The ‘Land of the Book’ needs ‘People of the Book’
Affectionately known around the world – at least at one time – as ‘The Land of the Book’, Scotland, the land of the Covenanters, of Knox, of the saintly Bonar brothers, Samuel Rutherford, and so many more, is, today, in a dark place spiritually.
As of old, “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” (Nehemiah 1:3)
As in much of the UK as a whole, the Church in Scotland is in steep decline and most of the mainline denominations are confused and compromised. In Scotland, it is estimated that the Church of Scotland itself will be extinct in the next decade if things continue on the current trajectory.
Much of the blame for all of this is put on the world around us and its influence on the church, but the truth is that the churches are emptying and closing at an alarming rate, not because of opposition or persecution or even secularism, not because of external influences, but due to internal decay, because of biblical illiteracy in the pew and biblical error and unbelief in the pulpit.
As John MacArthur has rightly said, “Satan is most effective in the church, when he comes, not as an open enemy, but as a false friend; not when he persecutes the church, but when he joins it; not when he attacks the pulpit, but when he stands in it.”
Or as Sinclair Ferguson expresses it, “The decay of the church is never the fault of the world. Inward spiritual decline always precedes outward collapse.”
Not everything is bleak. There has been a rediscovery of biblical expository preaching in some quarters, the forging of gospel partnerships, and a passion for the planting of new churches.
EBC was born out of a vision and a burden to not just weep and lament, as did Nehemiah, but, like him, to do something to help rebuild the walls, to restore the glory of what once was.
The Church in Scotland needs strengthening – not just by truly regenerate preachers in the pulpit but by biblically literate men and women in the pews.
We exist to meet both pressing needs – serve the churches and equip the saints, and the more the saints are equipped the more effectively they can serve their churches.
Edinburgh Bible College was established in August 2012 with the encouragement of a number of church leaders who recognised a need for an independent, church-based, robustly biblical training facility in central Scotland. The College is governed by and accountable to local churches across the evangelical spectrum and all the teaching and training is done by practitioners, rather than professionals – in other words those whose daily ministry is the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.
We are concerned by the situation which is almost ‘the norm’ now, where Christian training Colleges are accountable to and accredited by secular bodies whose worldviews ought to be far removed from the convictions of the Bible College. We remain committed to the historic truths of the Christian, biblical faith and will not compromise on those beliefs for the sake of supposed academic respectability.
All in those in leadership in the College – Board, Lecturers and other staff – have to affirm their agreement with the College’s doctrinal basis on an annual basis. This enables us to guarantee our students and their home churches that they will only be taught by those who are committed to the historic, biblical truths of Christianity.
For more about our 7 core values and distinctives, see the following articles
Edinburgh Bible College is a registered Charity in Scotland – SC043657
Our annual accounts for 2014-2015 can be viewed here (pdf)
Our annual accounts for 2015-2016 can be viewed here (pdf)
Our annual accounts for 2016-2017 can be viewed here (pdf)
Our annual accounts for 2017-2018 can be viewed here (pdf)
Our annual accounts for 2018-2019 can be viewed here (pdf)
Our annual accounts for 2019-2020 can be viewed here (PDF)
Our annual accounts for 2020-2021 can be viewed here (PDF)
Our annual accounts for 2021-2022 can be viewed here (PDF)
Our annual accounts for 2022-2023 can be viewed here (pdf)