Bible Colleges

[AF Guy N Paradise]

I already have a Master's Degree but it is secular so I am wanting to go back to get another degree from a Bible college and use my GI benefits so that I don't lose them. This will all be done online by the way.

I am IFB so between this fact and the fact that not all Bible colleges accept the GI Bill I narrowed my choices to 2 colleges; one may be a little too far to the right for my liking while the other one may be a little too far to the left to my liking.

For one of them I have to sign a student code of conduct and I do agree with most of what it states but under "separated living", it states:

"Loyalty to Christ results in separated living. Dishonesty, lewdness, sensual behavior, adultery, homosexuality, sexual perversion of any kind, pornography, illegal use of drugs, and drunkenness -- all are clearly condemned by God's Word and prohibited for a degree candidate.

Further, we believe that biblical principles preclude gambling, dancing, tobacco use, and the beverage use of alcohol.

If a student is enrolled and subsequently is involved in any of the practices identified in this letter (or has a criminal record/arrests or is under church discipline), he disqualifies himself from a degree program for one year from the date of his last involvement".

It is very difficult finding a balanced church these days. They seem to go too far to the right on some issues or too far to the left on others.

Since it is online, I am sure I will get good material regardless and the secondary issues will be just that.

I guess my question is would you prefer to go more to the left or more to the right even if you don't 100% agree on all the issues on both sides?

God Bless.

 

[matt wade]

I wouldn't sign up and agree to a code of conduct if you don't plan to abide by it. How valuable is a degree obtained when you are deceptive to the institution that issues it?

 

[JesusFan]

I already have a Master's Degree but it is secular so I am wanting to go back to get another degree from a Bible college and use my GI benefits so that I don't lose them. This will all be done online by the way.

I am IFB so between this fact and the fact that not all Bible colleges accept the GI Bill I narrowed my choices to 2 colleges; one may be a little too far to the right for my liking while the other one may be a little too far to the left to my liking.

For one of them I have to sign a student code of conduct and I do agree with most of what it states but under "separated living", it states:

"Loyalty to Christ results in separated living. Dishonesty, lewdness, sensual behavior, adultery, homosexuality, sexual perversion of any kind, pornography, illegal use of drugs, and drunkenness -- all are clearly condemned by God's Word and prohibited for a degree candidate.

Further, we believe that biblical principles preclude gambling, dancing, tobacco use, and the beverage use of alcohol.

If a student is enrolled and subsequently is involved in any of the practices identified in this letter (or has a criminal record/arrests or is under church discipline), he disqualifies himself from a degree program for one year from the date of his last involvement".

It is very difficult finding a balanced church these days. They seem to go too far to the right on some issues or too far to the left on others.

Since it is online, I am sure I will get good material regardless and the secondary issues will be just that.

I guess my question is would you prefer to go more to the left or more to the right even if you don't 100% agree on all the issues on both sides?

God Bless.

was that school called Pharisee U by any chance?

 

[AF Guy N Paradise]

I wouldn't sign up and agree to a code of conduct if you don't plan to abide by it. How valuable is a degree obtained when you are deceptive to the institution that issues it?

I agree so if I choose this one I will stick by their rules...

Thanks.

 

[preacher4truth]

was that school called Pharisee U by any chance?

I'm certain it's Bob Jones U by googling their conduct policy.

 

[matt wade]

I agree so if I choose this one I will stick by their rules...

Thanks.

Well, I personally am in line with the one on the right except for dancing, and I don't go dancing anyway, so I obviously would choose the one further right.

 

[AF Guy N Paradise]

Well, I personally am in line with the one on the right except for dancing, and I don't go dancing anyway, so I obviously would choose the one further right.

My son is stationed in Vegas and I go and see him a couple times a year and I admit gambling (just a little bit) is fun. I do know when to quit and even have a set amount to play with (no much).

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

I am not sure where you are going with this AF. If you don’t plan to abide by their code of conduct, don’t sign it and go somewhere else. If this is where you want to go to school then sign it and abide by it. You don’t have to agree to every point, just follow it while a student. They are explaining the rules up front and being honest about it.

