Today, the requirements for becoming an “expert” in the Bible take about 10 years of full time study at a university.

Approximately forty courses will lead to a bachelors degree. An additional fifteen or so will earn a masters. A doctorate will take another twenty to forty classes and perhaps another four years. After a decade and several hundred thousand dollars, at the very least, one could be declared a Bible expert.

Thanks to Goodness a Bible college degree isn’t required to be Jesus’ follower. Neither are partaking in annual baptisms or animal sacrifices, avoiding certain foods, fasting, resting from farming every seven years, preparing for the seven holy days, visiting the temple or taking part in any of the other 613 commandments of the Law.

In fact, what Jesus requires of us takes nothing greater (or less) than a child’s heart to master. Simple childlike trust in God every day, is what Jesus asks.

He said in Matthew 18:3, “Unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Childlike trust is THE requirement for a heavenly diploma.

While fasting, remembrances, pilgrimages and sacred traditions can build up our faith, they are just outward expressions of the heart in us, and Jesus already paid for that!