THE ROLE OF COLLEGES IN THE CHURCH TODAY
By: Brian A. Yeager

    The body of Christ today is full of those trying to do better than the brethren in the first century.  One of the ways they are attempting this is by putting together schools, which effectively become known as “church of Christ Colleges”.  Some schools will actually allow themselves to be known as such, while others would properly deny that there ever could be such a thing.  Yet, even though some deny it, there is that thought in the back of the minds of some brethren.  It is often that we see Colleges, which are basically maintained by brethren, making many influences on the church.  Some are good influences, and as it is sad but it seems the majority of their influences are negative influences.  Historically anytime that “higher education” became a church involved matter, there was apostasy that came from it.  Our question in this article is simple.  What is the role of colleges in the church today?  In our study we must remember that it is the word of Christ that gives authority (Colossians 3:17).  Without the authority of Christ we are doing things above and beyond the word of God.  Adding to God’s plan has a price (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19).

Evangelism – Work of the Local church or the Secular College?

    Evangelism is the responsibility of each autonomous congregation.  It was the church at Thessalonica that was known for spreading the Gospel (I Thessalonians 1:6-8), not the “Brotherhood College of Thessalonica”.  The College is not part of any local work.  It is the church that is the ground and pillar of the truth (I Timothy 3:15).  Colleges are under the direction of men, and are not governed by the authority of Christ, as is the church (Colossians 1:18).  No where in the Bible do we find the church delegating it’s work to a human institution.  If it were such a good thing, would not God have authorized it and made it known to us through His word?  (Proverbs 14:12) “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

The Danger of Teaching Bible In Secular Colleges!

    In many Secular Schools that are often thought of as “church of Christ Colleges”, they teach and instruct bible.  They not only do so to train men to be preachers, but it is a requirement to take these classes.  Notice the following quote from a student handbook of a “conservative school”.

“Congratulations upon choosing to attend a unique institution of higher education.  ________  ________’s mission is the education of the whole person—academically, spiritually, socially, and physically. Every aspect of your experience at the college, whether in the classroom, in chapel, in the dormitory, on the playing field, or in your social interaction with students, faculty and staff, plays a part in achieving that goal.”  (Underlines/bolds added B.A.Y.)

Do Not Let Down Your Guard!

    When we send our youth to Christian colleges we must be weary.  There are many young men and women that come back from these schools with thoughts contrary to the Bible.  Then we allow them to teach Bible classes and they instill this school of thought into those children, then the church of tomorrow has become more and more by the way side.  We need to train our young about God starting in the home. (Ephesians 6:1-4) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  Then that needs to carry over into the church.  The church needs to teach enough truth that when we send our young out they will be able to identify error and defend the truth. Our children need to be wearing the proper armor (Ephesians 6:11-17).  It is very easy for college age children in these Colleges ran by brethren to feel a sense of security.  We must be aware that in these times of a false sense of security our children can be misled about the truth.  (Matthew 7:15) “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Conclusion

    It would be very good to have a secular school where brethren taught, that would provide a moral and ethical place for our children to be taught.  Yet, these schools should not be carrying out the work of the church.  To promote and support such things would be contradictive to for those who oppose “Institutionalism”.  A man-made organization cannot carry out that which God has given to the church.  If a college can teach and preach Bible then an Institution can provide benevolence.  It is the prayer of every faithful Christian that the church will strive and become pure and faithful as Christ intended it to be (Ephesians 5:27).  It is our role to keep it as such.  We can use the situations that would be bad and train our children to be able to use the word of God and have an adverse effect on those in error.  We can teach our children and they could be able to take someone who is wrong and teach them the truth.  We must be able and willing to defend God’s word (Jude v.3 and I Peter 3:15).

Parables of Jesus Christ Word Search

This Bible word search game has 14 answers.

E X C W B U U T T R C Z S W H
E Z E O C N N E W E A M T B I
R W F P J J M N O W S E I M T
T Y G M Q U E V D O U T L X O
G O X N Z S R I E S S D D L E
I S E R A T C R B D E R R G R
F T Y R W S I G T O J A B O U
T A U I Y T F I O Z E G E D S
W L O C P E U N R P H N H L A
O E I H Q W L S S M P E A O E
S N E F U A Z L F X P T P V R
O T F O A R E E Z A B M P E T
N S A O K D P F Q U I O Y Y D
S B E L O S T S O N B T O O I
G O O D S A M A R I T A N U H

Two Debtors - Good Samaritan - Rich Fool - Lost Son - Fig Tree - Unjust Steward - Tares - Hid Treasure - Pearl - Drag Net - Two Sons - Ten Virgins - Talents - Sower