Before we begin a conversation about faith-integrated learning and biblical integration, we should be asking ourselves the question behind the question. What is the purpose of this life? The “Westminster Shorter Catechism” says that the chief end of man, or essentially the core purpose of life, is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”¹ As John Piper reflects on how this is the chief end (singular) and not chief ends, he said, “One end is two things: (1) to glorify God and (2) enjoy him. Which certainly seems to say that these two are not two distinct acts — the first glorifying and the second enjoying — but one act… My way of seeing their oneness is that the enjoying of God to the fullest in all we do is the way we glorify him to the fullest in all we do.”² Our theology, our Christian worldview, significantly impact our academics because this is the lens in which we view everything! How can we have education without our faith saturated throughout? We cannot.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Through this lens, all else flows. What does faith-integrated learning actually look like? It can look both concrete and abstract. For example, we can easily identify biblical integration as we take a look at what God tells us through his Word and integrate that within our assignments. But it is also abstract, because it is all about formation, and how does a person measure formation? How is God molding you into the leader he has called you to be through what you are learning? This includes the textbooks and the assignments (more concrete), but also through the mentoring you receive from faculty members who are also passionately pursuing Christ. This includes the focus and prayer within the curriculum knowing the end goal isn’t just knowledge but becoming passionate world-changers. This includes the culture created within your university to create an environment of educating, equipping, and empowering leaders to change the world! Faith-integrated education can and should be life changing, but this cannot always be easily measured.
The integration of our faith within academics does not hinder our environment; however, the surroundings we choose will directly impact the level of our formation. All Christians should be self-feeders, we should be reading His Word regularly, seeking His Presence, and creating a daily rhythm with Him. We should always be pursuing these, but within a faith-based learning environment other students, faculty, and staff can come alongside and invest in each individual student. Not only that, but again the curriculum and focus have formation in the forefront. You can learn ‘how-tos’ at any college, and even YouTube, but in an age where you can get any answer at your fingertips, we need to press into what AI and the internet cannot tell you. We learn more about the Bible, about Christian leadership, and more in our classes at Manna University, but we also learn about healthy rhythms from experienced faculty who are invested in the lives of their students. AI does not have life experience and cannot hear and be led by the Lord; AI can offer feedback and information, but it’s not always correct. We understand the process of learning, discussing, and wrestling together with difficult topics through the lens of our faith, all while understanding our life purpose. Is formation individual or communal? Both. There is power coming alongside those who are like-minded who have a vision for world change, and more personally individual life change for each individual student. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Let’s embrace faith-integrated learning and come alongside like-minded individuals who will sharpen you and encourage you to step into the call God has on your life!
ChatGPT (OpenAI) provided brief feedback on structure and clarity and assisted with citation formatting. The concepts, arguments, and final wording are entirely my own.
1. “The Westminster Shorter Catechism” (1647).
2. John Piper, “What’s the Origin of Desiring God’s Slogan?” interview by Tony Reinke, Desiring God, September 20, 2017, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/whats-the-origin-of-desiring-gods-slogan.
Bibliography
Piper, John. “What’s the Origin of Desiring God’s Slogan?” Interview by Tony Reinke. Desiring God. September 20, 2017. https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/whats-the-origin-of-desiring-gods-slogan.
“The Westminster Shorter Catechism.” 1647.
Stefanie Ertel, Executive Director of Academics