VOL . VII, NO. 1
Serious Joy
FALL 2015
A Semi-annual Report to Friends of Bethlehem College & Seminary
HOW DARE WE CALL OURSELVES A COLLEGE? THE ENDEARING QUALITIES OF AN UNDERGRADUATE UPSTART
WOVEN TOGETHER: BY TIM TOMLINSON
FROM THE PRESIDENT
NEWS & EVENTS
How Dare We Call Ourselves a College? Higher education is failing America. It is failing to serve the country in the way that it was intended to by producing men and women who have high character, who think deeply, and who feel a moral responsibility to uphold the truths and values that will benefit the greatest number of people over the longest period of time. Instead, it is producing graduates who are morally confused, shallow thinkers, uninformed regarding the important works of Western culture, history, and thought, who are easily swayed by weak arguments, and whose faith in God is either declining or destroyed by the persistent assaults on it throughout their educational experience. And along the way, they are being saddled with mountains of student loan debt. You might think I’m talking about secular education exclusively here, but unfortunately I’m not.
EVENT
2016 Bethlehem Conference for Pastors + Church Leaders in Partnership with Desiring God
Monday, January 25–Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Minneapolis Convention Center To register visit: www.bcsmn.edu
Featured speakers include John Piper, D.A. Carson, Jason Meyer, Léonce Crump II, Tim
conceive of a college in the first place. We aim to be a college truly focused on Jesus Christ as the most important truth in the universe. Nothing is more important, and nothing is more central, to living a
Keesee, and Os Guinness. Bring the entire pastoral team. Seminars will focus on pastors, elders, worship leaders, mission programs, women’s ministries, and church planting.
successful, satisfying, effective life of ministry and work than knowing, loving, and treasuring him. All
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
other truths take second place.
Four New Ph.D.s
So how have we approached this vision of cre-
Dr. John Beckman,
astonishing level of student transformation and de-
Assistant Professor of Old Tes-
velopment? The more comprehensive answer to this
tament, received a second Ph.D.,
question is found in the articles throughout this
in May, this one from Harvard
edition of Serious Joy. You will hear from the facul-
University for his work in Near
It has become increasingly evident that the educa-
ty members who are delivering this extraordinary
Eastern Languages and Civiliza-
tional institutions of today (both secular and reli-
education.
tions. His dissertation was titled
Tim Tomlinson, President, Bethlehem College & Seminary
gious) bear little resemblance to the institutions they
Even with all of the challenges facing Christian
were 30 years ago. Today, these institutions are about
higher education, I am so encouraged by and delight-
“Toward the Meaning of the Biblical Hebrew Piel Stem.”
marketing, positioning, branding, political correct-
ed at what the Lord is accomplishing here. This is
ness, financial survival, and giving the consumers
a college that the Lord is raising up precisely for the
Dr. Travis Myers,
(students) what they think they want. So much of it
challenging times we are facing today. And, we are
Assistant Professor of Church
is about prestige, power, and prosperity, and the illu-
definitely not a Christian college for everyone. Howev-
History and Mission Studies,
sive pursuit of vain, temporary happiness.
er, you should seriously consider Bethlehem College if:
received a Ph.D., in May, from
› You want to be challenged to learn from the great-
Boston University for his work in
Even among Christian colleges and seminaries, the pressures to conform to the cultural norms
est writers and thinkers in history—all under the
History and Hermeneutics. His
are great. These schools have often felt the need to
umbrella of a thoroughly biblical worldview.
dissertation was titled, “‘Get As
compete with each other as well with their secular
› You want to be challenged to grow in your faith
counterparts for students, for resources, and for rec-
and to pursue maturity in Christ with the help of
tionalist Piety and Cross-
ognition. Unfortunately, in order to compete, they
a seasoned mentor.
Cultural Ministry of John Eliot
often end up compromising, in some way, their orig-
› You want to develop skills in critical and analy-
inal mission and vision—sometimes even to the
tical thinking—to be able to think deeply about
point of abandoning belief in the Bible as God’s au-
any subject.
thoritative, inerrant Word.
