Faith-Learning Integration

What happens when doctors don’t know it all?

They seek to learn more.

Find out why it’s important that physicians keep learning by watching our Truth in Two.

 

Dr. Mark Eckel is Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University. Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website) and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

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“This is where science becomes an art.” Whenever a medical doctor says her work verges into artwork my ears perk up. Las summer I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, what I came to discover is a common malady. My exceptional endocrinologist immediately eased the symptoms with medicine. But the meds had to be modulated – when and how much to take, was the issue for my body. That’s when I heard the phrase, sometimes, “science become an art.

We live in a place and time where physicians are doing great work. I was so thankful to feel better with the right pharmaceuticals. But the application, the exactitude of complete wholeness, can be elusive. Some of the most renown doctors and researchers are, at times, left scratching their heads. Knowledge continues to double daily, but the use of that knowledge can be a mystery. Medical surgeon and author Atul Gawande says in his book Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science

We look for medicine to be an orderly field of knowledge and procedure. But it is not. It is an imperfect science, an enterprise of constantly changing knowledge, uncertain information, fallible individuals, and at the same time lives on the line. There is science in what we do, yes, but also habit, intuition, and sometimes plain old guessing. The gap between what we know and what we aim for persists. And this gap complicates everything we do.

Ancient proverbial wisdom is a guide for modern medicine Proverbs 10.14, says, “The wise store up knowledge.” The Hebrew word for “store” suggests “seeking.” No matter our vocation, we continue searching but sometimes the application of what we learn is hard to practice. Here Proverbs 15.7 speaks more truth: the wise person also spreads knowledge, feeling responsible to disperse her mastery to benefit the whole community. My doctor is right to acknowledge that she continues to learn, for which I, and countless others, are grateful. For the Comenius Institute, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

 MORE from Atul Gawande

I have divided the book into three sections.  The first examines the fallibility of doctors…The second focuses on mysteries and unknowns of medicine…The third and final section then centers on uncertainly itself.  For what seems most vital and interesting is not how much we in medicine know but how much we don’t—and how we might grapple with that ignorance more wisely.

 

Why should we be surprised?!

Marvelous design originates from the Designer.

What are we talking about? Watch our Truth in Two to find out (2 min vid + text).

Note: the word “fascia” was misspelled in the upload of the video.

Dr. Mark Eckel is Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University. Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website) and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point through Truth in Two videos (here).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

 

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Discoveries about the human body continue to fascinate scientists. For instance, fascia is a thick fibrous connective tissue that wraps and supports every structure in the human body. Recent scientific discoveries showed that fascia not only wraps around organs, muscles and bones but surrounds every cell structure. As part of this discovery researchers acknowledged fascia provides form and function to every part of your body. You can learn more about this systemic bodily tissue that allows flexibility and stretching by viewing the link from the Cleveland Clinic at the end of this Truth in Two.

Now why would I, a theologian, be interested in fascia? One, I am amazed at the constant discoveries still being made about the human body. Two, I am thankful we live in a day when such extensive, thorough research can be done. Three, the human body continues to disclose its wonderous design. But wait! How do my three observations relate to theology.

Proverbs 25.2 says the idea of human discovery begins with the God-designed universe disclosing its intricacies to explorers who uncover them. Those who *research the world, declares Psalms 64 through 67, ponder what God has done, stand in awe of His wonders, benefit from all His works, all of which causes a fear of Him to spread throughout the earth. But research and discovery depend upon the study of human life that is “fearfully and wonderfully made” according to Psalm 139. As Lesslie Newbigin said in his book Foolishness to the Greeks, “The work of scientists must be illuminated by insights derived from rigorous theological thinking.”

As you hear of new chemical, physical, planetary, or even bodily news, remember this: if we are constantly learning about creation, what does that tell us about the Creator? As Elihu said to Job, perhaps we should “stop and consider the wondrous works of God.”** For the Comenius Institute, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

NOTES

* “ponder” Ps 64.9, “awe” Ps 65.8, “benefit” (Ps 66.5), “spread” (Ps 67.7)

** “As Elihu said to Job” (Job 37.14)

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23251-fascia

I am honored, in this next chapter of my life, to serve and support faculty

throughout Christian higher education toward faith learning integration.

