Apologia for CS, part 5

Thus far, we have examined the need for church-based, Word-directed, Christ-centered seminary training in Albuquerque. The final, necessary attribute of a seminary is that it should be God-honoring.

This is not one attribute among many. This is actually the guiding goal of all of the aspects of seminary and of the Christian life in general. Why is the honor of God so important? Well, intuitively, because God is God. He is the greatest and most important being of all the beings that exist. In fact, we are told that all things exist for Him (1 Cor. 8:6, Heb. 2:10), that He made all things for His own purposes. Also, God commands us to seek His glory as the goal of all of our actions and decisions. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul has been discussing religious freedom when he sums up by giving this general principle: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (v. 31, my italics). Peter, in a passage about various ministries in the church, writes that speakers and servants should work out those roles “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). The purpose of these passages is to shape Christian behavior so that it aims toward a goal, namely, the glory of God.

How does this apply to the seminary? This principle helps us avoid certain things as much as it helps us seek certain things. For one thing, we do not seek our own glory through mere academic pursuits. Seeking God’s glory in the seminary means that academic achievements and recognitions are not the goal of our instruction, though they may sometimes be helpful as a means of pursuing better training. Those who seek academic recognition as the primary goal of their work are seeking their own glory, and not that of God. Seminaries must avoid that error! On the other hand, we must avoid the error of antischolasticism, which has been a problem in the past. Scholasticism of itself is not wrong or evil; it merely is a means that can be used for good or evil. Scholasticism can be helpful in the church and, I would argue, is necessary in the seminary since it provides the academic discipline that is required of us as Christian stewards. We must make best use of the skills, resources, and time that the Lord has given us and, in the context of seminary education and training, the result is scholasticism. We must be careful to use scholasticism as a means to glorify God and not ourselves.

How do we glorify God, then? There are several passages in Scripture that help us understand what it means to glorify God. Generally, it means to increase His fame, display the greatness of His character, or give Him the honor that is due His name. This happens through general ministry (2 Cor. 1:20, 2 Cor. 8:23) and other more specific ministries. Generally, seminaries should pursue the glory of God by raising up leaders to minister in conformity to Paul and Christ (1 Cor. 11:1), who were well content to glorify God (John 7:18, 17:1, 2 Cor. 1:20).

But there are specific ways that seminaries should seek the glory of God. Seminaries should disciple men so that they give God the glory as they grow strong in faith, trusting Him like Abraham did (Rom. 4:20). When men know God well and trust Him for who He is, then they will honor Him in this way. The same thing is true of the state of sanctification among the students (and professors!) at a seminary—Paul said that our being ‘filled with the fruit of righteousness’ glorifies God (Phil. 1:11). The day to day, moment to moment life of every Christian and especially every church leader is either an affront to God’s glory or a display of it. Seminaries should see to it that their student body is producing the fruit of righteousness, and growing to do so more and more every day. Also, seminaries should have a heart to see the grace of God spread to more and more people, so that giving thanks to Him abounds at home and abroad. Paul says that this, too, glorifies God (2 Cor. 4:15). Ultimately, seminaries should strive to see people brought to God through maturing faith in Christ by means of the preaching of God’s Word.

This is a tall order, but God has provided the means in every generation to accomplish this goal. He sends His Spirit, preserves His Word, and grants ability and belief to all those who are His. In these things, God is glorified because His power is displayed through weak vessels. This is even the goal of our salvation in Christ, that God alone be glorified as the Savior (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14, 1 John 2:12). In the end, we know that every person who has ever lived will bend the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11), but we nevertheless strive to see men actively glorify Him before that day by coming to Him in Christ. This is a big deal, because the Bible teaches that a good portion of those people who confess the Lordship of Christ on the final day will only do so bitterly and by force. Though everyone will someday admit that Jesus is Lord, there are only a few who find the way of life (Matt. 7:14). The remainder of the people live in persistent rebellion to the King, living in accord with those described in Revelation 16:9 who do not repent so as to give God glory. It is for this reason that we must seek to glorify God and to train others to do so, because the natural way of humans is to turn against God’s glory and dishonor Him.

God is worthy of honor, praise, and glory. To withhold honor from God is heinous treason against the only true and living God. He has made Himself the Father of all those who come to Him in Christ, and He treats them with fatherly care and affection. It is a wonderful thing to focus on God and to pursue His glory for He is the best of all possible beings. He is the glorious One. Therefore, seminaries should recognize Him as worthy and seek His glory. Nothing less is fitting for God.

--Dean of Admissions