Leadership

The Bible on Leadership: 3 Principles About the Use of Our Time

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My first stint as an educator was chosen by the clock.

My training was in pastoral studies. But I was being asked to become a high school teacher in a Christian school. In 256 undergraduate-graduate semester hours I had precisely 6 hours in any type of teaching preparation. Just in terms of time, it seems I was unprepared to teach in a formal educational setting.

But then I asked myself how much influence could I have within a certain amount of time?

Since one of my gifts is teaching, I compared the two opportunities:

Teaching once a week for 45 minutes over 50 Sundays a year equals 37.5 hours per year

Teaching five times a week for 45 minutes over 180 days a year equals 135 hours per year

By almost a 4 to 1 margin, teaching in a school won out. The most influence I might have over time made my decision to teach an easy one for me.

Every leader’s situation is different.

All leaders must ask themselves the question, “What is the best use of my time?” Scripture is full of principles for leaders to consider when it comes to time.

  1. Christian Leaders Recognize God Controls the Results of His Work in Us over Time.

I am haunted by one question:

What if I do not see results of my efforts in this life?

I trust the Providence of God to do His work in His time with me, as Paul said,

When David had served God’s purposes in his generation, he died (Acts 13:36).

My purposes are suffused in God’s purposes. The point of my life as a Christian leader is not results; results belong to God, who uses me and my gifts as He sees fit. As the apostle tells the Corinthians,

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to teach. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

God controls results in time, which means what the Psalmist said,

My times are in His hands (31:15).

Words like “providence” – God personally plans and oversees all things – are established from the biblical record. In leadership we should not be controlled by a Google calendar but God’s clock. Paul’s desire to preach in Asia but

The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them (Acts 16:7)

A vision was given to Paul to go to Macedonia, the next appointment in God’s plan (Acts 16:8-11). We may desire to see others “face to face” but may be “hindered by Satan” (1 Thess 2:17-18); a situation totally outside our ability to observe. “Hindering” may influence our plans unbeknown to us, directly impacting our intention as good as the plan may be (Romans 1:13).

Reading Paul’s plans to visit Rome from Romans 15 we know two things for sure: (1) Paul did not get to Rome the way he thought he would and (2) Paul never reached Spain, his ultimate destination.

I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints (15:22-25).

We learn from Acts 27 that Paul’s trip to Rome did not go as planned. So, what we consider to be interruptions in our schedule, for instance, are God-given. God controls the results of His purposes in us through time, times we may not fully understand. Five questions make us consider God’s results in time:

  1. How do I talk about “results” of “my” leadership?
  2. What is my attitude knowing “results” of “my” work may not be seen in this life?
  3. How do I talk about words like “providence” to others when I discuss my leadership?
  4. How should I think about “planning” if I know God may change my plans?
  5. Why is it important to understand that supernatural “hindering” may displace my plans?

2. Christian Leaders Remember our Time in Life is Short.

We do not know the time God has allotted to us. Ecclesiastes is clear:

Man does not know his time (9:12)

Human time must be measured against eternal time. Because a lifetime is short, a long view of time should compel our actions. The reason for Paul’s exclamation “today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2) is that no one has the guarantee of life tomorrow. The parable of the rich man in Luke 12 is clear. Speaking to himself, the foolish rich man said,

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (12:19)

The problem was that the man assumed “many years.” Instead, God says,

Fool! This night your soul is required of you (12:20)

Leaders should be wary not to suggest to young people “You have your whole life ahead of you!” Such a statement, while generous, does not consider the potential brevity of a life.

On the other hand, the evangelist preaches the gospel and friends share the message of the cross with friends because no one knows when someone may pass into eternity. Even our financial and economic plans are judged by James, who tells us

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (4:13-16).

Since our time on earth is short, leaders should focus on the long view “of declaring God’s mighty works to the next generation” (Ps 71:14-18)

that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments (Ps 78:6-7).

Human time must be layered into God’s time. Here are five questions to consider:

  1. How am I investing in the lives of young people who may live on after I am gone?
  2. How often do I use the phrase “If the Lord wills” in my planning and conversation?
  3. Before any activity, including sleep, do I have my affairs in order in case the Lord takes my life?
  4. Do I remind people, including myself, that life is short?
  5. Do I weigh my statements about time by biblical standards?

 

3. Christian Leaders Realize How We Use Our Time is Our Responsibility. It is said that an NFL quarterback has a clock in his head, knowing when he should deliver the ball before being sacked. In the same way, the wise person understands life’s brevity and lives accordingly. Proverbs 27:1 is clear,

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

The Psalmist admonishes us, that we should

Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (90:12).

