Bible College Confidential

So you've not been dissuaded from Bible College after my last post? Well good for you. Welcome to a whole new world, this time without magic carpets.

I hated Bible college, so much so that I went twice, to two different ones. And while the experience is different for each place, there are some things which I would advise you to be aware of, and a few questions you might need to ask.

Are you getting a degree? We can discuss forever the necessity, or lack of, in getting a degree to go into ministry. But if you're going to spend three years studying, you might as well get a degree while you're at it. It can only serve you well.

This might sound like an odd question but there are still Bible colleges out there who aren't accredited, where they will validate you as a minister, and the denomination will recognise you, but if you ever want to look at a different line of work or even a different denomination, you'll be a bit stuck.

Get a degree.

What type of degree will you getting? Myself, I have a BTh honours. What that means is that I know quite a bit about theology, but very little about anything else. And when was the last time you looked in a newspaper and saw an advert saying 'Theologian Wanted'?

If it's offered, a BTh is a useful degree to have because you'll be mainly studying Christian Theology. You'll have classes on church history and the development of Christian though, how to handle the Bible and the different approaches to understanding it. Classes on good pastoral practice, knowing why worship has changed and how to spot 'good' worship. You'll get to spend a good bit of time in the Ancient Near East and learn about the world in which the Bible was written.

And, of course, theology. Lots and lots of theology.

If you decide to do a BA in Religious Studies, then things change, sometimes dramatically.

I have friends with BA's and they studied Islam, and Jainism, and the Gnostics. They didn't get taught the pastoral practices because, well, that's not usually a part of the course. So while there is crossover, the BA course is usually designed for Religious Studies teachers, or those looking to go into fields where an ethical background, and often an understanding of religion, is most helpful.

The study of religion, and theology, are two quite different things.

The other big thing to prepare for when you do go off to Bible college is that you will change.

I remember one lecturer telling me that Theology was the one subject where the students turn up thinking they know more than the lecturers.

You're familiar with your church and your church culture, you're happy there, it meets your needs and you're enthused. That much is obvious because you're going to Bible College.

Here's the skinny. Your church is not the only one, and there are different ways of doing things.

You'll meet loads of new people, and every one of them will think that their way of doing God is the right way.

Then you'll be told about ways of understanding the Bible, and understanding God, that you've never heard of before. And it'll shake you to your core. Everything that you've held dear to you will be challenged and you'll have a crisis of faith.

This is the process of deconstruction. And hopefully, if the college is a good one, there will also be a process of reconstruction.

The best students, I've found, are those who are willing to let go of their prejudices and preferences, and to be moulded anew. And you don't yet know that you hold these preferences, how could you? You've not been exposed to the whole world of Christian ideas that you will be.

Be prepared to stop praying. This will sound odd, and I intent to write a good bit more on this subject soon because it comes up so much whenever I am dealing with students.

It's okay, and everyone feels this way, and there's nothing wrong with you spiritually.

You'll be in a process of deconstruction, and you'll need to go through this, and it will affect your prayer life. I am not going to say that you'll get back to where you were, you'll be praying differently because you'll be a different person.

Bible college should be a process. Don't rush it. If you have the option to be there for three years then take it. You need the time to change and to settle into the person God will make you through the process. And when you do finish, you still aren't the finished product. To be honest, that's only the start. Until recently the rate of attrition for new ministers was something like 50% in the first three years of ministry. It's hard to even get a church to take you on, and you'll probably jump at the opportunity when one is presented. I have met far too many ministers who have gone to a good church only to find out that it's not the right church for them.

There is so much more to say on this subject, but I am going to save that for another time.

God Bless.