What does it mean to be a distinctively Christian university in modern society?
Earlier this year the University of Mobile board of trustees considered key actions related to more clearly defining the university’s Christian identity.
Specifically, the board adopted a statement of Christian affirmation and directed that the notion of a Christian worldview be incorporated at all levels of its institutional culture. Related to those two actions were two others: renaming of the School of Religion to the School of Christian Studies and the reformation of student chapel.
These actions represent a step toward a closer integration of faith and learning. They reflect the university’s desire to respond to the Great Commission by making disciples for Jesus Christ who understand faith must be reflected in everything they do, including their careers as accountants, nurses, teachers, computer analysts, musicians, athletic trainers, biblical scholars or any of the 44 areas of study available at UM. It is a campuswide life discipleship strategy that encompasses academics, campus ministries, student activities and other facets of university life.
This approach may be called a “core concept” model as opposed to the more traditional “education in a Christian environment” model, which we have embraced heretofore. The core concept approach implies a foundational theological position that guides a foundational philosophical position. Thus, the institutional operations flow from and are guided by those foundations of a Christian worldview.
A worldview is essentially a paradigm of intellectual, moral and ethical presuppositions through which one processes and interprets the experiences of life and by which one reaches conclusions and forms opinions. Each person has a worldview. Some worldviews are formally and thoughtfully constructed systems of thought. For most of us, our worldview tends to be an accumulation of influences we have gathered along the way.
A Christian worldview is a systematic and intentional way of thinking from the perspective that all understanding and values are defined in terms of the relationship of human beings to Christ as He is revealed in Holy Scripture. The action of the University of Mobile board of trustees created the framework for that systematic and intentional way of thinking by the adoption of a theologically based Statement of Christian Affirmation that affirms the nature, ethic, mission and revelation of Christ. The trustees then directed the incorporation of such thinking into all aspects of the university system. (Find full text of statement at www.umobile.edu.)
Why is this important? In my opinion, the mission and responsibility of a distinctively Christian higher education goes beyond traditional education to include intentional influence upon the lives of men and women who study at the university. Do I mean to overtly exert influence related to the Christian faith? You bet I do!
Why? Because the culture of our nation is rapidly abandoning the foundations of Christian faith in favor of moral indifference. We witness the mockery of Judeo-Christian values and the labeling of those who promote such values as intolerant or bigots. Yes, the term “Christian” is still used frequently, but it is increasingly used without any clear relationship to a scriptural definition.
‘Being Christian’
The University of Mobile intends to place graduates into the marketplace who are recognized as Christian men and women of high moral and ethical character who demonstrate high proficiency in their discipline or work. We intend to place graduates who know how to think, who know what they believe and why they believe it. We strive for graduates who have the courage and discipline to live according to their beliefs and who have the abilities and skills to use their influence in appropriate and effective ways to change the world around them.
In order to produce that kind of graduate, the university itself must continually engage with the notion of “being Christian.” When I use the word Christian to describe the university, I have entered theological territory. It is a dangerous and common error in our culture to use the term socially or culturally without theological underpinning.
There is just no way around it — the term Christian requires association with and definition by Jesus Christ, His nature, His ethic, His mission and the Scripture that reveals Him. These are theological concepts but each with clear implications on philosophical and social application. So, Christian faith and life are first a matter of core theological beliefs accepted by faith. Any action of life then flows from and is directed by these core concepts of faith and belief. So it is with a university that seeks to be Christian.
How does all this relate to the mission and responsibility of a Christian university? Take the reformation of student chapel as an example. Until now we have required one hour of chapel per week throughout five semesters as a graduation requirement. The experience was designed as a worship and Bible teaching experience. There was no accountability other than showing up. And, in my opinion, required worship is not an effective model.
So, we reformed the model to include an aggressive and comprehensive set of large and small group Bible studies, worship experiences, personal ministry and discipleship training opportunities for students, faculty and staff with voluntary attendance. Additionally, we now require enrollment of all students in a semester-length course in Christian worldview with an additional semester of supervised church and community service. We also require a thesis on Christian worldview applied to the students’ fields of study. The new approach will engage students during more than one semester in the areas of community service, volunteerism, marriage, parenting, family, citizenship and others from a distinctively Christian perspective. This will more effectively fulfill the university mission.
The concept of a Christian worldview cannot be limited to one special course. It must guide the exploration of truth in each discipline of study, never to limit the exploration but to guide its conclusions. Thus, business, health care, education, arts, literature, natural science, history, math, social and behavioral science, ministry and athletics all start and end with the premise that God is truth. He is the beginning and end of all things. He created all that is. We are caretakers of His property. So, the education and research process becomes a discipline-specific discovery of truth — the truth of God’s work.
The mission and opportunity of a Christian university is simply about being Christian. It is about a foundational philosophy, a specific definition and a distinction that has as its end the production of highly qualified college graduates who are as able to articulate what they believe as they are what they think and who have the willingness to live and think.
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