Cedarville Magazine Winter 2016

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The first six chapters of Daniel record men of God
responding to the culture around them with wisdom
and conviction in order to glorify God. At times,
this meant taking a stand, but at other times, the text
indicates that they studied well, did their assignments
well, and, for Daniel in particular, led well and
displayed an excellent spirit, distinguishing him above
all others. Daniel’s excellent work led his enemies to
declare “they could find no ground for complaint or
any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault
was found in him” (Dan. 6:4).
As we stand for theWord of God and the Testimony
of Jesus Christ at Cedarville University, we want our
friends, as well as those who may hold a different
worldview, to speak similarly about us. For that
reason, our student life core values are Love for God,
Love for Others, Excellence in Effort, and Integrity
in Conduct.
We believe that wherever God calls people to
serve, He expects them to work with excellence, to
serve as a light to the Gospel in word and deed, and
to demonstrate compassionate conviction as they
engage in God’s great plan of redemption wherever He
sends them. We ground our education in this vision
by combining academic excellence in every major
with a Bible minor, equipping students to understand
every calling as equally important in God’s plan.
From political science to engineering, from nursing
to media, and, whether our graduates are behind a
computer or camera lens or in face-to-face interaction,
all of us work to bring glory to God using the skills He
has given us to create a God-glorifying culture.
We stand for theWord of God and the Testimony
of Jesus Christ in current events. Cedarville
alumna Paula Faris ’97 eloquently and persuasively
communicates biblical responses to culture on the
television show The View . Cedarville professor
Mark Caleb Smith and others speak to current
events through media interviews, blog posts, and
presentations.
We stand for the Word of God and the
Testimony of Jesus Christ by creating culture.
Our excellent music faculty composes and
conducts musical works, bringing individual
talents together to display a symphony of beauty
that delights the ear, brings joy to the heart, and
gives glory to God. In cinematography, Cedarville
alumni Parker ’14 and Kara (West) Adams ’14
and Ben Bailey ’09 helped produce the movie
Woodlawn. With diligence and excellence, these
alumni worked to display a story that ultimately tells
God’s Gospel story.
Just as Paul traveled the highways constructed
by Rome and used poetry and philosophy to reach
the culture of his day, now Christ-followers travel
the information superhighways using modern-day
analogies to convey the message of Christ crucified
and risen. The methods of presentation may change,
but the message remains the same.
We stand for theWord of God and the Testimony
of Jesus Christ in the academic world. Cedarville
professors John Whitmore and Steven Gollmer have
produced one of the few modern science textbooks
from a young-earth perspective. Their work provides
a needed resource for homeschoolers, private schools,
and others to present a thorough, biblical worldview in
science curriculum. By using their academic gifts, they
have provided a resource formany that will glorifyGod.
Our Vice President for Academics (Interim), Loren
Reno ’70, has published a book on leadership titled 10
Leadership Maneuvers. In this practical yet academic
book, Reno defends a biblical view of leadership that
begins with service and ends with leading. These
academic contributions provide biblical resources
that influence the minds of today and tomorrow.
These titles are just a sampling of the books and other
academic media produced by our faculty, which you’ll
see later in the magazine.
I hope as you read this magazine, you will enjoy
learning more about the many ways that Cedarville
University is engaging culture. More importantly, I
hope that you will think and pray about ways that you
can use your gifts and the place of ministry God has
given you to engage the culture with compassionate
conviction. At times, when you feel like the minority,
the temptation may be to withdraw rather than
engage, but we have the truth and hope that the world
so desperately needs. As we build friendships and
winsomely counsel and provide biblical advice to
others, we can redirect culture to glorify God as we
make disciples one soul at a time.
Inmoments of crisis or times of questioning, those
in your area of influence will recognize the depth of
your faith. Through a willingness to serve others and
be a good steward of the gifts and assignment God has
provided, you too can interact with the culture around
you to glorify God. It is my prayer that all of us will be
found faithful to stand for the Word of God and the
Testimony of Jesus Christ.
Thomas White became Cedarville’s 10th President in
2013. He received his B.A. from Anderson University
(South Carolina) and both his M.Div. and Ph.D. from
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the
author and editor of numerous publications and is a
contributor to Baptist Foundations: Church Government
for an Anti-Institutional Age, released June 15, 2015.
Follow him:
@DrThomasWhite
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