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The problem.....with a college education

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by stilllearning, Jan 21, 2011.

  1. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    What I am about to say, applies to both secular and religious places of learning, across the board. (Colleges, universities, museums etc.)

    First of all, an education is wonderful and needed; But there is an important aspect of higher education, that is being overlooked........
    Proverbs 1:7
    “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

    --------------------------------------------------
    The problem with places of learning is, they have been infiltrated by unsaved educators.
    This was no problem for them, because being born again, has very seldom been a prerequisite for their employment.
    But none the less, this is a BIG PROBLEM!

    A lot has been posted here recently about “faith”, and it’s correlation to “salvation”:
    And many have openly said...“Faith(believing the whole Bible), is not necessary for salvation”.

    So here we have the problem.
    How could any school, deny a position to anyone based upon their relationship with God by Jesus Christ, if faith is not an established requirement for salvation?
    --------------------------------------------------
    As a result we have unsaved professors, teaching the Bible!

    I remember how appalled I was, as a young Christian, being informed that a certain local Bible college, had professors teaching the Bible, who didn’t even believe the Bible.
    Praise the Lord, I am still appalled at that prospect, yet it continues.

    The first thing we should get established, before we sit at the feet of any educator, is are you born again? And if they aren’t, than we should not allow them to teach us about Spiritual things; or for sure we will end up being deceived.

    Now, if you are going college to learn to be a Doctor or an architect, this is a different story; But you still need to be very careful while taking those core classes, because Satan will want to put things in your head, that shouldn’t be there.

    Lastly, you will notice that I did not call college “evil” or “a bad idea”, I simply said it has a problem.
     
  2. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    I first want to say that I Have 30 graduate hours past a masters degree and I am a public high school teacher. With that said I believe that if you are not firmly grounded in Jesus Christ and the Gospel truth then you can be easily persuaded.

    When I went to college to get my undergraduate degree I went to a small "church" affiliated college, it was by no means a bible college. I was required to take two classes in religion both were taught by men who professed no hope in Christ. So yes, not only does higher education have problems but so does all levels of education.

    I thank God that I teach in a district that allows me to keep a bible on my desk. My administration knows my beliefs and so do my students.

    A peacful servant in Christ
     
  3. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Knowledge is needed, no doubt, but knowledge also puffeth up . . .

    Seminary does little to prepare anyone for a true ministry. It might prepare people to write books, but there's a reason that pastors are also called "elders."

    There's a word to describe most seminary graduates—novice.
     
  4. luke1616

    luke1616 New Member

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    Acts 4:13
    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
     
  5. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    There's nothing wrong with being uneducated, but there is everything wrong with staying that way, refusing to change, and being proud of it.

    And on the flip side of that coin, there is nothing wrong with obtaining an education, but there is everything wrong with obtaining one and looking down your nose at those who do not have one.
     
  6. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    And then there was Paul, who studied under Gamaliel and wrote the lion's share of the New Testament letters to the churches.
     
  7. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    The Bible makes a clear distinction between knowledge and wisdom.

    Knowledge is something imparted from others while wisdom comes from God.

    One cannot study to obtain wisdom.

    The purview of colleges/universities/seminaries is about knowledge growth. If someone is going to any of these institutions for wisdom, they look in the wrong places.

    Wisdom always begins on our knees.
     
  8. Baptist4life

    Baptist4life Well-Known Member
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    Sorry, I believe God, the Holy Spirit, wrote those! :smilewinkgrin:
     
  9. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    Better yet, we should want to know if they actually believe the scriptures -- that is, are their lives characterized by commitment to doing the things the scripture describes regarding discipling other, practical service to others, sharing their faith in a natural way, acting in loving ways toward those who are within and without the church, and being more conformed to Christ than a political party (religious or otherwise) or agenda?

    It doesn't impress me when someone says they are "born again" or they claim to "believe the Bible." (In fact, when someone makes an issue about believing the Bible, I've found that they are often very shaky in their faith in scripture and they are "willing" themselves to believe instead of having natural confidence, or else they are pushing a narrow agenda that, for all practical purposes, ignores vast portions of scripture in favor of a couple of pet issues.)

    What impresses me is someone in whom the character of Christ is consistently revealed, day in and day out, in the way they live their life and the way their speech moves easily between so-called "secular" things and "spiritual" things (as if the two are actually distinct). Those kind of people invest themselves in others.
     
  10. mets65

    mets65 New Member

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    You're lucky, there aren't many of those around. That would never fly here.
     
  11. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Ah, so you are a believer in the mechanical theory of inspiration rather than the verbal plenary theory. Very interesting.
     
  12. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Philippians 3:4-8 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has reasons he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

    Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but rubbish, that I may win Christ,
     
  13. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    So Paul's educational experiences was not a tool in God's hand?
     
  14. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Yes, and for all his religious training he did not recognize the promised Messiah and persecuted the truth. And probably the greatest factor behind his zeal to persecute Christians was his religious training. He could not "think outside the box" of his training, and so could not recognize Jesus. He had a preconceived conception of what the Messiah should be that Jesus did not conform to.

    Religious training is wonderful if you are taught the truth, but a disaster if you have been taught falsehood.
     
  15. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    And so exactly how did he differ from every other Jew who did not believe in Jesus?

    No one can deny that Paul's education is not reflected in His writings.
     
  16. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Now how in the world can anybody answer a question like that?

    It is clear that many of the Jews expected a conquering king who would restore the kingdom to Israel, this is likely what Paul might have believed.

    And Paul assuredly believed in those views held by the Pharisees which Jesus repeatedly denounced publically.

    So, Jesus kind of turned his world upside down, it was not what he expected.

    This can easily be observed right here at BB, many folks do not like to be told what they have been taught to believe is error and get angry.

    And many have great difficulty even considering a viewpoint that does not agree with what they have been taught.

    Just because someone is famous and has a bunch of letters after his name does not mean he is correct, Paul could tell you that.
     
  17. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    ......the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God. Jn 16:2

    That was Paul.

    But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother`s womb, and called me through his grace, Gal 1:15

    That was Paul.
     
  18. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    Uh...there was the burning bush...or was it the talking ass...or maybe it was Nathan's visit...whatever it was, yeah, kinda changed his perspective a bit. Then his Jewish expertise and his opened eyes and warmed heart were used mightily by God.

    He wasn't sent into some kind of trance with a pen and a cup of coffee.
     
  19. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    And the converse is also true- so where does that leave us?

    A good education is not any more detrimental to one's Christianity any more than a poor one might be.
     
  20. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    What is really interesting is your ignorance of what “verbal plenary inspiration”, means.

    Verbal inspiration (Theol.), that kind of inspiration which
    extends to the very words and forms of expression of the
    divine message.

    Plenary inspiration (Theol.), that kind of inspiration
    which excludes all defect in the utterance of the inspired
    message.
    [1913 Webster]
    --------------------------------------------------
    The Holy Spirit told Paul, the words to write.
     
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