I could use some help.

[Chase]

I live in the Houston area in Texas and I want to go to a Christian Bible Study university. The problem is I know my parents will be totally against it and I'm also having a hard time figuring out a good place to go to. Does any one out there have any suggestions, they would be much appreciated!

[Kist]

I don't think I'm the best person to give advice, but I have to ask why would your parents be against it?
Also the best advice I could give you is Pray on the matter, God is far more wise than any of us. I'll pray for you.

[micah719]

You don't need to go to a "university" to learn The Bible....in fact, I suggest you stay away from such places unless you want spiritual poison. Perhaps your parents are aware of this. I'll pray for you too...

[mikhen7]

I don't think I'm the best person to give advice, but I have to ask why would your parents be against it?
Also the best advice I could give you is Pray on the matter, God is far more wise than any of us. I'll pray for you.

Kist is correct. You need to earnestly seek God. there are many great Christian universities. You need to get Gods direction on whether you will stay in the Houston area or branch out. I have also whispered a prayer.

[mikhen7]

You don't need to go to a "university" to learn The Bible....in fact, I suggest you stay away from such places unless you want spiritual poison. Perhaps your parents are aware of this. I'll pray for you too...

Micah I agree with you about the poison in many cases. But if you are led by the Spirit then you can choose the non-poisonous cup. :) I did not agree with some of the doctrine I had to stomach but had a solemn promise from my professors that if I could Biblically defend what I believed they would not downgrade me. So I disagreed and got all A's at that college. I then switched to a God fearing university.

[micah719]

He who pays the piper gets to call the tune....who pays the bills at these "universities"? Harvard, Princeton, Yale, those were once strongholds of Scriptural study but no longer, and not recently either. Fuller was once fuller Grace and Truth, but these days fuller something else....

There were many God-fearing universities, once upon a time, but I fear to find one now you will need to look long and hard; and to risk a fresh little lamb falling into wolvish company in these increasingly perilous times on the chance that he might yet find some worthy rams to learn from, in pastures the wolves know to hunt in, where the goats feed very well and feel great about goatishness, is folly.

Our Shepherd picked 12 ordinary men and even one of those was a traitor...and his learned replacement, Pharisee of Pharisees, counted all his great knowledge as dung, after he had learned privately from The Lord in the Arabian desert for 3 years. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, but had to spend 40 years herding sheep in the wilderness before he was fit for use. David was a lion- and bear-killing shepherd in his late teens when The Lord worked through him to slay the greatest warrior in the world while the mighty men of Israel huddled on the hill...

The lad is better off learning how to earn an honest living, marrying a Godly woman, and diligently studying Scripture and the history of The Bride, all of which he can do independently of the schools that turned out the "luminaries" we see so much of nowadays....to send him to a clergy-factory that, these days, is very likely infiltrated to the highest levels would deprive him of valuable real-life experience and add just enough leaven to spoil him. It isn't worth the risk. How can you be sure he would come away unscathed in the same circumstances you describe?

[mikhen7]

. How can you be sure he would come away unscathed in the same circumstances you describe?

As you search hard. However, not all universities or colleges have gone the way of Balaam. Pray and be founded in your faith before you enter knowing there are wolves present. It is tough but good theological training is available even through sattelites of Bible colleges where the teachers are local pastors. Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary is very conservative in Dallas, I believe. And they offer non-under graduate courses, I believe. At least they used to. Yes, if you dig deep enough you may find a wolf there but many a good Pastor has graced its halls of all protestant denominations.

God Bless Micah,I know where you are coming from.

[Meg]

You certainly don't have to go to school to get misled. Far from it. If you really want to get your doctrine straight, read the Word and practice making an effort to do what it says. If you do that, and I do mean really try it, you will be able to tell the difference between the fakes and the sincere, and you'll know why.

[king'sbloomingrose]

There's a place where you can study the Bible online for free with over 100 courses available with many good Bible teachers. It has over 23,000 students currently enrolled, and all you have to do is listen to the messages and then take a quiz over each one. You can go at your own pace and if you complete all of the courses then you'll even get a "graduation" certificate. I'd definitely recommend checking it out. Here's the link: BBN Bible Institute

[Chase]

Thanks everyone! All advice is considered! I guess from here I will just have to pray and watch my steps as God leads me where He wants me. Thanks a ton for all the prayers, the seem to give the most effective answers! Also, I get what you guys mean by "poisoned" colleges. I even noticed one that claimed to be a Christian place with an organization for Homosexuality! The reason (in case you were wondering) for my worry about my parents is they have this idea in their heads that I need to get some big, fancy degree and be some kind of engineer or scientist. Everytime I warn them about how corrupting money can be, they try to persuade me that it is not true. But the New Testament tells me all over the place about the dangners of wealth and it is full of warnings to the rich. Again, I'll just have to pray on it and wait to see where the Lord takes me! Thanks again!

[mattfivefour]

Chase, you are very wise in your convictions on this matter. As a parent and a grand-parent I understand where your parents are coming from. But it is only because they are operating in the flesh in this matter and do not fully trust God. Ask Him to lead you where He wants you. He will indeed.

[mikhen7]

Chase, you are very wise in your convictions on this matter. As a parent and a grand-parent I understand where your parents are coming from. But it is only because they are operating in the flesh in this matter and do not fully trust God. Ask Him to lead you where He wants you. He will indeed.

Totally in agreement, brother!

[Meg]

Thanks everyone! All advice is considered! I guess from here I will just have to pray and watch my steps as God leads me where He wants me. Thanks a ton for all the prayers, the seem to give the most effective answers! Also, I get what you guys mean by "poisoned" colleges. I even noticed one that claimed to be a Christian place with an organization for Homosexuality! The reason (in case you were wondering) for my worry about my parents is they have this idea in their heads that I need to get some big, fancy degree and be some kind of engineer or scientist. Everytime I warn them about how corrupting money can be, they try to persuade me that it is not true. But the New Testament tells me all over the place about the dangners of wealth and it is full of warnings to the rich. Again, I'll just have to pray on it and wait to see where the Lord takes me! Thanks again!

Chase, its not the money, its the attitude. There are plenty of very solid Christians who have good careers and make good money. The man who led me to Christ is one of them. Matt and Mikhen both work in secular professions, and they're both high-end Elders In Christ, greatly respected by everyone who knows them. A healthy combination of being rooted in Christ and taking Him seriously, and a secular career is an important contribution to society at large. Put it this way, if Christians don't work their way up to upper career positions in general fields (name your choice), that leaves unbelievers to fill the void. THAT isn't recommended...

[Meg]

There's a place where you can study the Bible online for free with over 100 courses available with many good Bible teachers. It has over 23,000 students currently enrolled, and all you have to do is listen to the messages and then take a quiz over each one. You can go at your own pace and if you complete all of the courses then you'll even get a "graduation" certificate. I'd definitely recommend checking it out. Here's the link: BBN Bible Institute

Nice link, Holly. I'm going to check this out soon, and if I see something I like, I'll start a thread, unless you beat me to it.

[Chase]

Chase, you are very wise in your convictions on this matter. As a parent and a grand-parent I understand where your parents are coming from. But it is only because they are operating in the flesh in this matter and do not fully trust God. Ask Him to lead you where He wants you. He will indeed.

I recently went to my grandparents with this and they told me the same thing, I can tell you must be a great grandparent! Thanks for the advice, that's exactly what I will do.