Find out how it happened by watching this week’s Truth in Two (full text below).

 

Dr. Mark Eckel is Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University. Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website) and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

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I was sitting in seat 26A just before the cabin doors closed on my flight to Denver when I received the December 2023 call. Dr. Dondi Costin, newly installed president of Liberty University, alerted me to an academic opportunity in Lynchburg Virginia. Dr. Costin and I did our PhD work together. We have been friends for two decades. At Dr. Costin’s request, I spoke to his faculty in 2019 when he was then president at Charleston Southern University. Now he was asking me to consider a position, serving in a field I have been working in most of my life: faith-learning integration.

In Christian higher education the phrase “faith-learning integration” means the institution is committed to teaching from a distinctively Christian point of view. In Dr. Costin’s inaugural address he clearly described biblical thinking, “If it’s ‘Christian’ it ought to be Christian.” Simply stated, a Christian university should seek to understand the world through The Word of God. All of life should be viewed through the lens of Scripture.

From the earliest lines of Genesis the phrase, “And God said” sets the authority for the Christian thinker. Teachers in Christian education should be in submission to Scriptural authority, what Deuteronomy 4 calls, “Your wisdom and understanding in the sight of all people.” Even before earth’s creation Proverbs 8 declares that personified Wisdom gives direction to Christian educators, where we find the paths of knowledge, prudence, insight, and counsel, which is the synthesis of our instruction.

So, from seat 26A into the future I am honored to be named the Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University. I am grateful for Dr. Costin’s invitation to submit an application, prompted by God’s Spirit, to support Christian professors as they help the next generation to see the world through the lens of the Word. For the Comenius Institute, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration at Liberty University, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.

Life’s last question (What happens when we die?)

should be the first question in the study of psychology.

Find out why by watching our Truth in Two (full text below).

 

Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website) and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron, supporting Truth in Two (here).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

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In conversation with a psychology major at public university, I found out that students’ study numbers not narratives. Here’s what I mean. When I asked the student what their major focus of study in psychology was, she said, “We study data, polling, and how people feel.” I was a bit perplexed. I asked if they ever discussed the great questions of life that everyone asks, such as, “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose in life?” “What is the source of my knowledge?!” “What is the standard for ‘right’ and ‘wrong’?” She said she had not heard those questions in her psychology major. My eyes went wide in disbelief. These questions, along with others, are some of the most primary concerns for every human person. I asked one last question. “You said that in your classes your focus is on numbers, on data, on the assessment of quantitative analysis.” She shook her head up and down. “So, in psychology – the science of how humans think and behave – you don’t investigate qualitative, conversational research, or read the stories of human behavior, or consider the narratives of people’s lives, or ponder answers to basic concerns that everyone faces?” The look on the young student’s face said it all. She realized that what it meant to be human was being left out of her studies. She was considering scientific numbers without social narratives.

A Christian view of psychology begins with essential questions of reality, God, humanity, purpose, knowledge, and ethics. And it is my considered belief that the ultimate question, “What happens when I die?” drives the answers to all the other questions. The writer of Hebrews said it best. “It is appointed for a person to die once and after that comes judgment.” A Christian view of psychology begins with “Where did I come from?” and ends with “How should I prepare for death?” For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, personally seeking truth in psychology or wherever it’s found.

What is the most enjoyable human focus?

Pursuing satisfaction.

Find out why neuroscience simply confirms what Scripture teaches in this week’s Truth in Two.

Support MarkEckel.com (here). Find the MarkEckel.com YouTube Channel (here). Mark is President of The Comenius Institute (website). Dr. Eckel spends time with Christian young people in public university (1 minute video), teaching at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, and interprets culture from a Christian vantage point (1 minute video). Consider becoming a Comenius patron (here).

Pictures: Josh Collingwood, SnappyGoat.com

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If you were in my classes you would hear me say things like, “When you get up out of your seat, there is an immediate 10-15% increase in blood flow to the brain!” Or you could hear, “Every time the barometer drops, so does classroom interest.” Statements such as these are ideas drawn from neuroscience: how the world around us impacts our person. As a professor I can tell you when it’s raining outside, I might as well forget classroom discussion. Barometric pressure impacts our bodies.

