Length: 4 Minutes

These days, most Bible schools end up turning out students that can quote a lot of books, philosophies, methods of Bible interpretation, and “tenants of faith”, but are as confused as ever, because they’re not being taught the simplicity of what Jesus has done for them. We end up getting so caught up in the specific biblical prophecies, principles, and concepts themselves, rather than simply seeing the One they’re pointing to.

John 5:39 (NKJV) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

In doing this, they stifle the power of God from ever manifesting. Not because they don’t want to know God, but because the power of God is only manifested when people are simply seeing Jesus (Acts 3:16). Most Bible schools and theologians teach so many empty things that have nothing to do with the cross at all, and they have missed Jesus, in His simplicity. And I don’t say “Jesus, in His simplicity” because there is not incredible depth to that knowledge. I mean simplicity in the sense of “alone, solitary, and nothing but what Jesus has done for us (Matthew 17).”

I’m not saying that you will never hear Jesus mentioned in a Bible school. But there is so much extra stuff added along with the knowledge of the cross that what Jesus has done for those students, ends up being one of many topics. The pure seed of the truth of Jesus ends up getting crowded out and choked by all the other fluff of learning world religions, speculating over Bible prophecy, and endless philosophies. All the while, what Jesus did for us at the cross is not one of many topics in scripture. It’s the only topic (1 Peter 1:11).

1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Currently, there’s not a single Bible school that we would direct people to, aside from our own “Reform U,” because it’s just simple teaching about Jesus. I mean this sincerely: Most Bible schools are actually a detriment to people’s faith, and not a help. It will actually make you sillier regarding knowing the true nature of God, not wiser. 

Today, a degree in theology is looked at as an advantage when starting a church or looking for a ministry job. At Reform Church, if someone flaunted a theological degree, seeking a job here, it would be perceived as a detriment to the résumé and not an advantage because we know that what Bible schools are typically teaching is very far from the simple truth of what Jesus provided.

Even for your personal knowledge, a Bible degree is as valuable to knowing God as the paper it’s printed on. Less actually. It’s not to say that there may not be some Bible schools out there that are simply teaching Jesus, but a good Bible school should sound just like a good church. We should just be preaching Jesus.  

You should note that the very people that wrote your Bible didn’t have a degree. Nor did they need one. They needed revelation of the Holy Spirit. Most of them had fellow believers around them to encourage them, but how did they get to know the Lord? They trusted in the Lord to reveal Himself and meditated on Him constantly.

Even if you haven’t been to Bible school, if you have studied for years, read all the Christian books, consulted all the commentaries, and are still confused about so much, this article is directly applicable to you. Leave behind all your methods of Bible interpretation. Forsake them entirely. Throw out all your preconceived ideas and everything that so-called Christian books have taught you. Tell the Lord, “I just want to see Jesus. Make it that simple for me again.” And then trust God to reveal, not what you need to do for Jesus, but what Jesus has done for you. 

God just wants you to see Jesus. It’s so simple and so beautiful. God just wants you to see Jesus.

…If you enjoyed this, share it with someone else. More people need to understand this awesome truth!