Hi Danny, Was looking through the new Directory of the Ministry and it has you listed as Dr. Danny Gabbard. Could you share where you earned your doctorate from? I have been researching various programs and would be interested.

In Christ, Barry

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Answers

Hey Barry......

My D.Min. is from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Tacoma, WA. I majored in Missiology with a minor in Preaching and Theology. At the time I was deeply involved in missions work in Jamaica. In my BA and MA work my total missions credits were around....four. That was not good.

So I looked for a credible, distance learning program that offered a speciality in missions.

Faith Seminary was the answer.

They are a break away from the Missouri Synod Lutherans. They are very conservative in nature. In fact, I had to sign a statement that I believed in the inerrancy of Scripture. They also have some squabbles with the Missouri folks over various Lutheran creeds. I didn't involve myself with learning the exact nature of those squabbles.

Anyways.....the only time I had to be on campus was the last week that ended with graduation. The rest of the work was video and audio.

Now here is the down part if you are looking for a doctorate. My graduating class.....1996......was the last doctorates they offered since then. The reason?? They were going through their accreditation process with TRACS (Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools)....and wanted to focus only on their Masters and M.Div. programs.

They were candidates for accreditation while I was enrolled. Last year they received their full accreditation.

Whether they start up the D.Min. program again remains to be seen. I hope so. It was a good program....with top notch faculty....and just plain nice folks.

Anyway...here is the web address if there is a possibility an M.Div. or Masters may interest you.

It's......WWW.faithseminary.edu

Hope you find something that works for you.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Is Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Tacoma, WA on the PLU campus? I used to live just a stone's throw from there.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

John....

No sir....they have their own campus.

Beautiful place that town was!!!!

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Hi Danny, I am presently finishing up my D.Min. through American Christian College and Seminary in Oklahoma City (former American Bible College and Seminary). I am not looking for a program for myself, but have been doing research on various distance learning seminaries, Bible colleges, etc....with the hopes of possibly writing a book on the subject. I am familiar with Faith Seminary and know it to be a well- regarded school.

I would like to ask you a doctrinal question concerning your choice if you don't mind? Please don't take this as an attack or anything because that is in no way my intention. I have been misunderstood in a big way on this board before and do not desire it to happen again.

Okay, here's the question: Based on your prior posts I assume that you do not believe that the professors, administrators, etc... of Faith Seminary are Christians, considering their views on infant baptism and faith only. If that is true (correct me if I'm wrong), why would you study with those you consider non-Christians, or even heretics?

Thanks, Barry

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Barry.....

No problem....and not the first time I have heard the question since I also got my M.A.Rel. from Anderson University.....a Church of God School.

Very simply.....I did not go there to study soteriology (i.e., how to be saved).

At Anderson my major was in Pastoral Ministries....with a minor in Historical and Theological Studies.....and in my D.Min. I already told you the emphasis.

So in other words.....I did not go there to learn Bible. Most of that was accomplished in my first class education at Florida Christian College.

Second, was just the availability of the programs. I was in the right place at the right time.

Third, truth can be found in many sources. (Even the Devil speaks the truth sometimes.) Just because someone teaches an incomplete gospel....does not mean they have nothing to teach on the subject of missiology, pastoral ministries, homiletics.....etc. I wouldn't give you a nickel for their soteriology.....but they had a lot of good things to say and teach on these other subjects. And some had some very good insights on various biblical subjects and texts. But.....it was still an incomplete gospel.

Fourth.....having studied at these schools.....makes me a very formidable adversary when dealing with those who hold the false doctrinal views of these schools. That is....one cannot say..."I have not studied the issues." In fact, I have found I know more about Calvinsim....then most Calvinists.

I spent a total of 7 years in denominational schools and still came away believing that the RM is the closest to teaching the purity of the N.T.

That carries a lot of weight.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Thanks Danny,

I agree with you completely. Just wanted to see where you were coming from. There are many within our movement that speak from ignorance about other belief systems because they have never taken the time to check the primary sources. I have even had this experience with cults like the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. While their doctrines are reprehensible, some of the literature written about them from a Christian perspective sometimes blows their beliefs out of proportion and make those who follow this literature look foolish when trying to witness to them.

I'm sure you discovered that the conservative Lutheran bodies, while incorrect in some of their theology, have a deep reverence for the Scripture that could put some of us in the Restoration Movement to shame.

In Christ,

Barry

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Yes Barry.....

Like I said.....I had to sign a document as a part of my application process that said I believed in the full inerrancy of Scripture.

And you should have heard President Rendell's graduation message on the inspiration of Genesis 1-11. It was outstanding!!!

