AN EXPLANATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION

Over the years the word accreditation, as used by those involved in higher education has acquired various interpretations, but basically it indicates that some outside body of educators have examined a school and found it to be doctrinally, academically, and financially reliable, and has certified that it meets their ethical standards. The purpose is to simply assure the public that the school is a reputable establishment.

There is no such thing as Federal or State accreditation of a Bible school, for civil government has no authority to regulate religious teachings or what certificates we issue for it. This is an issue of separation of Church and State, as Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). Politicians and magistrates must never be allowed to officially endorse or disapprove directly or indirectly the beliefs and practices of churches or their Bible schools. A casual survey of Church history shows that such linkage with Caesar eventually leads to infringement upon conscience, bondage, and corruption. Therefore, to be accredited by any agency, which in turn is supervised by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, would to some degree be a compromise of the separation principle and constitute friendship with the world, condemned as adultery by James 4:4.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

• There is secular education and there is religious education.

• Secular schools seek secular education, and sacred schools receive sacred accreditation—each by their own peers.

• Religious institutions need no secular accreditation because they offer no secular degrees.

• Secular accreditation associations in turn are recognized by governmental agencies. They trace their authority back to the capitol of a country, like Washington, D.C.

• Religious accrediting associations are recognized by the Church of Jesus Christ, which has no supreme central office on earth. Our authority is derived directly from Heaven.

• Civil and religious interests are different and have separate realms of jurisdiction.

• The State is not superior to the Church. The Church need not wait for approval from the secular world.

• Civil agencies should not be dictating standards of Christian education, any more than a police officer should be directing the worship of God.

• Theological Seminaries should not be accredited by accrediting associations that are "recognized" by an agency of the federal government, because it is contrary to the Biblical principle of "Separation of Church and State," indicated by Christ when He said, "...Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's..." (Mark 12:17).

• What business does a Christian educator have going to the world of unbelievers for recognition and acknowledgement when 2 Corinthians 6:14 clearly tells us, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?"

• A Christian educational institution securing accreditation from an association which is attached to a governmental agency is a Scripturally condemned and unholy union as James 4:4 says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?"

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