› You want to develop deep relationships with your
Near As You Can’: The Congrega-
(1604-1690).” Dr. James McGlothlin has joined the faculty as Assis-
With both our general culture and our higher ed-
classmates in a small, intentional setting where
tant Professor of Philosophy and
ucation institutions in decline, young people need to
you’ll experience both the joys and the sorrows of
Christian Worldview. He received
be stronger and clearer in their thinking and their
growth in Christian community.
his Ph.D., in 2014, from The Ohio
faith than ever before. A college education must ad-
› You want to be taught and discipled by an out-
State University. His dissertation
dress this need. In fact, above any other purpose, a
standing faculty. Our faculty are marvelous ex-
was titled, “The Logiphro Dilem-
amples of the scholar/pastor model of teaching
ma: An Examination of the Rela-
and ministering.
tionship Between God and Logic.”
“…above any other purpose, a sound college education ought to be viewed primarily as life training.”
2
ating a truly Christ-centered college that has an
› You want to know the Word of God and be able to rightly interpret it and ably apply it to all of life.
Dr. Justin G. Taylor,
I have been in Christian higher education for over 30
Trustee, alumnus of The Bethle-
years—both as a professor and as an administrator. I
hem Institute, received a Ph.D., in
have seen a lot of programs at a lot of schools in my
June, from The Southern Baptist
time, and I don’t believe there is anything compara-
Theological Seminary. His disser-
sound college education ought to be viewed primar-
ble anywhere to what we are doing at our college. I
tation was titled “John Piper: The
ily as life training—the sort that equips students
truly believe this is one of the finest undergraduate
Making of a Christian Hedonist.”
with critical thinking skills and a thorough un-
programs anywhere. I would put up our graduates
derstanding of and embracing of a comprehensive
against the humanities or religion graduates of any
Christian worldview. This is what we do at Bethle-
school in the country—it’s that strong.
hem College & Seminary. In fact, it was the percep-
If you’re still not convinced, let me invite you to
tion that this life training approach to education
visit our school and sit in on some of our classes. I
and training has largely disappeared that led us to
believe you’ll be as impressed as I am.
BETHLEHEM COLLEGE & SEMINARY
IN ONE ACCORD: CHURCH-BASED
BETHLEHEM’S FOUR-YEAR APPROACH TO ABBREVIATING ADOLESCENCE TWO PROFESSORS UNPACK A STRANGELY UNCOMMON UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE
WHAT WE ARE
WHAT WE AREN’T
LIBERAL
As in eager students of the knowledge and arts essential to human flourishing.
LIBERAL
Christians invented the university, that institution devoted to pursuing truth in the Word and world. We are after the kind of education that makes a person, as C. S. Lewis says, “immune to the great cataract of nonsense that pours from the press and the microphone of his own age.”
As professors, we don’t aim to challenge students to be as clever, revolutionary, and hip as the cultural elite. Our raison d’etre is not to encourage students to buck the establishment, strike out on individualistic paths, or to regard themselves as the center of their own worlds.
SERIOUS
TRIVIAL
Life is short. Hell is hot. Make the most of the time.
As in theologically trendy, socially progressive, and unhelpfully provocative.
Life is the job. You only live once.
Our aim is to produce men and women who are good for the world: equipped with the historical awareness and analytical skills to handle rapidly changing environments, the theological skills to evaluate a rapidly changing culture, and the communication skills to engage an increasingly pluralistic society. We think education is part of your Christian obedience. Therefore, we take your education seriously. You should, too.
We unapologetically reject the idea that college should be an extension of adolescence: fun, easy, with negligible responsibility and low accountability. It will take more than just “not flunking out” to earn a degree here, and you will gain much more than just great—if hazy—memories and some technical skills that depreciate as soon as you drive the degree off the lot.