Why does educational neuroscience matter? The Creator made us to be whole people. Every aspect of our lives impacts our whole person. A biblical view of humanity is exactly why neuroscientists such as Jaak Panksepp have made important brain-related discoveries. In one of his studies, Panksepp concluded, “The most enjoyable human focus is seeking and working toward satisfaction, the pursuit of an interest.” Pursuing our interests gives life vitality.

My favorite book in the Bible says it best. Ecclesiastes 2:24 reads, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his work. This is from the hand of God.” That word “enjoyment” in Hebrew literally means, the person’s interests made his soul see good. For me, my soul sees good when I’m researching for an essay, collaborating with colleagues, creating curriculum, or writing each Truth in Two. For you it may be different. You may be a risk-taker and love rock climbing. You may be a homemaker who loves to bake cakes. You may be a financial advisor who enjoys seeing your client’s portfolio grow. You may be a grandparent who loves to read to your grandchildren. Your satisfaction is given by God for the goodness of life. Neuroscience simply confirms what Scripture teaches: our satisfaction in this life is to pursue the interests given to us by our Creator. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, personally seeking Truth in the truths left by God in neuroscience.*

* “Neuroscience” is a multi-disciplinary science that intersects all manner of human endeavor, including how we humans interact with the creational world. Responding internally to the external world can take various forms, a few of which are briefly noted in my 300-word essay.

Introduction When I began teaching in Christian schools, my course of study was “Bible.” But over the passage of my instructional years, I renamed the course CLAWS or “Christian Life and World Studies.” As I would say to my students, “The Bible does not sit on a shelf by itself but applies to the whole world and all of life.” I have been training students and teachers in the same mindset with the question, “How should I teach my classes from a distinctively Hebraic-Christian viewpoint?” In this brief essay I am suggesting at least five ways of beginning to think Christianly to teach Christianly.

Biblically Our assumptions about everything in life begin under the authority of God’s Word. What we believe about reality, humanity, ethics, knowledge, purpose, death, and eternity reside within Heaven’s communication to us in the Bible. Every subject of study from the sciences to math to literature to history to the arts to every vocational arena is dependent upon the presuppositions and principles of Scripture (Ps 147:15-20). Consider: What is the source or origin of my subject? Why are initial points of reference from Genesis 1 – 11 important? What is the first mention of the idea in Scripture?

Wholistically Mysteries, for instance, remind us that without sin (wrongdoing), there is no story (tension or drama). Interpreting the whole world and all of life through the lens of biblical truth is the focus of Christian education. Christians unite the fragments of truth scattered by The Fall via the regenerative thinking of Christian minds (Col 1:19-21). As a thinking Christian I am concerned for “wholeness.” Consider: How has sin corrupted, fragmented, or distorted thinking on a topic? How is the idea repaired, completed, or unified by Hebraic-Christian thought?

Synthetically God’s design is woven in life’s fabric “held together” by its Creator (Col 1:17). What we do, who we are, where we live, how we work is infused with the imprint of The Triune Personal Eternal Creator. “Why does God have to be brought into everything?” the question is raised. We are not “bringing God into our subjects; He is already there. From sub-atomic particles to expansive galaxies God created them. From Hammurabi’s law code to the American Constitution, God’s influence affects the minds of people. Consider: How do I write syllabi that show The Trinity’s superintendence over life? How do I show the intersection of my discipline with Hebraic-Christian understanding?

Incarnationally God taking upon Himself complete, uncorrupted human nature, coming to earth in flesh, sanctified material things forever. Jesus’ incarnation is an important linkage between creation and eternity. Jesus coming in physical body re-secured the delight in the totality of life The Father intended from the beginning (Col 2:16-23). Consider: the doctrine of Incarnation should produce at least three guidelines for thinking Christianly, (1) a renewed application of Christ’s lordship to the totality of life in the academy; (2) a reinstated teaching about the importance of training for devotion to God in all fields of study; and (3) a recommitment to destroying the contamination Gnosticism and legalism foster in Christian thinking.