I am sure there were plenty of rules in the Air Force you were not wild about. When you get out you might let your hair grow out, and that will be fine with them. You only have to follow those rules while under them. The same goes for the school. If you think something they are prohibiting is ok then go do it, AFTER you are no longer their student.

The school has the right to set their own rules. I have the right to disagree with them. It is only when I voluntarily become a student that I agree to follow them.

 

[AF Guy N Paradise]

I am not sure where you are going with this AF. If you don’t plan to abide by their code of conduct, don’t sign it and go somewhere else. If this is where you want to go to school then sign it and abide by it. You don’t have to agree to every point, just follow it while a student. They are explaining the rules up front and being honest about it.

I am sure there were plenty of rules in the Air Force you were not wild about. When you get out you might let your hair grow out, and that will be fine with them. You only have to follow those rules while under them. The same goes for the school. If you think something they are prohibiting is ok then go do it, AFTER you are no longer their student.

The school has the right to set their own rules. I have the right to disagree with them. It is only when I voluntarily become a student that I agree to follow them.

I concur with everything you say. If I choose this particular college I will not put even a single nickel in the slots when I go to Vegas. I hate dancing anyway and I don't smoke or drink either.

By the way, I still like my hair short. I get it cut as much now as I did when I was on active duty. I still work on base but now as a civilian.

 

[Benjamin]

Further, we believe that biblical principles preclude gambling, dancing, tobacco use, and the beverage use of alcohol.

If a student is enrolled and subsequently is involved in any of the practices identified in this letter (or has a criminal record/arrests or is under church discipline), he disqualifies himself from a degree program for one year from the date of his last involvement".

I wouldn’t/couldn’t, feel like I shouldn’t put myself, or my children under the authority of what is coming off as being written by white washed Pharisees who are clearly judgmental while picking and choosing what the “Biblical principles prelude” or will include yet certainly will conveniently ignore the same high standard if it were to reflect on them, such as gluttony/obesity. Mind you I am not saying that this should be added to the list but that it is biblically preluded to as much or more than anything on that list and exposes a pharisaical legalistic standard that is conveniently selective.

I would not partake with an institution like that which I consider to be blatantly adding personal biases into the truth and meanings of the Word in order to be judgmental on others or to promote a particular belief.

That said, I have pretty much been able to pick out something I didn’t like being promoted from every Bible college/institution I have ever looked at, including issues on things like Calvinism, Dispensationalism, Baptism, Sacraments, Legalism, etc. and believe there is no “one size fits all” and they all pretty much desire to add in their pet peeves to impose on others. I really have no solution to offer other than what others have already said about abiding within their rules and having to weigh the good with the bad when making a choice.

 

[HAMel]

Clearly, there are some "things" in life we should especially stay away from but are we not cutting the Lord off with our shopping list of can and can't do's?

My doctor suggested I drink a glass of Red Wine every day. I told him that just the smell of wine gives me heart burn so bad I can't stand it. Good for me! A husband and wife celebrating many years of marriage should be looked down upon for dancing at their own celebration?

Other than the obvious taboo's it seems to me that we too often cut off our noses just to spite our face. Once out of college are we not all adults? ...and if one hasn't figured it out by that time, what's the use? Perhaps way too many of these kids attending Bible Colleges are there because mamma and papa wanted them to attend. If so, said college needs a strict code of ethics for sure.

 

[Tom Bryant]

And speaking of legalistic, fundamentalist colleges, a friend of mine was forced to undergo painful dental reconstruction in order to graduate....


... from West Point!​

 

[Zenas]

AF Guy, you didn't say why you want a second masters degree from a Bible college. Are you planning to go into the ministry? Do you want to teach and write? Or are you just looking for additional learning? If it's the first or third reasons, you ought to go to the school whose outlook is closest to your own. If it is the second reason, you should go to the one with the better academic reputation.

