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Is There Not a
Cause? Another
Perspective on Bible College versus University Education (Author’s
Note: I read with great interest the articles (cover
July 10, 2000 & cover July17,
2000) and answers concerning whether a
person should first go to Bible School or University.
I do not doubt that most of those who replied were sincere and I defend
their right to express their opinions. However, I question those who think Bible
College is only a "lick of education" and compare uneducated
evangelists and pastors to donkeys. I
hope that the person who asked the "Big Question" will read my
thoughts on this subject.) For
most of the past 47 years I have been involved in some sort of educational
effort. I have both an accredited secular education (B.S., M.S., and D.Sc. in
Chemical Engineering) and a Bible College education (Bachelor of Theology in
Apostolic Studies). I have taught at three secular colleges and universities and
also taught and administrated at four of Bible Colleges of the United
Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). I have "been there, done
that." I probably know the shortcomings of our Bible Colleges as well as
most people. Some of the statements
in the answers have a measure of truth, but secular colleges also have some real
problems. Also,
some things have occurred at Bible College that we, as faculty members, were not
aware of. However, when one considers the lack of both financial and moral
support that our Bible Colleges have received, I do not think they have done as
bad a job as has been portrayed. I also noticed that many of those who commented
had never gone to a Bible College. One
said some people have gone to Bible College to make contacts so they would have
places to preach, to find a wife whose life-long dream was to marry a preacher,
to go to an extended Youth Camp, and to have a different make-out partner every
night and then running the aisle with all of them on Sunday.
To infer that most go to Bible College for these reasons is not true.
That is not why I went, nor do I believe it is the reason other ministers
went to Bible College. Another person wrote, "I have never seen a kid come back from Bible School without any sort of baggage." I do not know what kids she has seen, but I wonder what baggage she has seen in some of my former Bible Colleges students, such as: ▪ Missionaries Bruce and Diane Howell, Monte Showalter, Jerolyn Chambers Kelly, Mike and Dianna Tuttle, Tommy and Sandy Bracken, Philip and Brenda Ciulla, Stephen O'Donnell, Michael Walmer, Daniel and Holly Drost, Brian and Esther Henry and Alex Marquez Jr. ▪ Pastors Roger Grohman, Duane Kramer, Bill Riedel, Roy Upchurch, Bob McGray, Larry Baitinger, Roy Barnhill, Rick Evans, Ron Becton, Steve Judd, Jerry Harper, Charles Clanton, Ronnie Townsley, Edward Chesser, David Trammell, Vic Votaw, Steve Willeford, Dan Batchelor, Rick Stoops, Clayton Brown, Ron Girton, Vaughn Turner, Dave Van Beek, Thurman Lowder, Philip Neil, Tom Dibble, Curtis Huling, Chris Black, Mark Burk, Curtis Howard, Tim Gaddy, Ron Lichtle, Kevin Fierge, David Gunter, Jim Kinney, John Shivers, Sammy Co, Michael Delgado, Scott Vice, Barry Claborn, Danny Rodgers, Tim Flowers, Larry Pollard, Brent Watts, and Dennis Mostyn. These are just to name a few. ▪ Marvin Walker, who is president of Tupelo Children's mansion. I could
also mention former students who are national church officials, evangelists and
others who are on the staff at Bible Colleges.
(One might also examine the baggage of their wives, many of whom also
were my students.) The best proof of the value of an education is the accomplishments of the former students. Did the ones she has seen leaving with baggage come to Bible College with the same baggage? After all, our churches supply the raw material for our Bible colleges. She
also wrote, "My husband and I have never gone, plus we don't plan on it,
because all of the things we would supposedly learn at one of these schools, we
are learning currently in our home church, without spending the money on
tuition! It seems the only thing I would learn at Bible School would be how to
be a sinner and still become an evangelist." This is a sad perspective.
Why are many of those I mentioned above now sending their children to
Bible College, if this were all there was to Bible College? How can a person in
a church, where there is probably at most two hours of Bible Study a week, learn
as quickly as one who sits in courses some 15 hours per week, does homework and
studies for examinations? I would
like to give this person some of the tests that I gave in Bible College to see
if she is learning all the things she believes she is learning. One
said, "I do not see how a Bible School education would make one's preaching
any better." Another seemed to infer that only at a secular college do
students "learn how to communicate more effectively." Are they not
aware that besides teaching the Bible, our Bible Colleges also teach English
grammar and composition, speech, homiletics, and teacher training? Some
who attend both secular universities and Bible Colleges "murder the king's
English." Others who attend Bible College say "Hallelujah" or
"Amen" several hundred times in a sermon. Others are either afraid to
speak before audiences or are so nervous they knock over the charts when they
teach. Why not ask those who have been to Bible College if it helped them in
their teaching or preaching? Or why not ask some of us who have observed the
"before and after"? Another
said, "Bible College just isn't up to par, which is usually why their
credits don't transfer. Go to real college!" It is true that many of the subjects like Basic Bible
Doctrines, Acts of the Apostles, Romans, and more will not transfer to a secular
university. This however, has little to do with the Bible College not being a
"real" college, but rather the content. Many secular college and
university personnel see no value in spiritual subjects. Another
said "A Bible School diploma is worth about as much as the paper it's
printed on." It is true that to many there is no economic advantage to a
Bible College degree. The purpose of our Bible Colleges is to train workers for
the Kingdom of God and not to train people how to make a living. In fact, what
you learn at Bible College may cost your thousands of dollars. I believe that
with my doctorate in chemical engineering I could have made over 20 times what I
made as a pastor or Bible College educator. I believe in getting both a secular
and Bible College education if it is possible, but I do not think the primary
goal of a Christian should be to make money.
Moses
and Paul were two of the most effective men in the Bible and both had a
spiritual and secular education. However,
when it came to a choice, Moses chose to suffer with the people of God and Paul
counted all things but loss that he might know Christ. I recommend both a
secular and a spiritual education, but if I had to make a choice of one over the
other I would take my knowledge of the Word of God over my chemical engineering
degrees. After
all, if a graduate’s degree only achieves an income without a ministry,
materialism is the likely outcome. Jesus said, "…lift
up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for
harvest!" (John 4:35 NKJV). He also said "The harvest truly
is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to
send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2 NKJV).
Someone must go and hew churches out of the rock both in North America and the rest of the world. The terms "walking by faith" and "sacrifice" seem to be a foreign language to many. I
wonder how many parents would consider it more important for their children to
have a good job and a comfortable life close to them, rather than have them
sacrifice to start a home missionary church, go to a foreign field or do
something else helping people get to heaven. I also wonder if the motivation of
some pastors isn't for their young people to get a good secular education at
home so they will become good tithe payers, rather then possibly leave their
church to do the work of God elsewhere. (Please note that I wrote
"some," not "all.") I am happy that the person writing the Big Question "feels a call to preach.” I wish every Apostolic young person had a desire to make a mark on this world for Jesus. My advice to you is to go to a Bible College and, if possible, get a secular education, so you can get a decent job to support yourself while you are starting your ministry. Solomon's
words are still good advice. "Wisdom
is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get
understanding." (Proverbs 4:7 KJV). Whether you first attend a Bible
College or a University depends on your individual situation. I can see merit
both ways. Hopefully your parents and your pastor can give you godly counsel
regarding this decision. ninetyandnine.com
© 2000, Arlo Moehlenpah -------- Arlo Moehlenpah lives and works in San Diego. He also hosts www.DoingGood.org, where numerous special Bible Quizzes will tickle your fancy and challenge your knowledge. Have an opinion on an article? Let us know how you feel! Click feedback & fill us in. |
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