Intentionally The old saw “we do what’s inspected not what’s expected” is true in every vocation, including education. My PhD dissertation sought to measure the impact of intentionality between K-12 Christian school teachers, comparing those who graduated from Christian and public universities. One of the overwhelming takeaways from the study was that unless administration was directly involved in oversight, teachers did not practice faith-learning integration, intentionally. I taught for 20 years in K-12 Christian school settings. For the same length of time, I have taught in undergraduate and graduate programs, both in Christian and public university settings. I can tell you that higher education is no different than education at another level. Planning is essential to every part of life (i.e., Prov 27:23-27). Consider: As I prepare to teach, have I developed biblical-theological foundations for my course? As I teach, am I actively pointing students toward Scriptural principles for my subject’s study?

Conclusion I can think of no better words to summarize thinking-teaching Christianly than those of the churchman James Orr.

“No duty is more imperative on the Christian teacher than that of showing that instead of Christianity being simply one theory among the rest, it is really the higher truth which is the synthesis and completion of all the others; that view which, rejecting the error, takes up the vitalizing elements in all other systems and religions, and unites them into a living organism, with Christ as head.”[i]

We find pieces of truth everywhere since all truth is God’s Truth. If our teaching in any discipline is to be distinctive from any other institution, we must give careful, continual attention to our research and instruction under the authority of Heaven.

[i] James Orr, The Christian View of God and the World, 3^rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner’s, 1897, pp 11-12.

I was asked to write this essay for the advancement of faculty thought at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary. The essay will appear in two parts beginning 14 September 22. Part One. Part Two.

“Environmental” Science^[1]

“Earthkeeping” (instead of “environmentalism”) or “re-Genesizing,” taking care of creation, is hurt by human sin (Lev 26; Deut 11:13-17). Deuteronomy 33:13-15 shows a fertile versus infertile land Deuteronomy 29:16-28. There are creational consequences that humans bring on ourselves.

 

Environmental concerns are nothing new.  The Israelites entered a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Ex 13:5; 33:3; Lev 2:24; Num 14:8; Josh 5:6).  Canaan was called a “good land” (Deut 6:18; Josh 23:13), a land cared for by God (Deut 11:12), even a “very, very good land” (Num 14:7).  Deuteronomy 8:7-9 cites a cornucopia of products: fountains, springs, wheat, barley, olive trees, and vines.

By the end of the First Testament, however, the picture changes.  What was once considered the wealth of a nation is described as barren, depleted, and defiled (Jer 2:7).  Deforestation caused by war (Jdg 9:46-49; 2 Kg 3:19, 25; Jer 6:6), overgrazing (Jud 6:5), even idol worship (Jer 10:3).  Laws regarding agriculture (Lev 25), horticulture (Lev 19:10, 23-25), and forestry (Deut 20:19-20) were ignored.  While some would want to rush to judgment against industry and business, Scripture indicates that so-called “environmental” problems began as a disintegration of the relation between Israel and God (Jer 9:12-13; Mic 7:13).  God chastised His people using weather which caused crop failure and drought (Ps 78:47-48; Jer 14:3-6; Amos 4:7-8).  The decay of God-centered earthkeeping set the stage for misuse and abuse of the creation through a human-centered view of the earth.

Following God’s commands for earthkeeping, however, provided nourishment for all.  “Give careful attention to your herds” (Prov 27:23, 27).  Even during captivity the triune God commanded “plant gardens and eat what they produce” (Jer 29:5) building prosperity for individual and nation alike (29:7).  Obedience to God and fruitfulness of the land was intricately tied together (Lev 20:24; Deut 11:17).  The new earth will yield its plenty when people are changed toward their Maker (Ezek 36:25-30).

Prosperity produces the possibility of private property development (1 Kg 4:25; 1 Chr 27:25-31).  Love of the soil spurred Uzziah’s land development providing work for people and cultivation of the land (2 Chr 26:10).  Ownership provides for a flourishing economy (Jer 39:10; 40:10; 41:8).  However the person who worships production over the Possessor is called a “fool” because their view of this life was not governed by the next life (Luke 12:6-21).  Indeed, the coming kingdom on earth is marked by “every man sitting under his own fig tree,” a sign of prosperity (Mic 4:4).^[2]

[1] Environment means a web of interconnectedness. Biblically this is a troublesome word since humans are not “one with the earth” where all things are simply seen as one giant ecosystem. People are vice-regents of God responsible to cultivate and conserve the earth.