Psalm 90:9-12 reminds everyone that time is short. In light of the truth, people should calculate, take stock of, or “number their days.” Every tick of the clock brings us one second closer to death. Far from morbid, the statement forbids nonchalance in life.

Why should I be taught to keep track of my days in this life?

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (Psalm 39:4).

So, what should we do, knowing we do not control time and my time on earth is short? Paul admonishes that we should be

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).

The lead phrase is best translated as “redeem the time.” The idea is that we literally buy back time, making the most of every opportunity. Our time is made purposeful within His time. In leadership we make the most of our time understanding that our life and death are directed by God. And so we say with Paul “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). The apostle continues the thought in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

So, I ask myself, “Where is my greatest influence as I live for Christ?” and “How can I make proper use of the time I have been given for His service?” Take the apostle Paul, for instance. God used Paul’s cultural, linguistic, religious, and national status to accomplish Divine directions. He could minister to the Jews because of his Hebrew background (Phil 3:1-6). He could minister to Gentiles because of his birthplace (Acts 21:39). He was a Roman citizen which gave him an international passport (Acts 22:3). Paul could speak multiple languages (Acts 21:37-22.2). Paul was an academic (Acts 17:16-21; 19:8-10). The apostle’s upbringing set the framework for his life under God’s Providence.

I won’t lie. Moving to Indianapolis was the worst “career” decision of my life, humanly speaking. Some people have done bad things to me personally and my “professional” goals throughout my time in the city, humanly speaking. So, in my own way I have been “hindered.” It has been a hard road overcoming multiple obstacles. But I have to say knowing these biblical principles has helped me as the Lord has moved me in directions I did not foresee. As a leader, I ask myself these questions:

  1. What are my present times and circumstances?
  2. What are the gifts and opportunities I have been given?
  3. Who do I know in The Church who will help me?
  4. Am I content to plan while at the same time knowing my plans may be changed?
  5. Why is it important for me to use the phrase “humanly speaking” when discussing my plans?

Conclusion

The following ideas had an influence on my life. They may not be the same for you.

Time was my focus when I thought about the people I would teach. In a pastoral role I would principally interact with adults. In a teaching role, I would teach teenagers. Time of life mattered in my decision. I operated based on the anonymous mantra

It is better to build children than repair adults.

The most formative time in life is youth. Ideas which begin to root in the early years will bear fruit in later years. Time was my focus when I thought about the people I would teach.

Longevity was another time issue. How much influence would one have over the longest period of time? How would ideas germinate and grow throughout one’s life? More importantly, if I teach younger people, they will most probably outlive me. Would it be better to spend time with people whose influence will impact more time than my own?

For me, the answer was obvious. Longevity over time was crucial in making my decision to teach.

After 30 years of teaching junior high through doctoral students I am still asking myself the same question: what is the best use of my time?

The amount of time, influence over time, and longevity throughout time mattered most in my life’s decision.

For me, impressing young minds with true Truth is where I wanted to spend my time.

For you, it may be something different.

But whatever we do, we do it through time.

There are only two questions left for each of us to answer:

  1. How will I spend the time given to me in this life?
  2. How will I prepare for time after this life?

 

In my next leadership article, I will continue to develop biblical principles. But in the meantime, consider more insights from the Bible on leadership I have written. Keep reading with my articles from MarkEckel.com

The Bible on Leadership: 3 Principles about Time from Genesis 2

The Bible on Leadership: 7 Verses about the Work and Requirements of Leadership

How I Order My Life as a Leader, Writing Out My 5 Gifts

Leadership as Shepherding

You can order my book I Just Need Time to Think and read the section entitled “Retreat” for an in-depth analysis of some of the ideas found here on work, rest, and sabbath.

Personally seeking truth wherever it’s found, Mark Eckel reminds himself daily of the ancient line “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14).

Mark has been teaching the next generation over four decades.

 

 

The Bible on Leadership: 3 Principles about Time from Genesis 2

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A clock has been built in a West Texas mountain; its pendulum will swing for 10,000 years. Alexander Rose, the clock’s inventor, says the clock’s purpose is to “is to help humans think about time well beyond our own lives.” Elizabeth Dias of The New York Times reports the time keeping device is called “The Clock of the Long Now.” 

