by Jim Edge
I understand that many people are unsure about the certainty of truth and standards of morality, and they do not know where to turn to find the truth they crave.
While many preachers in America have caved in to the idea of reopening discussion about our most sacred doctrines, at Baptist Bible College we believe the very worst strategy for ministering in a climate like this is to imitate the uncertainty or to echo the cynicism of our postmodern culture. Instead, we will stand against the spirit of this age. Our message must be that God has spoken with the utmost clarity, authority, and finality through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2), and we have the infallible record of that message in the Word of God (2 Peter 1:19-21). We believe God’s Word to be a relevant message of absolute truth, anchored in the very person of Christ.
Our students often arrive on campus with questions about the very nature of truth. Many are new believers. Others do not come from Christian families where truth has been instilled consistently. The idea that our Christian message and doctrine should be kept flexible seems especially attractive to young people who are in tune with the culture and the spirit of the age. In some cases, they have rarely seen authoritative biblical truth applied with precision.
Our faculty and staff lovingly educate them in understanding and applying truth. They are taught proven and reliable principles of biblical interpretation from a distinctly conservative Baptist perspective. Hermeneutics (Bible interpretation) is an exacting science. Good preaching depends upon careful hermeneutics. Sadly, too many American pulpits are filled with preachers who are unwilling to do the hard work necessary to interpret Scripture properly. Application is critical, but careful interpretation must always come first. Our students learn that those who would become faithful Christian leaders are commanded to be diligent workers, rightly dividing the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
At BBC, our competent professors train our students to understand that proper biblical interpretation requires diligent work, an understanding of the meaning of the original languages, a working knowledge of grammar and logic, a grasp of the historical settings, competence in theology, and a broad understanding of the whole of Scripture.
Every true Christian should know and love the truth. The Bible teaches that one of the key characteristics of those who are lost is that they “received not the love of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Is it not significant that Jesus Himself teaches us that one of the distinguishing qualities of every true believer is to know the truth, and be set free by the truth (John 8:32)? At BBC, our students are challenged to fall in love with the One who is Truth, and to develop a deep commitment to the truth He taught. For the past 60 years, our graduates have consistently demonstrated a love for truth, a heart for the truth of the gospel, and a passion for the ministry of the local church.