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

By the way, I still like my hair short. I get it cut as much now as I did when I was on active duty.

Exactly, but then it was a rule and now it is a choice. So with these other rules the colleges have made.

 

[preachinjesus]

If you desire to attend an institution with these kinds of rules you are obligated to follow them. When I attended Liberty U they had some pretty rigorous rules (not so much anymore.) But I had to follow the rules of the institution. It was my Christian obligation. Though I might have my own objections, by submitting myself to their leadership I then must realize I under their authority.

If you pursue your goal with integrity you'll be all the better for it.

 

[Martin]

Further, we believe that biblical principles preclude gambling, dancing, tobacco use, and the beverage use of alcohol.

==Let me state up-front that I don't gamble, I certainly don't sing, but I love music and every once and a while my head starts bobbing back and forth and my foot starts tapping. I would love for these folks to show me where the Bible forbids dancing. As far as tobacco, again I don't smoke, but the Bible no place forbids it either. Smoking is no more or less a sin than eating a Big Mac and large fries at McDonalds. Both are damaging your body and both will come back and cause you health problems.

The best online schools (imo) are Liberty University and Luther Rice University and Seminary. You will get a good education that nobody can argue with. Certainly both schools have morality standards (Liberty has the "Liberty Way") as one would expect (not sure if dancing and smoking is on either). My point is simply from an academic view.

Btw, even if you are IFB you can attend these schools. There is no law that you have to agree with everything a college or university teaches. I know many of my students don't always agree with me (I don't teach at LU or LRU -- no conflict of interest).

Since it is online, I am sure I will get good material regardless and the secondary issues will be just that.

==That is not always true. Some of these very fundamentalist type schools are not up on the latest scholarship (textual studies, apologetics, history, etc).

I earned a MA in Religion from Liberty and a MA in History from a UNC University. I certainly had disagreements with things done at both schools. But I still got a good education.

 

[AF Guy N Paradise]

AF Guy, you didn't say why you want a second masters degree from a Bible college. Are you planning to go into the ministry? Do you want to teach and write? Or are you just looking for additional learning? If it's the first or third reasons, you ought to go to the school whose outlook is closest to your own. If it is the second reason, you should go to the one with the better academic reputation.

The degree would be in Biblical Counseling and I have worked in this role in Reformer's Unanimous and with a few men in my current church.

I think it is something God can use me for my church and community.

And I have always wanted to learn more from the Bible and since I don't want to lose my GI Bill benefits why not use them for God's glory?

 

[Zenas]

The degree would be in Biblical Counseling and I have worked in this role in Reformer's Unanimous and with a few men in my current church.

I think it is something God can use me for my church and community.

And I have always wanted to learn more from the Bible and since I don't want to lose my GI Bill benefits why not use them for God's glory?

That being the case, I would look at the academic reputations first and foremost. You seem pretty well grounded in your beliefs so they probably won't change no matter where you enroll. Incidentally this an area where good people are really needed and you should be able to make a difference in people's lives. Counselors are a dime a dozen but Christian counselors that come at it from a Biblical perspective are rare.

 

[Sapper Woody]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a college holding to standards higher than the Bible strictly outlines. If you don't want to be holden to these standards, then don't go there. Just because a college or university wants their graduates to have a high reputation, and thus hold to high standards does not mean that they are pharisaical.

It is no different than a gym kicking someone out who isn't motivated, doesn't follow their program, and stays fat. They want to have a certain reputation, and to keep this reputation, they create high standards.

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

The degree would be in Biblical Counseling and I have worked in this role in Reformer's Unanimous and with a few men in my current church.

I think it is something God can use me for my church and community.

And I have always wanted to learn more from the Bible and since I don't want to lose my GI Bill benefits why not use them for God's glory?

I have a degree from Master's International School of Divinity in Evansville Indiana I completed online. I was very impressed with the school and they have a program in Biblical Counseling that is fully accredited. The cost was resonable as well. I would recommend you check them out.