The most memorable first lines of a book that I have ever encountered are from a publication titled Exodus by author Dave Shiflett. Writing in 2005 about why so many Americans were fleeing churches that had abandoned biblical orthodoxy to instead attend churches that were unapologetically committed to historical biblical convictions, Shiflett opened his book with the following:
“We have figured out your problem. You’re the only one here who believes in God.”
In many contexts this would not be an alarming statement. Religious believers, especially those whose faith is readily apparent, can make some people uneasy, especially those with little or no religious belief.
As it happens, these words were spoken to a seminary student I know, while he was eating lunch in the seminary cafeteria. They were spoken by another seminary student, who was reflecting the views of fellow students and faculty.
Unfortunately, such stories are all too common. I recently learned that someone I know had an Old Testament professor in seminary who denied the historical reality of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt.
Of course, such stories do not revolve only around Christian seminaries. Examples of Christian colleges and universities abandoning historical Christian teaching abound—and perhaps the saddest reality about these tales is that I am no longer surprised by them. I have been watching Christian institutions drift from biblical truth for almost three decades, and the slide started long before I started paying attention.
Last night I attended a dinner at which I was delighted to hear from another Christian college president who is taking a stand. He talked about his institution’s commitments to absolute truth, biblical orthodoxy, and the gospel of Jesus Christ—and I was encouraged by what is happening on his campus.
As I listened to that president talk about mission drift within our industry, I was reminded of how truly blessed Warner University is to be driven by an unwavering commitment to biblical truth. Christian institutions find themselves in one of three positions today: (1) many have simply acquiesced to the pressure of the culture and the elite academic ethos, and they look strikingly secular; (2) a few are trying to correct course after decades of drift, and while I applaud and pray for their efforts, I know that they likely have years of hard work ahead of them; and (3) a small number are in the blessed position of maintaining their commitment to biblical orthodoxy, guarding “the good deposit that was entrusted” to them (2 Tim 1:14). How fortunate Warner University is to be in this latter situation.
We have stood, and we will stand for Truth. When our future graduates and their parents decide to spend their hard-earned money on a Christian education, we have a responsibility to provide a Christian education. We will provide it because doing so is the right thing to do and because studying academic disciplines through the lenses of the gospel and the rest of God’s Word is transformational for our future graduates and for the culture they will soon impact.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am truly Thankful for the position that Warner University is in.
Gentry Sutton, D.Ed.Min.
President, Warner University