JOYFUL
Christians that are worth their salt are more than superficially happy.
TRITE
We’re Christian Hedonists down to our toes, pursuing our deepest satisfaction in Jesus. We’re on a quest for Joy, stalking it with a knife in our teeth, for it is a very dangerous quest. Like all races, the marathon of education must be run for the Joy set before us.
Generic evangelical education tends to produce students who can bob merrily along in life, but have no meaningful answers for either the wonder or the terror of reality. Shallow biblical knowledge and pat answers leave students without roots or wings, easily uprooted and blown along by the winds of worldliness. There are enough bored and boring people in the world.
CHURCH-BASED
CHURCH-REPLACED
We expect students to become
Jesus is the answer. So what was the question?
Church? Who needs the
members of our local church.
church when we’ve got a chapel?
This means living with, learning from, and serving people quite different from ourselves. The church is the temple of the living God, the body of Christ. So part of education is learning to be a living stone, a life-long, fruitful, and faithful member of Christ’s body.
Too many Christian colleges subtly supplant the church, creating synthetic representations of reality that end up being remarkably unrepresentative. Add a dash of faddish ecumenicism and graduates don’t even know what to look for when they try to find a church home after graduation, that is, if they look.
CONFESSIONAL Our educational model consciously works from a reformed, baptistic confession of faith and focuses on both intellect and affections in personal development. We want students to see their place in the one holy, catholic, apostolic church. Thus, they need to read the great thinkers of the past: Athanasius, Clement, Tertullian, Augustine, the Cappadocians, Macrina, Benedict, Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin. You get the picture.
Joe Rigney, M.A., is Assistant Professor of Theology and Christian Worldview
“EVANGENERIC”
We resist a boilerplate statement of faith orthodox enough to be considered Christian, but broad enough to not count anyone out.
Generic evangelical Christianity suffers from a lack of rootedness. It tends to promote trendy, theological movements because it lacks the wisdom and historical knowledge to avoid making the same mistake twice.
Ryan Griffith, M.A., is Assistant Professor of Christian Worldview and Director of Integrated Curriculum
FALL 2015
SERIOUS JOY
3
THE BETHLEHEM HABIT
WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE HABITS OF MIND A CHRIST-EXALTING WAY FO
Excerpted from Think: The Life by John Piper, D.Theol., Chanc
OBSER
“Our teaching is designed to forc They must keep looking until they in the Word an
“Understanding demands both skill and virtue; we dishonor others when we either condemn or praise their words without having worked to understand them. Our students read difficult texts in all four undergraduate years, and we have the joy of watching them grow in both intellectual skill and intellectual virtues. Through the care with which they are expected to handle texts, they are gaining wisdom.” Josh Maloney, M.F.A. Assistant Professor of Composition and Christian Worldview
U NDER ST
“We aim to think the author’s thoughts a becomes a reflection o
EVALU
“We believe there is such a thing as tru Scriptures and the help of t
“We believe that doxology is the proper aim of theology, and all of life, which is why faculty and students regularly begin rigorous classes on systematic theology, Greek and Hebrew exegesis, and classic literature with joyful singing.” Brian Tabb, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
FEEL
“Since God is glorified in our emo not just by seeing it and understan the emotional life
APPLY
“A well-educated person is gro to life of all
“Since each Christian is a part of the entire body of Christ, given individual gifts for the benefit of the whole community, our students are taught to share with others what they come to learn of God and His world—the truth, goodness, and beauty they discover as well as their own faith, hope, and love.” Matt Crutchmer, M.A. Instructor of Theology
U NDERG R ADUATE PROG R AMS:
4
BETHLEHEM COLLEGE & SEMINARY
EX PR E
“Our aim at Bethlehem College & Sem mind that help students express truth they h truthfulness, preciousness, an
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN WORLDVIE W • BACHELO
TS OF MIND AND HEART
D AND HEART TO GO ON LEARNING WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN TO LIVE IN OR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
e of the Mind and the Love of God cellor and Professor of Biblical Exegesis
RVING
ce students to see for themselves. see things they did not see at first— nd in the world.”
