On Christian Higher Education

[From a Facebook Discussion]

It is the responsibility of Christian education to: 1.) out think the world for Christ; 2.) operate from a thoroughly Christian WV in the respective disciplines showing how true science issues from a presuppositional commitment to Christ; 3.) advance science by taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and by thoroughly bringing the realm of knowledge and science into submission to Him. Oftentimes our educational institutions are more interested in following the model of secular universities (business as well as academic), than in accomplishing the above goals. We ought to strive for excellence for the sake of Christ. When we don't, we dishonor Him.

Consider this perspective on the importance of study for the Christian: "Study is itself a spiritual discipline, and the very act of study can change the self. One who undergoes the discipline of study lives through certain types of experiences where certain skills are developed through habitual study: framing an issue, solving problems, learning how to weigh evidence and eliminate irrelevant factors, cultivating the ability to see important distinctions instead of blurring them, and so on. The discipline of study also aids in the development of certain virtues and values; for example, a desire for the truth, honesty with data, and openness to criticism, self reflection and an ability to get along non defensively with those who differ with one."--JP Moreland and William Lane Craig, _Philosophical Foundations_.

 Consider this perspective on the importance of Christian academics for the expansion of God's Kingdom: “God usually exerts [his regenerative] power in connection with certain prior conditions of the human mind, and it should be ours to create, so far as we can, with the help of God, those favorable conditions for the reception of the gospel. False ideas are the greatest obstacles to the reception of the gospel. We may preach with all the fervor of a reformer and yet succeed only in winning a straggler here and there, if we permit the whole collective thought of the nation or of the world to be controlled by ideas which, by the resistless force of logic, prevent Christianity from being regarded as anything more than a harmless delusion.”—J. Greshem Machen, _What is Christianity?_

Here's a couple of sources for reading, one is older and reflects a presuppositional perspective and discusses the different divisions of study, one is newer and part of a larger series on the issue:

Here's the 1st source :http://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Christian-Scholarship-Gary-North/dp/1879998254/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365990278&sr=1-1&keywords=foundations+of+christian+scholarship 

Here's the 2nd source: http://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Christian-Worldview-Foundation-Education/dp/0805424482/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365990627&sr=1-3&keywords=foundations+of+christian+scholarship 

Then, go to Amazon and read everything by Dockery, then go to Mohler's site and read all relevant articles there.