The single, most foundational, “first step” for every Christian professor is to prioritize his or her personal growth in Christ. Everything we do – research, teaching and service – flows out of our Christian identity, out from our personal walk with God.
We cannot impart what we do not possess. Simply because one knows more than anyone else in the world about an enzyme, sonnet, or the epistemology of the Enlightenment, this does not ensure one’s daily life receives the sustenance of an intimate walk with God.
God has called us to a moment-by-moment, lifetime journey of walking with him, and this is surely the foundation of being a Christ-centered academic.
The Importance of God's Word
In William Lane Craig’s little pamphlet, On Being a Christian Academic (out of print), Craig muses that, from his experience, it is quite typical for a Christian academic to be far more educated in his or her academic specialty than in the Bible or theology. That has been our experience as well as we interact with scholars who know everything about their discipline but very little about the Bible. God has given us his Word to teach us, rebuke us, and grow us (2 Tim 3:16). A life lived disconnected from the steady input of God through His Word soon withers.
It is God’s Word that teaches us the excellencies of Christ, encouraging us to trust and follow the grandest one. Through His Word, we learn of the grander story and our place in it. In His Word, we find perspective when we encounter the pains and trials of living in this part of God’s story. God’s Word provides perspective and wisdom in times of both controversy and comfort. It motivates us in times of discouragement, instructs and nourishes us that we might grow into maturity in Christ (1 Peter 2:2). If Christian professors hope to lead the way in advancing God’s grander story, they must be men and women who drink deeply from God’s Word.
The Importance of a Local Church
A strong local church is ideally the place to grow in one’s understanding of God’s Word and His story. The mutual accountability of community leads us away from the dangers of autonomy. We all need to move from “getting to giving.” Even with all its imperfections, the local church provides that opportunity. So we encourage you to not only avail yourself of opportunities to grow there but to also seize opportunities to teach. We all know that the process of teaching helps the teacher “grow” more than the students.
Many churches have podcasts or online resources that you might find helpful as well. Redeemer Church in New York City offers multiple resources, including Tim Keller’s weekly teaching. With a rare combination of cultural awareness, intellectual depth, and biblical faithfulness, Dr. Keller is certainly a valuable current resource for Christian academics
Of course, “growing in Christ” means more than simply growing in biblical and theological knowledge, but also growing in Christian character. In an environment where individuals gain worth (or lose it) on the basis of intellectual prowess, it is easy to forget that simple gestures of kindness, gratitude, and a willingness to serve can make huge statements in a department, amongst peers, and with students. Living and worshipping with a diverse community helps us develop such Christ-like character and Christ-like wisdom.
We need that help because all of us experience at times rich intellectual inquiry, successful teaching, and public recognition, but also times of harsh mistreatment, underappreciated toil, and disappointing failure.
God’s Word and God’s people in community help sustain and guide us through the poignant victories and defeats in such a story.
Rick Hove and Heather Holleman