TA NDING
after him. Otherwise, education simply of our own ignorance.”
“We train our students to have eyes of the intellect both wide open and keenly concentrated, to have minds that can range broadly over the entire scope of God’s magnificent Word and his complex world while also perceiving in intricate detail the significant nuances of any given text or topic before them.” Travis Myers, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Church History and Mission Studies
UATING
uth and that with the compass of the the Spirit, we can know it.”
LING
otional response to his glory and
nding it, we cannot be indifferent to e of students, …”
“Our students are developing the ability to evaluate what is and what isn’t true by tenaciously and fairly analyzing every thinker, idea, or trend, by the compass of the Scriptures and with the help of the Spirit.” James McGlothlin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Christian Worldview
Y ING
owing in the wise application he learns.”
ESSING
minary is to cultivate habits of heart and
have discovered so that its accuracy, clarity, nd helpfulness are manifest.”
“Our men and women are learning not only to look closely at God’s Word and God’s world, but also to allow what they see to shape them as roommates, as churchgoers, as employees, as spouses and parents, and as citizens of their earthly city.” Johnathon Bowers, M.Div. Assistant Professor of Theology and Christian Worldview
R OF ARTS IN BIB LICAL & THEOLOGICAL STU DIES • BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY OF IDE AS
FALL 2015
SERIOUS JOY
5
TO STUDY, PRACTICE & TEACH: FACULTY & ALUMNI
Andy Naselli’s Helicopter, Bus, and Trowel So 3,827 pages. That is the to-
Micro-reading is the reading level of
“It trains students how to read.”
tal tally of pages that Drs. Andy
close, analytical scholarship. At this
In particular, Naselli is interested in
Naselli and Jason DeRouchie
level, Naselli encourages students:
freeing the consciences of students
have assigned for reading in
“Rigorously evaluate what you read.
not to have to read every word of ev-
their 26-page syllabus for the
Engage with the text by marking it
ery book he assigns.
capstone course, THEO 7510,
up: specify where you strongly agree
“It exposes students to helpful tools.”
Biblical Theology: History of
or disagree or have questions.” In
Naselli considers the levels of reading
Redemption. With the Bethlehem
micro-reading, Naselli explains that
as tools themselves and uses them to
of class for every hour of class. Ac-
College & Seminary’s website declar-
students may metaphorically adopt
introduce students to key arguments
cording to Naselli, “Students greatly
ing that its students “endeavor in all
the pace of walking through a chap-
and positions that they may return to
appreciate it when I require them to
of our intellectual inquiry to love God
ter, the posture of sitting on a pas-
at a later date when they can look at
spend at least x minutes surveying a
with our minds by thinking deeply,”
sage, or the labor of digging as with
them in more detail.
particular resource.”
is this page count simply a contradic-
a trowel in a paragraph or particular
“It improves class times.”
At first Naselli developed these
tion in terms? How can any student go
sentence. He expects such reading to
Because students read some passages
three levels of reading for himself,
deep when expected to go so wide in
take more time, thought, and energy
very closely, during class Naselli and
honing them over time as he worked
his reading preparations for class?
and chooses text for his students that
his students can carefully tease out im-
on his two dissertations and edited for
he believes will prove most helpful
plications of certain texts together in
Dr. Don Carson. “I simply had to do
a catastrophic expectation. In fact,
to their knowledge of the subject at
discussion instead of merely listing or
it,” Naselli explained, “to get through
Naselli offers the seemingly massive
hand and their class discussions.
summarizing arguments in a lecture.
the number of books I needed to cov-
But it is neither a cruel joke nor
“It prepares students for pastoral
reading load, accompanied by care-
Although Naselli articulates in
ful training in three levels of reading,
his syllabi which texts students are
ministry.”
