Page 34 - THBI Student Handbook - 2020

➢ It can broaden your opportunities for service and promote your work for the Lord. If a pulpit committee
was looking over two pastoral candidates, and most things on their resumes were fairly equal but one
had a Doctor of Theology degree and the other didn’t, it may possibly tip the scales in favor of the one
who had gone the extra mile making the extra efforts, and land him the position.
➢ A degree could enhance your value to your Church and promote its reputation in the community.
➢ Although a secular degree usually means increased income in the business world, this should be the
very last reason for earning a religious degree! While financial advantage could possibly result, this
should be a much lower priority!
The greater motive for desiring a degree is your increased ability to help others with far greater
spiritual benefits through your ministry and leadership because of your gains in understanding and
abilities in the Ministry of our Lord Christ Jesus!
So instead of looking at a degree from the world’s perspective of financial gain the question should
be: “Can you be your best for Christ without a Christian College degree?”

USE OF YOUR TITLE

According to the W.W.A.C. only about 7% of ministers in major cities have Doctor Degrees but it’s rapidly
increasing.
A Doctorate from the True Hope Bible Institute gives you a legitimate right to use the title in your public
life either before or after your name, such as: Dr. Joe Smith, Joe Smith, D.Th, or Rev. Dr. Joe Smith. You
are honestly and ethically entitled to use your title on your business cards, letterhead, brochures and the
phone book if you so choose.

It’s only reasonable and proper for others to address and introduce you as “Doctor so and so...” Your degree
means that you have spent untold hours studying multitudes of Bible verses, scores of Christian writings
and answering hundreds if not thousands of questions correctly! Your degree will often win you instant
respect from most dignified people.

Sadly, however, there will sometimes be those few who reject your title because they may be bound in
secular perspectives, or they may be jealous ... or they may be enemies of the Cross! The natural-thinking
man is quite often used by the devil to resist and reject what God has done in your life.
➢ WARNING: We become especially vulnerable to this condition if we have gained any degree to
impress others, because of pride, to be a tool of our own ambition - - or to find acceptance from men!

So, don't be too shocked if someone along the way tries to discredit you or, the True Hope Bible Institute
or, our Accrediting Association or, the ministry of Biblical education in general. For evil men and women
do these things today and have for thousands of years now!

➢ Just remember, II Timothy 3:12 – 14:
“Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of
whom thou hast learned them …”

After all, respect or disrespect is just someone's opinion - - based on facts or not. Sometimes when folks
judge others, they are really just saying what they think of themselves at the same time.
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