Bible and Mission

The problem of the nature of academic enquiry is now a very serious concern in light of philosophical shifts in the West over the past 60 or so years, but especially in the past 20 years.  It is rocking the very foundations of education.  The problem is not contained in the public square, particularly the universities, but is also present in faith-based institutions, both Christian colleges or universities and even in seminaries.  There are four options that seem to be possible, but the challenge to any serious discussion of them is that the dominant option of the last 20 or so years is highly charged with political agendas and has the goal of shutting down all discussion.  Christians, therefore, face both the problem of playing defense as a minority in this public debate and being shut down by activists who refuse to give any platform to opponents. The four options for academic enquiry are: 1.      Tradition Enquiry: faith seeking understan...

  Peter Viereck distinguished his understanding of conservatism from the merely political/economic conservatism of the mid-twentieth century.   This distinction is helpful at the present time of social turmoil.   It is helpful for Christians trying to negotiate the present social context in which there is again a question as to what conservatism entails (not only in the United States) and a crisis posed by a radical progressivism that intends to dismantle Western civilization.   Christians, even Evangelicals, are caught up in both challenges.   The purpose of this essay is to travel with Viereck some distance to make the distinctions that are needed to get beyond the present failure of conservatives and avoid the allure of a progressive elite of politicians, journalists, and intellectuals.   Many Evangelicals, who are typically 'conservative' in some sense, have identified themselves with a conservatism that seems (whether legitimately or falsely) heartle...

We all know that institutions change.  Even when started with clear mission statements, their mission drifts.  Their values change, their practices change, and they change into something very different from what those pouring their lives and money into them at the beginning intended.  The prominence of a chapel at the centre of a secular university is often more an embarrassing, bad joke than the statement of faith that the layout of the university originally intended.  Even when started with orthodox Christian convictions, a generation or so later the institution tolerates and eventually espouses unorthodox views.  We need historians (my preference) to help us understand this change.  Here are some of my own reflections based on nothing else than my own experience over many years of study and ministry with different institutions on three different continents.  As such, this is meant to speak into a conversation that needs to be had at Christian instit...