spends all his time these days talking about what his identity is ("why I'm not xyz", for example) like a typical Gen Z, and it has honestly just gotten tiring to see someone claim to be fighting for the kingdom but then bashing faithful churches while promoting the PCUSA of all places because of pretty buildings and a few extra confessions. RZ gave you alligator tears. His latest video on ranking confessions shows just that. That kid has a LOT of growing to do, and seriously needs to address his pride and humble himself.
Matt, the way in which you present yourself is truly inspiring. You are one of the best and most BIBLICAL religious youtubers in your demeanor. You were a class act in this and the other video. Honestly it is a shame that people with theological training on other channels cannot live up to your standard.
Assuming it was a Matthew 18 situation, how would that work out? Y’all aren’t in the same church and I doubt either of you would submit to the other’s church discipline.
And people have tried the Matthew 18 method with RZ before. He doesn’t respond to private confrontation- only when his reputation is at stake will he come up with a polite response and *possibly* admit wrongdoing.
I am sick to DEATH of this twisting of Matthew 18! It has NOTHING at all to do with correcting public teaching! NOTHING! Neither brother Everhard nor anyone else has ANY obligation to to privately to talk to a professing Christian about their PUBLIC teaching! Matthew 18 reads this way: "“If your brother sins *_AGAINST YOU_* , go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. " (Matt 18:15, HCSB) It's personal offense, not public teaching that is being discussed! The New Testament is FILLED with public rebukes of wrong teaching! And YES, the Apostles NAME NAMES when they do so!
Modern American Pastors while the sheep are devoured by wolves in the sheep clothing, "I am not polemic or confrontational". That's how PCUSA got lost in the first place. As guard Sheep dogs of Christ, at least growl....
Why do so many Gen Z Christians/influencers focus so much on high level theology instead of Scripture? Theology is important but it almost seems like an identity crisis.
Because we are to hold to and teach sound doctrine. Doctrine (theology) is the study, teaching, application, etc. of Scripture…. the two are not in any way at odds with one another when rightly applied… our theology must be derived from Scripture. Doctrine does divide and that is a good thing (1 Corinthians 11:19)… the Scripture is like a two edged sword that divides between good and evil (Hebrews 4:12). To your point though…. Knowledge for knowledge’s sake does nobody any good…. Let us seek wisdom (the application of knowledge derived from the word of God)
These types of videos draw interest away from Zoomer and I do not think that is good. Also the critique of Zoomer in the comments are very heady. I have different views than Zoomer on some things but this stuff is not helping.
When a Christian celebrity doesn’t preach the Word or show obedience to the Scripture, and just spends his time bashing other denominations, dividing between people in his own denomination, arguing high concepts and mistreating people on the internet, and so on- someone qualified needs to speak up so that people don’t think this is what Christianity looks like. His actions impact the reputation of Christ.
And may the record show, I know him and I’ve spent 500+ volunteer hours working for/with him. This is what Richard needs, and it’s what his audience needs.
@@David.1517 I personally believe that beautiful cathedrals should be promoted, preserved, and protected, and it is ideal to worship and take Holy Communion is such places, I understand if it’s not possible, but it should be the goal.
@Katie-om4bk I would say that’s not a good faith representation. He doesn’t want to cede the old mainlines in the city square. Why would you? Why give up that prime real estate, those lovely buildings? It’s better to fight from within
You both were extremely humble in your responses and I admire that. But on the issue of Matt 18 I will have to disagree with your statement. Humbly explaining our concerns as subjective doesn’t excuse that your concerns are SINS. 1) Greed using his platform attacking, insulting other Christians for gain is a sin. 2) You used the word Us when talking about RZ calling others cowards for not wanting to have your children subjected to the false teachings of PCUSA. (So that implies he has sinned against you.) 3) Again you used (US) to say his ideological view on buildings is Idolatry. Breaking the 2nd commandment. Dear brother I’m not seeking a response or debate, I’m just wanting to clarify the facts, i agree you have right to publicly challenge his positions but it is clear RZ has sinned and against you. You tried to make video constructive and reconciliatory which is great. But for you not to call them sin but instead ideological differences baffles me. Matt 18 does apply here.
I still don't get it though. Why did you have to make a public video about him if you could have just talked to him privately first? Isn't it not the order we should proceed as a church? Why did you feel the need to make a 30 minutes long video of a public execution about him without warning him first? I would have expected a more mature approach to it from your part as you are the more honorable man given your status and experience.
You should probably do a video on the controversy surrounding the cancelation of David French at the GA, and how the grievous sin of MAGAism has infected the church.
@@anubisanarchy5710 well clearly Trump won't put you into jail for bring Democrat and he neither opened borders or weaponized the fbi. Save freedom = stop leftists
I don’t know who Redeemed Zoomer is. I have no dog in in this fight. However as a former Reformed Presbyterian pastor (God forgive me, I promise never to do it again) I can honestly say that ANY seminary is the worst thing possible for any young man on fire for God and His Word.
He’s a celebrity. If he says and does the wrong thing, it needs to be corrected publicly by actual ministers so that people don’t think his opinions and actions are what Christianity looks like.
