Inspire, Winter 2005

16 Winter 2005 L O G O S W h a t ’ s t h e W o r d ? Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth by Dr. David Drullinger The Apostle Paul challenged his young friend, Timothy, to be a student of the Word, i.e., to so study the Scripture that he would be able to “divide” it accurately, preach it authoritatively, and apply it personally to himself and his hearers. The 2,000 years since Paul penned those words have given rise to a variety of philosophical and personal speculations which have resulted in a distortion of the truth rather than accurate division (interpretation) of it. Thus now, more than ever before, it is reasonable to advocate the theological training of our college-age young people in a theologically conservative environment. There are several choices for the serious student: Bible colleges, Christ-centered liberal arts colleges, and seminaries. Each has its strengths; each has its mission; each has its contribution to make to the field of theological preparation. But conservative institutions have a common commitment: the authority and authenticity of God’s Word. To some, the term“conservative” connotes an attempt to indoctrinate or control the thinking of the learner. Much is made of the historic significance of the term, i.e., being satisfied with the status quo and being intrinsically resistant to change. On the other hand, the term“liberal” is associated with liberation — the freeing of the mind for its pursuits and ideological conclusions. Such a concern is valid when it comes to social change, methodological modifications, etc. But when “liberal”means abandoning the absolute values of God’s absolute truth, one does well to be wary. The psalmist observed, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89, NKJV). Jesus affirmed the psalmist’s conclusion when, in the Sermon on the Mount, He declared that not even the slightest pen mark of a Hebrew letter would pass away from the revealed text of Scripture. In another psalm, David wrote, “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalm 138:2b, NKJV). God, who has revealed Himself in the propositional revelation of Scripture, has ascribed to it a place of honor and a nature of immutability that approximates the authority and warrants the reverence due His name. Theological study in an environment that honors the authority and immutability of Scripture allows the message God intended to emerge from it rather than the philosophical speculations of men imposed upon it. Such an environment allows the student preparing for ministry to approach the culture to which he or she is called with an appreciation for how the Word of God evaluates it. It influences the student to see every human person as an imagebearer of God and a person for whom Christ died. It allows the student to value people as God does without the bias, either positive or negative, that often results from loose or liberal interpretations of Scripture. It is from the latter that the social gospel was born in the latter part of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th. From a theology that denied the person and work of Jesus as Christ was born a “gospel of works.” People were encouraged to do what Jesus would do in confronting social ills and thereby earn access to the Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46). Liberalism, as opposed to conservatism, thus contributed to many being lost to a Christless eternity because the speculations of men were substituted for the propositional statements of God. The failure of the social gospel is all too evident in the contemporary culture. Crowded prisons; increased numbers of homeless people; the ravages of disease, famine, and human suffering all bear witness to the fact that sin, rather than social conditions, is the root of the problem. Faithfulness to the gospel of grace to first of all cure the disease of the soul is the need of the hour. Those studying for ministry in the context of a theologically conservative environment are equipped to be faithful ambassadors for Christ with the message of grace. Theological conservatism does not imply an unwillingness or inability to think. Rather it affords the student to think “Christianly” or biblically. Such students will not think with the darkened mind that is characteristic of the Gentiles but rather with the enlightenment inherent in salvation. Their renewed minds are energized by a truly liberating reality: they think with the mind of Christ. Preparing for Impact by Michael Parrott Just at the time when students are making lifelong and major decisions, they begin undergraduate education and training. Many questions surface during these transitional years. What should young men and women look for in a university? What should they expect to attain while they attend? Usually academic programs and making new friends are high on the list. However, is this all they should consider? When I came to Cedarville just a year and a half ago to teach in the youth ministries major, I was moved by the stories of Cedarville students. So many of our students have hearts for God and expect God do great things through them! I kept thinking, “This is the type of educational environment I’d love having my own children experience.” In fact, our youngest is now a sophomore here at Cedarville. After 30 years in full-time ministry to youth and youth organizations, I now have the privilege of teaching another generation how to reach and disciple youth. The need is great. There are more than 56,000 high schools, junior high schools, and middle schools in America alone. Youth workers see the greatest response to the gospel with 85% of believers making a decision for Christ before the age of 18. Most significant is that 50% of these decisions for Christ are made in junior high or middle school. In addition to the youth ministries major, the department of biblical education offers majors in Bible teacher education,