The Ohio Independent Baptist, January 1966

LJestion o • eg1ona Dr. Johnson Re ,;t1lar 13 .111tt,t ... ..ire t11\.)fC ,lnll 111 ,rt 1..'l ,"""n .1,k1ng tl1cn1 cl\c·."· .. H \\ ..... in1 " ,r l,lt1 l I r l: gll 11 ,l l cl ~fC\.iltattOn .... t"' tllt ft1Lt1rL 1f ,t1 r o lle gt: tlnd ttr "- ll l l.' \ l: 111(' 11 t .. t l)tl e f the a ~"f)r ,cd ... h '"-'' )f the (1encr JI iat1on of R~gttl .. 1r B.. l f ti t hurche-~ ha. ) 'Ct 1' "" e ·1 gran ted 111en1ber hip in a reg– ll'n..11 ..1 ... \.. red1t1ng a . ciation. ti h .. 1 que t1on a1 make it r1e\.. e .. ,.1r, t an ')\\ er an ther ba ic qt1e\t;on . ..,v.h 1 c n ider hri tian h1gher ed tt at ion a t all ?" If \\ e an an \ er thi econd qt1ery , \\e might have one premi e upon \\ h ich to d i·"ct1 the accreditation que. t1on. F ortun ately. Chri tian higher edu– ca t1 n i an e tabli hed fact . Mo t tr ul} Chri ti an in titution of higher educa tion have been operating for man) )'ear -- without regional accredit– a tion. Bible In titute Bible college , and Chri ti an college have had an important impact on fundamental, e, 'angelical Chri tianity for over 75 , ear . ., Wh} do }'Oung people often choo e Chri,c" tian in titution ? Could it be that the Lord really does lead Hi ) oung people in their choice of col– lege and ha led them to ~he e un– accredited chool ? It certainly would eem o! The advantage-3 and contribution of Chr i tian higher education can be documented and could include: I. I ncrea ing the student know– ledge of God· Word. 2. Di ~over ing ecular truth in the light of the per fect truth of the ..,. . cr1pture . 3 Challengi ng students to service through regularly cheduled chapel speaker~. 4. E tabli hing patter n of Chri - tian conduct through proper pattern of conduct on college campus. ~. Fellow"' h1pp1ng together a stu– dent and facult}' who have common purpo e ba ed upon God' Word . 6. Providing means of Chr i·3 tian er\ 1 ice during college attendance. JANUARY, 1966 PAGE 6 By Dr. Clifford Johnson Academic Dean of Cedarville Col lege 11~,, , t' \L' r , thl' ul1in1nt l' 1)1' )()f c)I lhc , • \1 u e ~) I l 11 t' ( 11 r is ti an in, t It u l i() n i" lhl: \ll C'CC\ \ (.)!" f a iltll'C 0f th ()\C \.\tho :tltcn tl .. 111\;I tl1l't1 g () ()11 ci,lhcr in full - .. t1n1e ( hr 1·,ti n \Crvi cc or ,c~ttlar \\ I k. . l u ti i c\ "h 'v\ t hat hr i \ t i an co 1- I e gc grt1Liuatc\ have in1pacl on tho~c the\ 111cct holh in the hLt\ine ~ wor lcl and 1n their ervicc for the I f(i . tt1cien t·,') oftc n n1en tion how thci r ex– perience in Christian in titt1lion f higher edtrcati n ha been of real help to them a they attempt to serve hri t. Parent often agree. Many hri tian young people do a ttend pttblic and private college."' and do ta nd for hr i .t. B Lt t evidence i ava il able that many come out of Ltch an e perience with on1ewhat warped hri tian value , and many have Jitt]e per onal Chri tian witne., It can al o be noted that ome young per on have had their faith shipwrecked becau e of attendance at an in titution which did not have any truly Chri·"' tian tie ; in titL1tion which had a one of their purpose the de trL1ction of belief in so-called myth and uper tition which in the mind of many believer inc]ude B ib 1 i ca I tr u th·-- . On To Graduate Training It i al o of intere t to note that many graduate of unaccredi,ted Chri tian college h•ave been ucces - ful in the world of the ·--cholar. Hun– dred of tho e graduating from our approved chool s have gone on for graduate tr,a•ning in m~ny field . Many have completed doctor de– gree and now hold po itions of chal– ]enge and re·--pon ibility. Tht1 ~ it would seem that Chri tian higher education doe have a definite pl ace in our twentieth century o– ciety. Graduates are uccessful both a· -- Chri tian and educated per on and God doe seem to lead them to attend uch in ti tu tion . There would eem to be ufficient evidence to how that the lack of regional accreditation cannot be re– garded a· · a eriou problem in view of the general ucce of Chri tian in titution of higher education. It mu t be admitted that there are time when the lack of regional ac- ccre itation "" rctl ital il)tt can l)c ~111 i1r i lunl . 1-- n.. • • lrance 1nt(l ccrta111 g ra<.lu ~tl c ·,i: hc)ol • rc lj ll 1,. (.! s a t crn l l ) r f) r()ha t i() n fl)I" whic h no gratlualc c rctfit is al lt)WC<.I. r~c)rlunatcl y suc l1 schoc>l s arc IL'~ in 11un1hcr an(I ,11nny ~dternalc c x1·~t . ·rranc..fcrral of teaching certificates hct\vecn '>Onie s lates oan he n1orc lltf fictill for graduate<; of unaccrccJ ited inc..titttlion . Pcr5on~ who nec<.t to hcgi n tcac hi ng on the ha i\ of <;Orne type of ~mcrgency certification arc often den iec.J the privilege d tie to the fact that they have not ,attendecl an ,1ccred iled i n5ti tt1 tion. IJack of accreditation also keep. co!lege from participating in many private matching gift programs. Yet, pro pective tudents and their parent may be rea· -- st1red that attend– ance at an unaccredited in titution j not a . eriot1s as often it i,;; prec;ented to be. District Advantages Some of our approved choo]s h,ave begun tep toward membership in regional accrediting group . One ad– vantage of such memibership j that "tandard must be met with the re- ulting improvement of the total program. FedePal and state governments are pla,cing va t urns of money at the disposal of state and private institu– tion in order to he1p meet the need of the many young people eeking admi sion to higher education as well a helping to improve college pro– gram . College which have remained true to God'r.:- Word have tended to not obligate them elve to government by refu'"' ing to participate in such fi– nancial a istance. Baptists have tra– ditionally held a strong po ition re– garding the eparation of church and state and it till eem approprjate to hold to thi tandard e pecia]ly in the e la~t day . If Regular Baptists are of the opinion that our in tiitution hould take uch ·a po ition on federal aid. and if they believe we hould con– tinue to ·-- trive for regional accredita– tion it i incerely· hoped that they will pray and do all to help ee adequ– ate financial upport realized. THE OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST