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One of the most frequent questions graduating seniors and their parents have is, “Should I (my child) go to a Bible college?” The short answer is, “No…unless you’re preparing for ministry. ” Bible college is for ministry preparation and is the best for ministry preparation. It is not for those desiring to study for any other vocation for reasons that will be described. Bible college is a great choice for those studying to enter ministry is because they offer…

• Christian world view on life and ministry.
• Christian professors to serve as mentors.
• A network of professional ministers for life.
• An advantage to those who might have a challenge in entering ministry – such as women in conservative church associations.

If however you want to study for another vocation a traditional Bible college is not the way to go. There are Bible colleges which in addition are also liberal arts colleges. These Christian liberal arts colleges can be a great choices for more people. They are particularly helpful for those considering ministry but who have some doubts. It allows a student to sample ministry preparation without loosing any credits from a non-accredited school. This is the case as many Bible colleges (particularly ministry preparation schools) are often not regionally accredited. Transferring credits from a non-accredited school is difficult and in some cases impossible. A few things to look out for when evaluating accreditation…

• The “ABHE” is not a regional accrediting body. Which means most secular school will not accept their accreditation.
• Some schools tout being recognized and or listed in the “Higher Education Directory” but this is not accreditation. This status simply means they can confer degrees and receive federal student funding.

That said, ministry preparation is not best served by a religion department in a secular school – although many take this route. If you had your choice at the start you would not want this option, if you could chose. The reason is being: secular religious study denies many of the more orthodox Christian tenets. Primarily because theology taught in secular schools is often taught skeptically and critically when it comes to the authorship of the Bible.

• Basic truths such as scriptural inspiration, traditional authorship, etc. are denied in academia.
• Many churches do not like hiring secular graduates with “religion” degrees as they often lack ministry preparation and only have academic knowledge of theology.

In summary, Bible colleges are for people preparing for ministry, Christian liberal arts colleges are for people considering ministry and for those wanting to study for other vocations (which require higher education) in a Christian setting. Obviously state schools are a great choice for those grounded in their faith who require no specific “sacred education” and the plurality of Christian campus organizations provide for great spiritual growth opportunities. A lot of great choices, no “right answer” and with prayer you will be able to discern the best fit for you!

Additional Resources:

• Click here for a list of Bible colleges associated with the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.
• Click here for a list of Christian liberal arts colleges in North America.

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