president’s letter
Dr. David R. Smith
letter
What’s the Big Deal
About a Christian Higher Education?
If one were to closely observe the phenomenon of higher education in the intended them to be.
United States today, it would be almost impossible to infer that most great
institutions of higher learning began as Christian schools. But they did. 3. A compressed physical location where world missions is completed. At
Most of the colleges on our continent prior to the Civil War were sponsored Christian colleges, students from all over the nation and the world
by evangelical denominations. In fact, many founding documents of come to study. They often know little about Christianity, but they
American Christian denominations specify the reasons for organizing desperately desire an American higher education. While on a Christian
themselves as: (1) to increase opportunities for evangelism; (2) better college campus, they will study under professors that will live out faith
provide support for missions; and, (3) to provide educational institutions to in Christ before them, they will meet Christian students and staff
train the clergy and professional laity. members who will become lifelong friends. Many of them will develop
a personal relationship with Christ. At the same time, student and
For centuries, American higher education stood on three important faculty organizations like Baptist Collegiate Ministries will carry the
principles: great scholarship, social opportunity and instruction, and the gospel from the campus to all the points on the globe. No greater
transmission of cultural values and ethics. The latter was accomplished mission opportunity faces the Georgia Baptist Convention than the
largely through means of nurturing faith. A disproportional number of colleges they help support.
college and university presidents through World War II times were
ministers, called to the academy because of their mastery of scholarship 4. A place where the great debates affecting faith can safely take place.
and their impeccable example of integrity. Often, secular systems and environments provide the means by which
Christians settle the great issues that confront them. Courts, the news
At some point in the last few decades, higher educational leaders media, and legislative bodies each provide forums in which issues of
amputated the principle of values transmission in favor of the principle of faith have been argued. This type of secular decision-making makes
unquestioned tolerance—tolerance of any idea and concept, including people of faith look indecisive and divided, weakening our position of
those previously considered immoral or harmful. The result is a society in influence in the world. Although the community of believers has not
which children’s rude behavior goes unpunished and often unrecognized; yet recognized this, Christian colleges are the ideal places for
in which life in any form possesses diminishing value; and in which the discussion of issues from a uniquely Christian perspective. If threats
ethical certainties upon which culture previously rested are now held in and politics were held at bay, the Christian college could provide the
such low esteem that integrity is met with ridicule. In this new world, a venue for the development of the Christian case for such important
person who believes in moral absolutes is derided as intolerant, arrogant issues as the sanctity of human life, sexual orientation, the validity and
and narrow-minded. centrality of the scriptures, and many other important issues of our
time. Rather than fighting these issues out in the public forum, they
I am convinced that the world today desperately needs Christian higher could be rationally discussed within the scholarly community of faith
education. What can Christian colleges and universities add to America’s that our schools provide.
higher learning community? Among other things, colleges like Brewton-
Parker provide: 5. An environment that will complement the upbringing of Christian young
people. A family of believers looks with apprehension today at the time
1. A cohesive higher education that offers a framework of the world in that they must send their young student into an often hostile
which knowledge of biology, sociology, business management, world environment at a secular university. Some institutions of higher
literature and European history make sense. In most universities education today believe that their first educational challenge is to
today, academic departments are so isolated from one another that “deprogram” the childhood faith out of their new students so that they
students are left to build for themselves world models in which truth can replace it with a set of values that they deem more important. Just
from many different environments can come together. Christian look at the numbers. Of the students from our churches that attend
colleges understand that all truth is God’s truth, and that properly secular colleges, only about 15% remain in church by the time of
understood, all truth glorifies a divine Creator and loving Sustainer of graduation. However, around 50% of those attending a Christian college
all things. Science, history and communication all help us to better will remain active in church after graduation. And by the age of thirty,
understand His greatness. almost 80% of Christian college graduates are regularly involved in a
church.
2. A set of moral imperatives upon which meaningful, respectful lives can
be built. Society cannot exist without a strong sense of right and Christian colleges and universities offer the same quality of higher learning
wrong. Every citizen needs to develop the skills to interpret behavior that brings the world’s students to America’s campuses. But we also
by the precepts of acceptability of that society. For America, those provide more value for the funds expended, and a set of values that will
moral imperatives stem from the Judeo-Christian faith that helped ensure successful living after graduation.
create this nation. By properly understanding that moral code,
graduates become men and women of integrity who can be counted
on in tough times, and whose ethical consistency offers a strong Dr. David R. Smith
example to others. Furthermore, this kind of morality embraces President
compassion rather than tolerance. Christian believers ideally reach
beyond mere acceptance of others to help them become all that God
THE LAMP FALL 2007 1
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