Spring 2015
faith & learning
A faculty perspective into the mission of Grove City College, the role of Christian scholarship in higher education and the connection between faith and learning.
Why faith and freedom matter By Dr. James Bibza
Dr. James Bibza is a professor of Biblical and Religious Studies and has taught at Grove City College since 1977. He holds a bachelor’s degree in math/education from C.W. Post College, a master of divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and a doctorate in New Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary. Bibza is an ordained minister and has been the part-time pastor of Center Presbyterian Church (ECO) since 2000. He has eight Grove City College students presently working in various capacities for his church.
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aith and freedom are key words in the marketing slogan: “Because Faith and Freedom Matter.” They are key words, not just because they sound nice together, but because they truly reflect several of the foundational principles of Grove City College. However, just as political and economic freedom have not come easily for America, neither has the connection of faith with freedom always been readily seen at Grove City College. Forty three years ago, when Charles S. MacKenzie became the president of the college, the intimate connection between faith and freedom was not seen clearly by all. The teaching of the importance of a Christian world and life view for all of life as championed by Cornelius Van Til of Westminster Seminary and popularized by men such as Francis Schaefer began to take hold at Grove City, as more and more Christian scholars thought more intentionally of how their Christian faith impacted the disciplines that they were teaching. Having the freedom to think outside of the secular perspective of much of academia, Grove City College faculty saw how their faith perspective could be brought to bear on their teaching of various academic subjects. The myth of neutrality gave way to an emphasis upon the interplay between faith and learning. Along with this emphasis upon the integration of faith and learning, Grove City faculty are aware of the cost of not just political freedom but the cost of academic and spiritual freedom. Bucking the status quo in academic circles cost some faculty chances to advance in their disciplines. However, Christians have known for more than 2,000 years that freedom, including spiritual freedom, would have its costs. Paul, in Romans 6, states forcefully that all humans are slaves of sin, in bondage to their own sinful desires. The cost of believers securing freedom from this slavery was the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. His substitutionary death on the cross secured freedom for all who would ever believe.
However, this freedom from the power of sin, while it was a result of this selfless giving of his life by Jesus, was not a freedom that one could take for granted. Therefore, Paul, in Ephesians 6 reminds his readers that they were involved in a spiritual battle against the forces of evil. In order to defeat them, Paul likened the believer to a Roman soldier, with each part of his armor corresponding to a piece of the “whole armor of God,” intended to protect the believer in this spiritual battle. The only offensive weapon described was the sword, which Paul reminded his readers, was the Word of God. Therefore, study of the scriptures at Grove City College has been critical in equipping each student with the knowledge to defeat the “principalities and powers” who would like to take away that freedom from the believer. Jesus said that “the truth would set people free” and the price of providing that truth was the life of the only perfect person who has ever lived. Truth is crucial to maintaining the freedom that our nation has. Therefore, Grove City College should be a place where both students and faculty are free to pursue truth wherever it will lead, always engaging in the pursuit of that truth while showing respect for those who may have differing viewpoints. Many men and women have died fighting for the right for our nation to be free. We salute these fallen heroes, understanding the price they paid so that we might have the freedoms we enjoy. But just as we must be vigilant to safeguard those freedoms, so must Christians be on their guard to protect and appreciate the incredible freedom that is theirs because Jesus “laid down His life for His sheep.” God has given us the “whole armor of God” to safeguard us. It is crucial that believers make use of each piece of that armor to protect our spiritual freedom. Grove City College must truly be a place where “faith and freedom matters.”
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