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Brother Davis:

You have said:

“Please don't take this as an attack or anything because that is in no way my intention. I have been misunderstood in a big way on this board before and do not desire it to happen again.”

I am not convinced that this statement is true. I do not believe that you have ever been misunderstood on this board. You have taught things that were not true and we demonstrated that they were not the truth. And now you come in here hoping to show that you have been misunderstood. But you offered no evidence whatsoever to prove that you were misunderstood by anyone.

The truth is that you were in fact clearly understood and the doctrines that you sought to teach were refuted more than once. You said:

“I was reading a book by a non-instrumental church of Christ author who stated that unless one believes that he/she is being baptized specifically for the remission of sins and to recieve the Holy Spirit, their baptism is not valid. I couldn't disagree more, but wondered what others might think.”

And you said:

“Hi, I have had people from over 18 different denominations join our church in the last two years. If they are unimmersed (we have tons of Lutherans and Catholics up here) we immerse them. If they have been immersed and I ask them "why were you baptized?", without fail they answer "out of obedience". That's good enough for me, and more importantly, I'm sure it's good enough for God.”

And we understood exactly what you meant by those words and sufficiently refuted them in two threads at great length and you did nothing more than ignore what was said to you about them. But one thing is absolutely certain. You did not once complain that you had been “misunderstood”, now did you? No, Brother Davis, you were not “misunderstood” instead your false doctrine and unscriptural practices were refuted and you had no decent reply. Now that is the truth of the matter.

Brethren:

Beware of these men who pretend to seek peace when in truth they seek to propagate more false doctrine. And when their false doctrines are challenged and they are not up to facing that challenge they then try to claim that they really did not mean what they said in the way in which we took it. They cry that they have been “misunderstood”. But they are not telling the truth about it, now are they?

And I am thankful that Brother Danny has stood firm for truth in this forum and that he spoke firmly against the errors of Brother Davis which we have quoted from him above. And I could care less whether Brother Danny has a “doctorate” in any subject so long as he know and teaches the truth of God’s word. And this does not require a “doctorate degree”. It requires diligent study of the word of God without studying what the creeds, commandments, and doctrines of men are concerning it.

Wgile we respect the enrgy and individual effort that Brother Danny put into earning a doctorate degree we put no confidence in such when it comes to establishing the truth of God's word. And Brother Danny would not expect us to do such either.

Paul told the elders at Ephesus, “And now brethren, we commend you to God and the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32). For he knew that “grievous wolves" would enter in among them not sparing the flock”. And the solution was not to attend some institution of higher learning to protect the flock from these wolves. But rather that they follow the words of God given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Peter 4:11) and that they continue on the apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42) rather than following the doctrines and commandments of men. (Matt. 15:7). The Bible only makes Christians only”. (Luke 8:11). Faith, if that is what you seek to increase, comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). And we become servants of righteousness when we are obedient, FROM THE HEART (or with the understanding) to that from of doctrine which the apostles delivered to us. (Romans 6:16-18) and we remain Christians by continuing in those words. “For if you continue in my words then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32).

Keep these things in mind, my brethren, and do not be lead astray by men who teach false doctrine. And when they are challenged to prove that their doctrines are true and they realize that it is impossible for them to do so. Then they cry out “I have been sorely misunderstood”. No, brethren, they have rather been sufficiently and certainly refuted and they have no reply. Now that is the facts in this case.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Lee.....

I understood what Barry was saying. I think he meant to say that some of the things he has said in the past may have been construed to be a personal attack.....when he did not intend it to be. I do not think he meant to say his positions were misunderstood.

Personally.....I think Connie and some of her ilk helped to exploit and even promote some of those misunderstandings. They have and will continue to be taken care of.

In my personal opinion.....I think your post does not belong on this thread (even though I'm not going to delete or move it). Barry was asking about a specific subject....specifically where I got my doctorate....and the philosophy that drove me to go where I did.

I don't know that his post deserved an attack as a false teacher.

Personally....while Barry has said some things that concern me.....I have not invested enough time or energy to explore his positions.....to find areas of further agreement and/or disagreement.

Lee, I feel you would have been better off posting an entire new thread to state your feelings about this matter.

I really would as much as possible like to stick to the subject at hand.

Respectfully in Christ,

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Danny -- you have taken a tough job in editing and keeping an eye on this forum. Glad you have the time and effort to do it!

One of the problems in the past was how threads continued to move towards one or two basic themes ... no matter how the thread started. I'm glad you are watching for this ... and here I go down that same road! :)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

mega dittos Darrell,

I was gonna say the same thing...

Keep up the good work Danny...

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Danny, it is a very beautiful city, a very beautiful area. One which I hope to return to one day.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2001