Should I go to Bible College?

It's that time of year again. The sun is out, the birds are waking me up at six in the morning fighting over the seed I put out the night before, and teenagers are sweating over their exam results.
The future can be a scary place. It's quite unfair to burden someone facing the longest Summer of their lives with a decision which will change their whole lives, that of what to do after school.

And that usually brings up the age old question that I get asked a lot by young Christians: Should I go to Bible college? They're young, they're passionate, and they want to make a big difference. They're also still young enough to not be as jaded as those of us longer in the tooth.
And I'll always give the same answer:
No.

Emphatically, no.

Go to university instead. Go get a degree which will earn you a living. You can pick something idealistic if you like, you're young and have time to recover from those mistakes.
Or just go get a job. I know, easier said than done. Just put on your job helmet and jump in your job cannon and land in job land.
Just please, don't go to Bible college. There are a million and one things better to do with your life.

And why do you want to go to Bible College anyway? We've seen a strange phenomenon in church where we fetishise Bible College students. They are asked to stand out the front of the church and tell everyone what they've discovered about Christianity, and about God. And they are treated as if they are somehow more Holy than everyone else.
I really don't like that idea. And I am not sure that it's helpful to Christianity or churches.
And here are the reasons why: God is bigger than your church. And God wants Godly people in all walks of life.
Something I come across a lot are Christians saying that they can't express their love for Jesus in the workplace. Really? So a nurse comforting and healing dozens of people a day is showing less love than me stood in a pulpit for twenty minutes a week? Or a teacher bringing hope to the next generation has less of an impact on people's lives than I do when I organise Ice Cream night for the Sunday School?

And there's more. Let's be honest here, the economy and business isn't really doing a great job of showing Gods love for the poor or the environment. Politicians are not known for fighting against gender and economical inequality. If all the people who are sold out for Jesus are chained to the pulpit every week, then who is going to make those changes?
I can preach the message until I am red in the face, but if everyone plans on going to Bible College then nothing will change.

Jesus loves you, just the way you are. And those things which you're really interested in, those things which inspire you, those can be used more mightily for Jesus than any amount of seminarians.
At church with me, we've changed from bringing Bible College students out the front to ask what they've learned of God. Now I invite any student who comes in, regardless of their field of study, what they've learned about God. And the results are amazing.
A very dear friend of mine is studying social science, and especially how corporate greed is affecting the elderly. We get to read Noam Chomsky together, and she volunteers for an Alzheimer charity as part of her Masters. She is going to go on and make a real change in the social structure of this country, I hope. At least she's in a position to challenge it.
Another friend is a genius. She has been offered so many teaching opportunities that I can't keep count. Most were in quite well to do areas where she could have a delightful classroom of Quentins and Henrys. She's choosing instead to teach in one of the most deprives areas of the UK, because, as she says, that's where the need is greatest.
That's a choice you don't get to make unless you have a good Masters degree.

If you're sold out for Jesus, if you're on fire for God, please go change the world. Theologically here, I could quote John 3:16, God loves the World. In Greek Cosmos. It's not just the good Christian people, but the whole world, the economy, the environment, the health service, the education system, governments, and transport. If we believe God then there's no area of life that God doesn't love.
And the pulpit can wait.
Honestly, preaching isn't that important. And if you really feel the need to preach then keep in mind the words of St Francis of Assisi: Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.

We'd do well to remember that. So best of luck with your results. Go and change the world while you're still young and idealistic. I really think that you can.
Come back to considering ministry in your thirties or forties, it can wait. And if God has called you then that won't change. You'll also be a more well rounded person for it. Life experience is essential when you're dealing with real life issues, like marriages breaking down, and personal insecurities. Don't forget that ministry is ministering to people, and people come with baggage, make sure you've got some handle on it before you try to intervene.

If you're still determined to attend Bible College, then my next post will be a Bible College confidential to give you more of an idea about what to expect.