[2] A tremendous resource for Christian interaction with “environmental” science is Caring for Creation in your own Backyard: Over 100 Things Christian Families Can Do to Help the Earth by Loren and Mary Ruth Wilkinson (Ann Arbor: Servant, 1992).

Originally written by Mark Eckel and published for an ACSI Enabler (2003-04) discussing biblical integration. Mark has four decades of Christian education experience. Dr. Eckel began teaching 7-12 grade Bible classes in Christian schools in 1983 at Shiloh Christian School, Bismarck, ND. He has over 20 years in K-12 Christian settings as well as teaching undergraduate through graduate courses over the last 20 years. He has been teaching Christian education philosophy since the 1980’s and has been a CE philosophy provider for ACSI for years. You can find his 100,000 word, 20 discipline faith-learning integration series here: https://www.curriculumtrak.com/features/faith-learning.cfm

Why Do We Have to Learn This?!

THE question every student asks. Here are my answers.

And here is where you can find the STORY that got me to answer the question!

Stewardship of resources—we are responsible to protect and produce from what we have been given in life—is humanity’s first command (Gen 1:28).  Ultimately, our growth in Christ—our sanctification—is an understanding of all things from His perspective.  To answer the question above I would ask, “Are we interested in our own personal sanctification in Christ?”

1. If this is God’s world, He made it, and it is important to Him, it should be important to us (Gen 1; 1 Chr 29:11; Neh 9:6; Ps 33:6-11; 50:9-12; 89:11).

 

2. If the creation praises God for His works, then we should praise God for His creation (Ps 19; 104; 148).

 

3. We honor, magnify, and glorify God for Who He is—Creator of all (Ecc 12:1; Isa 40:26; 42:5; 44:24; 45:7; 45:18; Amos 4:13; John 1:3; Acts 7:5; Rom 1:25; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 3:9; 1 Pe 4:19).

 

4. If all knowledge comes from Jesus, then we are responsible for that knowledge (Col 2:2-3; cf. 1:9; 2:4, 8).

 

5. We are responsible to grow in the knowledge of Jesus (Eph 1:15-23; Phil 1:9-11; Col 1:9-10).

 

6. We are responsible to develop biblical, critical thinking skills (Prov 2:1-6; Col 2:8; Heb 5:11-14). Wisdom is how we better understand the world (Proverbs 8).

 

7. As creatures responsible to The Creator, we have been given responsibilities to rule the creation (Gen 1:28; 2:5, 15, 19-20; Ps 8:5-8).

 

8. God has created the earth for human benefit (Ps 115:16; Is 45:12).

 

9. Even unbelievers ponder what God has done in His creation (Ps 64:9; 65:8; 66:4; 67:2, 7) which should be the believers’ response (Ps 111:2).

 

10. We should thank God for the various gifts given to people, whatever they are, and however they may benefit others (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

 

11. We give God glory in every day living about every thing (Ps 115:1; 1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:23).

 

12. Satisfaction, Appreciation, and Thankfulness is the most important SAT test we will ever take (Deut 8:10-20). To be ungrateful for the gifts given to us, is to reject The One Who has given those gifts to us (Rom 1:21).  We ought to give thanks for all things (Eph 5:20; 1 Th 5:18) since He has given everything for us to enjoy (1 Tim 6:17).

Mark has four decades of Christian education experience. Dr. Eckel began teaching 7-12 grade Bible classes in Christian schools in 1983 at Shiloh Christian School, Bismarck, ND. He has over 20 years in K-12 Christian settings as well as teaching undergraduate through graduate courses over the last 20 years. He has been teaching Christian education philosophy since the 1980’s and has been a CE philosophy provider for ACSI for years. You can find his 100,000 word, 20 discipline faith-learning integration series here: https://www.curriculumtrak.com/features/faith-learning.cfm