10 reasons to consider Bible College
I’ve had the joy of being involved in theological education in the Republic of Ireland for over 25 years. We’ve seen hundreds of students complete courses and go on to serve the Lord in churches and ministries all over Ireland and beyond.
But why go to Bible College? Sometimes people say to me that Bible College is unnecessary or even spiritually dangerous. I find such attitudes ill-informed because they show a lack of awareness of just how important and relevant good theological education is.
So let me offer ten reasons why every Christian should consider Bible College and why every church leadership team should be actively encouraging their church members to go. These reasons aren’t theoretical – they come from years of experience and from talking to lots of students.
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The Bible is at the centre of our name and what we do. Students study the whole Bible and its overall story of God’s redemptive mission. They develop their ability to interpret and apply it to their own lives, mission, ministry and society. They learn skills that will influence others to engage well with the Bible. These skills are more essential than ever today with the Bible effectively an unknown book outside the church.
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Everyone has a theology, whether they are aware of it or not. And ‘everything is theological’ – whether giving a children’s talk, praying, designing a new church building, agreeing a church budget, comforting a bereaved friend or going shopping. Theological education helps students develop their theological thinking and awareness. They discover great Christian thinkers of the past and present and learn to develop their own theological framework for life and ministry today.
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A student said to me this week that one of the best discoveries about IBI was that she wasn’t just studying theology, she was learning within a welcoming and supportive community of Christians made up of teachers, students and staff. Learning happens best in and through conversation and friendship – and those friendships often last for life.
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Character is by far the most important qualification for Christian ministry. A Bible College can’t ‘produce’ Christian character, but it can prioritise its importance in every aspect of college life and require students to learn to reflect self-critically from feedback from teachers and mentors. This can be a challenging process, but a powerfully transformative one. The goal is to help students develop in prayer, Christ-like servant leadership, humility and in listening to God and others.
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It’s the Holy Spirit who gifts people for service, but a Bible College can help people discover and develop their God-given gifts. One of the most satisfying things as a teacher is to see a student flourish as they enhance gifts of leadership, teaching, preaching, pastoral care, writing, evangelism and so on.
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We live in a complex, fast-changing world. Complex issues confront us in the news every day. Within the church questions are always arising and come up in ministry all the time. Few people have the time and resources to figure them out on their own. This is where Bible College education becomes invaluable. Students are taught by experts, are guided as to what to read and research and so become well equipped to help others think through such issues.
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Life is busy. Most people squeeze in volunteer church ministry roles into tight schedules. Even those in full-time leadership positions have little space to study and develop their own thinking. That takes time. But it’s that sort of time that’s essential if you are to be well equipped for the demands of ministry and to influence others. A good way to see Bible College is as a wise investment of precious time: time to think; time to listen to God; time to learn; time to read; time to study; time to reflect; time to engage with others; time to develop vision for what God is calling you to in your own context. Time at Bible College is time well spent.
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If life is busy, it’s also complicated. Most of us have all sort of responsibilities that make finding the time and money to go College difficult. This is why at IBI we have developed multiple pathways for students to study at undergraduate level: evening classes (Certificate), classes compressed into two days a week (Tuesdays & Wednesdays) and the ability to study with ‘On Site’ in person in IBI or ‘On Zoom’ – taking classes from where you live. There are also full-time and part-time options.
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Some colleges and churches have programmes designed to make everyone think the same. But this isn’t really education. Again and again students tell me that one the greatest benefits of studying at IBI is theological diversity (within this statement of faith). Diversity means that everyone does not think the same – and that’s a good thing. We learn from difference; we’re enriched by difference. It makes us better equipped to work with others in partnerships and fosters Christian unity.
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Every Christian has to live out their faith in a specific place at a specific time and in a specific context. Many of the challenges facing believers in 21st century post-Christendom Ireland are unique to Ireland. In other words, all theology is contextual and this is why all our courses are designed and taught with the Irish context in mind.