sometimes involved researching 300
as a gift to his students. In addition to
to read at which level, including the
Students can use macro-reading and
different articles or books.”
teaching students to wrestle through
page counts and the amount of time
survey reading to keep up to date
Now as administrator of Theme-
complex theological concepts and the
students might spend at each pace, he
with current theological dialogues
lios, a theological journal, Naselli uses
debates surrounding them, his cours-
hopes by modeling these levels that
without being paralyzed by the sheer
these levels daily to process eight to
er. A single chapter of my dissertation
es model for students how to practice different kinds of reading, thereby learning to read most economically:
DATE
CLASS TOPIC
ASSIGNMENTS DUE (PRIOR TO CLASS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
11/2
Mission
Micro-read – Weight: 45%
Macro-read – Weight: 40%
Survey – Weight: 15%
Other
Köstenberger, Andreas J. “Mission.”
Kaiser, Walter C., Jr. “Introduction”
30 min. Schnabel, Eckhard J. Early
Pray; write reading response
NDBT 663–68. (6 pp.)
(pp. xvii–xix) and the conclusion to
Christian Mission. 2 vols. Downers
every chapter (pp. 7, 18, 26, 35–36, 48–49,
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
63–64, 74, 81–82) in Mission in the
(1,628 pp.)
to get the most from a text by giving the greatest attention to texts that
Köstenberger, Andreas J., and Peter T.
merit the close reading while also fa-
O’Brien. “Concluding Synthesis.” Pages
miliarizing themselves with a wide
Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission.
251–70 in Salvation to the Ends of the
Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012. (15 pp.) [on Populi]10
breadth of other supporting, conflict-
New Studies in Biblical Theology 11. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
Oberlin, Kevin Paul. “Table of Contents”
ing, or background arguments.
2001. (20 pp.) [on Populi]
and “Conclusion.” Pages vi–ix, 234–45 in “The Ministry of Israel to the Nations:
Naselli describes his three levels
An excerpt from Dr. Naselli’s syllabus exposing the three levels of required reading.
A Biblical Theology of Missions in the
of reading as survey, macro-reading,
Era of the Old Testament Canon.” PhD
and micro-reading. Survey reading
[on Populi]
diss., Bob Jones University, 2006. (16 pp.)
involves reading “quickly, noting only the important points”—leaving
students will begin to adopt such a
volume of new theological publica-
other, less crucial parts of the author’s
habit in their reading throughout the
tions vying for their attention.
argument unread. He compares it to
rest of their lives, particularly in pas-
a helicopter ride that offers a tourist
toral or scholarly vocations.
ten books that come across his desk. “I catalog their major arguments, so
“It helps students complete
that I can access them easily when I
their reading assignments in a
am teaching or writing.”
reasonable amount of time.”
an aerial view of a city skyline. Macro-
Beyond developing a nuanced
reading requires reading every word
habit of reading, Naselli has seen five
Here, the three levels of reading serve
reading, and micro-reading help
of a text but doing so at a quick pace,
distinct advantages for students in
students practically, enabling them
Naselli serve his students as well as
just enough to understand the whole,
the classroom as they use the three
to get the most out of the two hours
help him faithfully carry out his own
levels of reading:
they prepare, on average, outside
role as an editor and professor.
“like a bus tour of a city,” says Naselli.
In this way, survey reading, macro-
NEW BY FACULTY & ALUMNI AUTHORS
NIV Zondervan Study Bible D.A. CARSON, GEN. ED. ANDREW DAVID NASELLI, ASST. ED.
Beating the College Debt Trap: Habits of Grace: Enjoying Getting a Degree Without Jesus Through the Spiritual Going Broke Disciplines ALEX CHEDIAK
DAVID MATHIS
Designed for Joy: How the Gospel Impacts Men & Women, Identity & Practice
The Supremacy of God in Preaching Revised & Expanded
Eternity Changes Everything: How to Live Now in the Light of Your Future
JONATHAN PARNELL & OWEN STRACHAN, ED.
