Jesus Wasn’t Accredited
by A Tribute To Cai Ole Larsen, 1973-2007

Little did Leif and Lissi Larsen know that in 1973, in Haslev, Denmark when little Cai Ole Larsen was born, that a dynamic leader would eventually alter his world for Jesus Christ. The rippling effects of his one short life seem to be unending. The positive influence of Bro. Larsen's well-lived life has been astounding and our loss is huge, but heaven's gained a tremendous treasure.

Bro. Larsen, Dean of Christian Education at Texas Bible College in Lufkin, Texas, passed from this life on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 in a tragic accident while cutting a tree down in his backyard. He is survived by his wife Gillian, two sons Caleb and Nathanael, and one daughter, Neiel, ages 7, 3 and 1.

The wise man wrote in Proverbs 10:7, "The memory of the just is blessed." We can truly say, we have been blessed by the memories of this just man. He left behind a reservoir of great memories that will not be forgotten. The world has become a better place because of Bro. Cai Larsen's positive and passionate life. Not only was he a dynamic Dane, but he was also a dynamic Christian that will be truly missed until we are reunited on the heavenly shores.

A memorial fund to assist the family has been established at the Texas District UPC. Your contributions to the fund will be very meaningful as Bro. Larsen's life insurance was limited to the $10,000.00 provided by the UPCI for its ministers. Please make your contributions payable to the Texas District UPC, 4109 S. First Street, Lufkin, TX 75901 and mark the memo "Cai Larsen Memorial Fund."

This article, written just prior to his passing, is a testament to both his calling and dedication.

Have you ever had one of those "Bible moments" where the storyline just comes alive to you? One of those times where you sense, feel, and experience everything that comprised the moment? I recently had one of those moments. Casually reading through the gospels, my moment happened during the last "normal" week of Jesus' earthly ministry. Jesus had just spent three years teaching, training, and toiling the hard ground of Judaism, trying to complete what the Old Testament had attempted to establish. It was in the middle of the passion week, a week that would put the finishing touches on the redemption story, when my moment occurred.

Jesus had come to Jerusalem for the Passover week. Every day of the passion week, Jesus went to the temple. On the first day He overthrew the money changer and declared that His house was to be called a house of prayer. Then "the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did...They were sore displeased" (Matthew 21:14-15). God incarnate was doing what He loves to do the best—connecting to the needs of the people. But as a reward for His compassion, God was reprimanded by human government. After all, He wasn't properly endorsed to do these great things. God had not received an accredited degree. Matthew tells us that "when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23).

Allow me to paraphrase what just happened. The religious establishment of Israel had a problem on their hands. Jesus was among them, and He was doing wonderful things. They had to stop Him. They just had to. After all, their paycheck was on the line. So how do you stop someone who is doing "wonderful things?" You try to discredit them. "Hey, we see what you are doing and the wonderful things you are accomplishing. We see the healing, the restoration, the compassion, and we don't like it. Now who gave you the authority to do these things? We want to see your papers! Did you go to an accredited school? Did you get the proper training? Have you been endorsed by the Southern Association of Religious Schools? Have you been trained by someone whom we approve of?"

What an ironic moment. They couldn't argue with what Jesus was doing so they chose to argue with Him about what He hadn't been doing. After all, how can you trust someone who hasn't graduated from an accredited school? Oh, how I feel this moment! I can relate because I work in one of our Bible colleges. "But you are not accredited," they tell me. "A Bible college degree can't be used for anything," they say.

Amazing! People can recognize the great things I am doing through my work at the Bible college. They see the changed lives, and they acknowledge the good things that this unique environment does for people. But when it comes down to decision time, they go back to the "you are not accredited" issue. We are living in a time when people are obsessed with accreditation.

Am I saying that people shouldn't pursue accredited degrees? Heavens, no! I have mine. As a matter of fact, I have two diplomas from Louisiana Tech University. I'll show them to you, if I can just remember where I put them! As for my two Bible college degrees, I know their exact location. They are the ones that made the biggest impact on my life. Secular college gave me debt. Bible college gave me depth.

All I am saying is that if accreditation becomes our measuring stick for why we should or shouldn't go to Bible college, then we have completely misunderstood the purposes of our Bible colleges. Bible college is not about an institution that is authorized by a worldly government to teach. Bible college is about an institution ordained by God to shape young minds and young lives. It would be great if the educational world recognized what we do, but if they don't, does that change our purpose for existing?

Secular college taught me how to think, but it was Bible college that taught me how to think right. Secular college taught me who I am, but it was Bible college that taught me who I am in Him. Bible college is not just a place for those who feel a call to be a preacher, a missionary or a minister of music. Bible college is a place where a young person can come and find out what they believe, why they believe it, and who they believe.

To be accredited you have to think and teach like the organization that hands you your accreditation. Jesus wasn't accredited by Jerusalem. His ministry wasn't endorsed by the Sanhedrin. Peter didn't leave his nets behind because Jesus flashed his accredited degree. Matthew didn't leave the "good money" because Jesus had the "right" education. Would there be a church today if the apostles had followed the accredited program of their day?

I heard an interview with Dave Ramsey on the radio the other day. Dave Ramsey is a financial counselor out of Nashville, Tennessee who is running a multi-million dollar empire. In the interview he was talking about his 100+ employees and what he looks for when hiring a new worker. Dave Ramsey revealed that he doesn't look at the school from which the candidate graduated, nor does he check to see if it is accredited. He simply looks for people that will fit into his business team and philosophy. An accredited degree may get your foot in the door, but it is character and work ethics that will get you through the door.

Today we are graduating another group of non-accredited students from Texas Bible College. That means it is just a matter of time before the dreaded question that I hate so much begins coming my way. It will probably be posed to me at one of the camps which I will be attending this summer. Most likely it will be posed by a parent of a teen or young person interested in Bible college. "Are TBC's degrees accredited?" they will ask. The unprofessional in me will want to say, "NO WE ARE NOT ACCREDITED, SO WHAT?!" Instead, I will smile as I look at them square in the eye and in a very professional manner I will tell them, "You know, Jesus wasn't accredited."