The New York Times article asks good questions and notes interesting comments from physicists. “How do we measure our lives?” is the opening query, one that should enliven any Christian leader’s contemplation. “Time is a mystery” is a declaration that deserves a Scriptural response. “All of life’s cycles, in and around us, together define time” causes the biblical thinker to counter, “How can time, define ‘time’?” Further, time is said to be “complicated” and “relative.” A leader reading God’s Word knows the created thing will simply do what it is made to do and is indeed “relative” in comparison to being created. The article ends by saying, “There’s no way to describe time before the origin of our world,” to which the Bible responds, “God is from everlasting to everlasting.”

How we think about time matters. If you’re a leader, another New Year’s celebration is a good occasion to ask yourself, “How do I view time as a leader?” “Should my calendar be reordered in some way to better think biblically about how I do my work?” The concept of time – something we totally take for granted – is an essential discussion point for leaders. Contrary to the idea in the article title above, we do not “make sense of time,” time is rather a gift given to us. Hebraic-Christian leaders do not view time as “mysterious.” Instead, believing leaders view our time as something to be carefully stewarded. Time is not “complicated” or “relative.” Rather, we should view our times as an opportunity to participate in God’s eternal purposes, since He is eternal. 

Perhaps the most valuable question to ask is, “Does the Bible give direction about a sense of time in leadership?” Scripture is full of principles for leaders to consider when it comes to time. Here are several from Genesis 2:1-3.

1. Christian Leaders Should View Time as Sacred. God made time “holy,” sanctifying time, filling it with meaning. Genesis 2:1-3 records the all-important passage about sabbath rest. The first instance of the word holy in Scripture stipulates that God wants His people to be different by making time holy. God pronounced a state of holiness within time that once begun would continue. Notice in creation God calls other things good while time is sanctified. The climax of creation is to construct one day out of seven as unique. Holiday—a day set apart—should mark our calendars rather than “vacation,” coming from the Latin meaning to evacuate or leave empty.  When time is sanctified, our days are given meaning.

Using phrases such as “I’m just killing time” or “I’m just passing the time” give an air of nonchalance to our hours in the day. The Hebrew language says that God pronounced a state of holiness, existing within time when time was created. 

In leadership our definition of “time” should be reordered to consider that everything I do is “time sensitive” because it is God-sensitive. Our every breath is an act of holiness, witness to Jesus’ prayer “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Every moment is Heaven-filled and Heaven-sent accomplishing God’s will in His world. 

Five applications of seeing time as sacred include:

  1. Prayer should hover over every thought. 
  2. Meditation should wrap every decision. 
  3. Wisdom should remind us to “be” and temper our compulsion to “do.” 
  4. Eternity should counter “right now” with “until then.” 
  5. Creation of sabbath should compel us to make personal retreat a priority.

2. Christian Leaders Must Resist the Temptation to Work All the Time Another prominent principle of Genesis 2:1-3 is that God established a timed pattern of work – rest. God’s accomplishment of creation is a statement about our creative work. The word “work” indicates skilled workmanship relating to one’s business, habits, or skills. The Bible uses the same idea when God gives direction for a sabbath day, a day away from our normal work (Ex 20:9-10). The work we have been given to do is from God, work that can be accomplished with God’s intention for us in mind (Ex 31:3; 39:43). In fact, special times of remembrance can be set aside to consider God’s work in our lives (Lev 16:29). 

Once God completed His task, there is a repetition-escalation in the text: it looks like this in Hebrew: 

“God finished

the work He had done

from all the work He had done

from all the creation work He had done” (Genesis 2:2-3)

These phrases, building on each other, explain what “God finished” means. First, there is no longer a physical creation going on. Second, rest is the end of creation, an anticipation of something yet to come.  Third, there is a marker of the world to come, namely, eternity is the goal; people are made for eternity.  Notice that the normal end phrase to the first six days is not repeated here; “the evening and morning” formula is absent. If eternity is the goal, evening and morning are unnecessary. Hebrews 4:9-10 summarizes: Rest is God’s original intention. Rest is the eternal anticipation of His people. 

Here are 5 questions for you to consider as you think about your rhythms of work and rest:

  1. How do we intentionally anticipate eternity in our temporal lives?
  2. What specific actions do we undertake to make intention, reality?
  3. Why is a focus on eternal completion something for leaders to ponder?
  4. Who is impacted by my discussion about future “rest”?
  5. How can I as a leader incorporate the concept of “rest” into my business plan?

