{"id":16204,"date":"2008-08-31T21:47:00","date_gmt":"2008-09-01T02:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=16204"},"modified":"2019-11-28T22:09:36","modified_gmt":"2019-11-29T04:09:36","slug":"is-the-sunset-international-bible-institute-a-trustworthy-organization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-sunset-international-bible-institute-a-trustworthy-organization\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Sunset International Bible Institute a trustworthy organization?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

Someone has invited me to study at a satellite school at Sunset International Bible Institute. Do you happen to know this Sunset International Bible Institute? Is it a trustworthy organization?<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

I have heard of this organization for a number of years. It is a man-made institution operated by members of the more liberal branches of the churches of Christ. Even so, other congregations of the same liberal branches are not always happy with what is taught at this school. For example, in 1998 Tommy Hicks of the Bellview Church of Christ complained,<\/p>\n

“Now, in 1997, I appeal to my brother, Cline Paden, to answer: \u201cWhen it comes to the subject of \u2018Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage,\u2019 which \u2018position\u2019 (singular) does the Sunset Elders, the School of Preaching administrators and the faculty say can be substantiated by a thus saith the Lord?\u201d The temperature in Gehenna will drop to below 32 degrees Fahrenheit before brother Paden will answer that very simple question. Why? Because brother Paden knows that the teachers, in what is now called the \u201cSunset International Bible Institute\u201d (S.I.B.I.), advocate \u201cpractically every viewpoint that anyone has ever entertained\u201d on the subject of \u201cMarriage, Divorce, and Remarriage,\u201d and that they \u201cpresent these positions in class in the form of questions and comments.\u201d [Defender<\/em>, January 1998].<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But this isn’t the core problem. The problem is that is is a human institute setting itself up to accomplish the work assign to churches and individual Christians to carry out. For a detailed discussion of this see: “The College Issue<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

One of the harms caused by these institutions is that the institution becomes a centralized distribution point of teachings. When educators are corrupted, which is bound to happen because of Satan, the false teaching gets a very wide audience and since this institute claims to train preachers, the false teaching is rapidly spread to other congregations. This is what Jimmy Hicks was complaining about regarding teachings concerning divorce and remarriage.<\/p>\n

When you look at the Scriptures, you will find a completely different approach to training preachers. One preacher trains other preachers who train others in turn. “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:2). If you are interested in preaching, then I recommend that you find one or more preachers whom you find are sound in their teachings and train under them for a few years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: Someone has invited me to study at a satellite school at Sunset International Bible Institute. Do you happen to know this Sunset International Bible Institute? Is it a trustworthy organization? Answer: I have heard of this organization for a number of years. It is a man-made institution operated by members of the more liberal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[1508,536],"class_list":["post-16204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-institutionalism","tag-preaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":32443,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-son-is-interested-in-online-studies-and-mission-work-where-can-he-find-good-studies\/","url_meta":{"origin":16204,"position":0},"title":"My son is interested in online studies and mission work. Where can he find good studies?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: One more question if you don't mind. My son is interested in online studies and mission work. I only know of the\u00a0\"AIM\" program. We have an individual from our congregation that is in the program now, but our church is pretty small, so they can only support one person\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13358,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-do-you-think-about-the-world-bible-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":16204,"position":1},"title":"What do you think about the World Bible School?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 11, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am currently taking an introductory lesson from the World Bible School.\u00a0 Can you tell me what your opinion is regarding their lessons, if you have encountered them, or you can tell me what you think of the World Bible School itself?\u00a0 Do you find them helpful? If not,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40312,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-an-organization-formed-to-meet-the-governments-requirements-have-any-say-over-congregations\/","url_meta":{"origin":16204,"position":2},"title":"Does an organization formed to meet the government’s requirements have any say over congregations?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Greetings to you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. How are the brethren over there? I want to thank you for the support you gave me whenever I come to you. I have always had it in mind that I will do my best to change things\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25826,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/isnt-the-use-of-conservative-non-institutional-or-mainstream-to-describe-churches-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":16204,"position":3},"title":"Isn’t the use of “conservative,” “non-institutional,” or “mainstream” to describe churches wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Since the \"Church of Christ\" is the only authorized name for the church, why do some take pride in calling it the \"conservative church\" or the \"non-institutional church\"? I also hear of the \"mainstream church.\" Is this not liberalism and denominationalism? Answer: First off, \"church of Christ\" is not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30984,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-not-certain-what-group-you-are-with-but-i-find-your-website-helpful\/","url_meta":{"origin":16204,"position":4},"title":"I’m not certain what group you are with, but I find your website helpful","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a disciple of Jesus Christ who attends a fellowship of churches once known as the International Churches of Christ. I was googling opinions and articles on various biblical topics when I saw your website. I just wanted to tell you how refreshing it was to see such\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33101,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-wanted-to-share-what-happened-to-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":16204,"position":5},"title":"We wanted to share what happened to us","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Thank you so much for all your help and teaching. My husband and I left the Southern Baptist church last week and joined the church of Christ in our area. 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