Inspire, Summer 2009

44 SUMMER 2009 pres ident ’s perspect i ve The beginning of every school year energizes me as I reflect on the great privilege we have at Cedarville to provide an education marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth. I was thinking about this the other day when I heard about a woman from India who had visited the United States and did not like it. “There is too much idolatry in America,” she complained. “Idolatry in America?” I thought. She lives in India where idolatry is evident every hundred yards. But then, maybe that is what allows her to recognize our culture’s celebrity-techno- therapeutic idolatry. Seeing ourselves through the eyes of others is sometimes disturbing — but usually enlightening. That is why one of the goals of a Christian education is for students to develop the skills and knowledge to stand outside their own culture. This is what a quality education from a biblical perspective can provide. Overcoming our American idolatry is not easy. The type of idolatry that permeates our lives is the kind that comes from self-focused philosophies. Here are some examples from youth culture: “I want it when I want it.” Making everything accessible instantaneously is a driving force in today’s consumer culture. Our youth have grown up in a world where communication, information, entertainment, and even food are available at their beck and call. “I have 512 friends.” Life is lived by developing an individual facade that is viewed on Facebook, MySpace, or Internet blogs. Many youth rarely enjoy anything by itself but constantly consider how to frame their experiences to project a certain persona for the approval of their many online “friends.” “I choose whatever I want.” Choice is the most important value in American culture. Young people have rarely been denied innumerable choices of television channels, clothing, schooling, or even ketchup. “I want to follow Jesus … but not too closely. It’s all about me anyway.” This generation is among the most spiritual in history, yet it measures spirituality by personal benefits and empowerment. As a teenager, actor Brad Pitt had been involved in a church youth group but then went through a period of questioning that led him to leave the church. In 2007, he told PARADE magazine, “When I got untethered from the comfort of religion, it wasn’t a loss of faith for me; it was a discovery of self. I had faith that I’m capable enough to handle any situation.” A Christ-centered education provides students with an attitude of the heart and an altitude of perspective that free them from these cultural idols. C.S. Lewis noted that the good student “has lived in many times and is therefore in some degree immune from the great cataract of nonsense that pours from the press and the microphone of his own age.” Add to this understanding a vigorous biblical education, and students can see past the failures of the culture and prepare to engage it with the heart and mind of Christ. Rejecting American Idols by Dr. William E. Brown Dr. Brown’s Top Picks ■ Book The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey One of the best sources on leadership in years, this book shows that effective leadership is the proper balance of character and competence. ■ Website www.allmusic.com To learn more about a music group or artist, visit this site, an amazingly up-to-date resource that provides an education in music genre, biography, and history. ■ Podcast The Classic Tales by B.J. Harrison One of the top iTunes podcasts, Harrison records (“performs”) a new classic tale every week. Downloads are free, and more than 100 episodes are available, including stories by P.G. Wodehouse, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain. ■ Movie Captains Courageous In this 1937 film, a spoiled brat falls overboard a luxury liner and spends several months with his rescuers on a fishing boat. They teach him about fishing and sailing as well as discipline, family, and sacrifice. Don’t miss Spencer Tracy’s Oscar-winning performance!