JOHN PIPER
STEPHEN WITMER
Remember to select Bethlehem College & Seminary as your charitable organization on AmazonSmile. A portion of your purchases on AmazonSmile, books or otherwise, will help provide students with affordable tuition that lets them launch immediately into ministry without student loan debt.
6
BETHLEHEM COLLEGE & SEMINARY
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW: ADVANCEMENT
Every resident student receives a Serious Joy Scholarship EDUCATION IN SERIOUS JOY
Bethlehem College & Seminary students are equipped for joyful lives of high impact, helping other people be eternally happy, by learning and sharing that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
FUNDED BY THE FAITHFUL
God works in the hearts of individual men and women to provide two-thirds of the students’ full tuition such that they can: 1
Receive a high-value education at an unusually affordable cost
2
Launch immediately into ministry without student loan debt
3
Be affordable as staff to churches and ministries that need them
Bethlehem College & Seminary is operated in such a lean, back-to-basics, no-frills manner that nearly every dollar received goes to the direct benefit of the student.
CO M P LE TE TH I S AC T O F G R ACE
Pray for God to supply the need of 250 Serious Joy Scholarships, every year. Full Annual Tuition
$ 16,000
Serious Joy Scholarship [ $ 10,000 ] Net Student Tuition
$ 6,000 *
Bethlehem College & Seminary receives no funds at all from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Pell Grants, Student Loan Programs, IRS Code 26 §529 College Savings Plans, the State of Minnesota, denominational support, or Desiring God Ministries. Bethlehem Baptist Church provides very generous services in-kind, but only a nominal amount of direct cash support.
* ON AVER AGE
Pray that God might lead you to either be among or help identify:
A FEW who would gladly underwrite all the scholarships in entire future years
SOME who will supply scholarships for multiple students
MANY who will underwrite one Serious Joy Scholarship
THE GROWING COMMUNITY of friends that together funds fractions of scholarships
Pulpits are being supplied, ministries staffed, the nations reached, theological scholars established, and various vocations filled with men and women who know that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. ONLINE CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE VIA WWW.BCSMN.EDU/DONATE OR SEND YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT TO: Bethlehem College & Seminary, 720 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415
FALL 2015
SERIOUS JOY
7
Serious Joy IN THIS ISSUE
THE ENDEARING QUALITIES OF AN UNDERGRADUATE UPSTART
From the President How Dare We Call Ourselves a College? In One Accord Bethlehem’s Four-Year Approach to Abbreviating Adolescence The Bethlehem Habits of Mind and Heart To Study, Practice & Teach Andy Naselli’s Helicoptor, Bus, and Trowel
Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 3844 Twin Cities, MN
BETHLEHEM COLLEGE & SEMINARY 720 13TH AVENUE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55415
We Thank God for You Last month, I collaborated in the launch of a new multisite campus on the Central Coast
of California called Grace5Cities, as a part of the GraceCentralCoast network. California’s Central Coast ranks #2 in the U.S. among communities with the most never-churched residents. Our campaign towards our launch called people to “Discover Joy” at Grace5Cities; the campaign’s kinship to Bethlehem is intentionally and joyfully obvious. After receiving an M.Div. and Th.M. and having had the pleasure of serving as an Instructor for Christian Worldview at the undergraduate level of Bethlehem College & Seminary, I am astounded at the privilege to so immediately extend the vision and mission of Bethlehem College & Seminary. A huge part of what has made this move into ministry so immediate pertains to the absence of a financial burden upon the completion of my formal “education in serious joy.” My wife and I, our baby boy on the way (27 weeks), the ministry team at GraceCentralCoast, and all those who will Discover Joy in Jesus through Grace5Cities are so very grateful for your role in making the gospel go forth with such immediacy through your generosity towards the greatest cause. Ben Collins, M.Div ‘13, Th.M. ‘15 Grace5Cities Campus Pastor, Arroyo Grande, CA