3. Christian Leaders Must Find Rest in Something Other than Their Normal Work. Well-meaning Christian folk may suggest that doing yard work on Sunday goes against God’s design not to work on our day of rest. The idea comes from statements in Exodus 20 or Leviticus 23 that precludes agricultural work. But there are two important ideas to remember. One, the First Testament Israelites lived in an agricultural culture. For God’s people then, working in the fields was their normal work. Two, the word for “work” in Genesis 2:2-3 carries the concept of what a person usually does; we would call this kind of work our “vocation” or our “calling.” Whatever we do in our daily work should be stopped for a time. For the leader, if we are reading, thinking, studying, researching, visioning, writing, teaching, or leading, that activity should be set aside for the pattern, “God rested from all His work He had done in creation.” Some leaders may rest by doing yardwork, shooting skeet, painting, attending concerts, going to museums, and, yes, spending extra time with their children or grandchildren! 

Christian leaders sometimes think that they must fill every moment with activity. We should reconsider such an approach to our days, to our work. We must intentionally decide distinctive ways that we will honor God’s sanctification of time. We should be wary not to let others fill our time for us. Yes, Providential interruptions happen. But thinking that the response to those interruptions is immediately our responsibility should be carefully considered. Celebrations with family or community should be built into our calendar. Feasting, for instance, is part of God’s celebratory purposes. Special times of giving to others is a personal, practical way of exercising the holy-day God has given.

Here are five questions leaders could be asking themselves about resting from their normal work:

  1. What does my leadership position usually demand of my time?
  2. Do I deliberately stop myself from doing my usual leadership tasks on my day of rest?
  3. How do I actively plan my day of rest stepping away from my normal responsibilities?
  4. Have I intentionally developed my sabbath activities?
  5. Am I accountable to others for my time by demonstrating my application of rest?

In my next leadership article I will continue to develop biblical principles on time. But in the meantime, consider more insights from the Bible on leadership I have written. Keep reading with my articles from MarkEckel.com

The Bible on Leadership: 7 Verses about the Work and Requirements of Leadership

How I Order My Life as a Leader, Writing Out My 5 Gifts

Leadership as Shepherding

You can order my book I Just Need Time to Think and read the section entitled “Retreat” for an in-depth analysis of some of the ideas found here on work, rest, and sabbath.

The Bible on Leadership: 7 Verses about the Work and Requirements of Leadership

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My shelves are full of leadership books. I teach in a PhD leadership program so the stacks of books I have read on leadership should come as no surprise! But what I’ve discovered in all my reading is that the Bible is the best leadership resource.

And you must agree! You are reading this post because you too believe the Bible is the best place to discover leadership principles! So, I’ve begun a list of Scripture passages about leadership that I hope will encourage you, inspire you, and, hopefully, challenge you to lead well, wherever God has placed you.

This is not one of those posts that just gives you a list of texts. Since this entry is the first of a few articles on leadership, I’ll begin with a focus on key leadership themes. In this post the verses will focus on a leader’s work and requirements.

Most of us are moving through life quickly. We all know that in the age of 240-characters via Twitter, or Facebook Reels, or Instagram stories that information comes in short bursts. Folks like get-to-the-point, ideas. So, for each leadership ideal a brief commentary is included for the sake of context and explanation.

Scripture operates as a building’s cement footers for a leader’s stability; my brief commentary acts as the frame in which the cement is poured. Each Bible passage is one base supporting the Bible’s leadership foundation. My commentary is but a set up for the important work and needs of leaders.

I encourage you to allow the verses below to give strength for your leadership opportunities.

Verses about a Leader’s Work

What exactly is a leader’s task from the Bible’s point of view? The list you find here is by no means exhaustive but includes some of the jobs of a leader we see highlighted in Biblical examples. And notice that these tasks are ongoing (the “-ing” ending) for your current context.

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter because they will share it with you. Exodus 18:21-22 (NIV)

A first work of leadership is peacemaking. These words are spoken by Moses’ father-in-law, who is giving him some advice about how to carry on his labor. In any group of people there will be conflict and part of the work of a leader is to help bring resolution to these conflicts.

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, ‘This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.’ Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand. 1 Samuel 11:6-8 (NIV)

A second work of leadership is protecting. Leaders have enemies; people who stand against us or our beliefs. For us, it is not typically enemies like Saul was facing. But there are forces of evil at work around us and in others that are constantly trying to attack and break down the good that exists in any group or organization. A leader needs to identify the threat and lead others in opposing it.

Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. Psalm 72:1-4 (NIV)

A third work of leadership is ensuring justice. This Psalm is describing the ideal king. The ruler makes sure justice is done – especially when it comes to the weak and vulnerable.  We are all tempted to overlook those who seem unimportant and who have few friends and advocates. As leaders, we need to be especially attentive to those others neglect and make sure they are treated fairly.

Teach them his decrees and instructions and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. Exodus 18:20 (NIV)

A fourth work of leadership is modeling. This is Jethro again, reminding Moses of his most important duty to the people. Indeed, setting an example for people is probably the most important activity for any leader. Note there is a dual viewpoint here: the leader both teaches and shows the way to live. I have emphasized “modeling” here because if we don’t live it, our words of instruction to others will sound hollow.

Verses about a Leader’s Requirements

If leaders are going to perform their work well, Scripture highlights over and over three necessities.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV)

Leaders need wisdom. A leader faces so many challenges and it is part of the nature of leadership to point the way forward through ambiguity and risk. Making good choices in such circumstances takes wisdom. The whole book of Proverbs is a meditation on what it really means to be wise.

Okay, but how do we get wisdom? Glad you asked.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

Leaders need to fear the Lord. A leader needs a sober appreciation of who God is and what a personal relationship with God means for all of life. If God is God, I am not. If God has made me, I am His and all I have comes from Him. If God is real, then He has the right to declare what is true and to determine what is to be done. In short, a leader needs to acknowledge and submit to reality: the starting point for wisdom.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)

Leaders need humility. Lowliness of mind, not thinking we are better than others, is related to the fear of the Lord. Part of knowing reality is knowing my own limitations, having a proper regard for my own thinking. I don’t know everything; I must be willing to listen to the wisdom, knowledge, and guidance of others. If I don’t know how to be taught, I won’t know how to lead.

There are many books published on leadership. But there is only One Book which gives Heaven’s view of how to lead on earth. May these principles of leadership, drawn from the Bible’s leadership texts, be the cement for your leadership foundation.

 

Subscribe to 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).

Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappygoat.com

Business Ethics Motivated by Biblical Teaching

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“THIS is how you treat people!” I proclaimed, a quiver in my voice.

Just before Christmas, 1995 a textile mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts was destroyed by fire. About 1,400 people worked at Malden Mills. The owner of the mill, Aaron Feuerstein, spoke before the employees’ days after the fire. “I am not throwing people out of work two weeks before Christmas,” was his famous line. Feuerstein then and there declared that he would pay his workers their wages, even though the mill was closed, and they could not work.

It was early in 1996 that an NBC News feature covered the incident. Feuerstein’s reputation as a beneficent corporate citizen soared. Feuerstein continued to pay his workers for months – without a product being produced – while the mill was being rebuilt. I showed that news story to my high school students for years, always ending with my line above, “THIS is how you treat people.”

Aaron Feuerstein was a rich man who had made millions from his plant. He could have easily, as he said in his first news interview, claimed the insurance money and walked away. But he didn’t. Feuerstein not only continued to pay his employees, but he also rebuilt the mill, and created an innovative, cold-weather material. The mill continued to produce for another decade before economic hardships closed its doors.

Aaron Feuerstein was 95 when he died this week. I just read the Boston Globe story, tears filling my eyes. My mind has not changed since I first read of Feuerstein’s care for his workers. As you might imagine, his workers cheered and wept in response to Feuerstein’s magnanimous empathy toward them in 1995 and beyond. As one man remembered in the NBC feature, “I have never seen so many grown men cry.”

I can only imagine how long the funeral procession will be for Mr. Feuerstein. When asked what he wanted his tombstone to read, his response was immediate, “Hopefully it’ll be, ‘He done his damnedest,’ you know, that I didn’t give up and I try to do the right thing.”

Something that is missing in all the mainstream reportage of Mr. Feuerstein is the answer to the question, “Why did he do it? Why did he continue to pay his workers when he didn’t have to?” The answer, according to Mr. Feuerstein, is found in the Torah, the Jewish law code embedded in the Bible books Genesis through Deuteronomy.

Feuerstein was invited to speak at MIT the year after the mill fire and his generosity on behalf of his workers. It was in that audience of MIT business leaders Feuerstein revealed the answer to the question, “Why?” It was there he said,

“I remember as a young boy, five or six years old, sitting at my father’s table,” he told the audience during the question-and-answer period. The discussion was about his grandfather who, when he started the business, insisted on paying his workers before sunset. His father explained that the practice was cited in the Torah, in the book of Deuteronomy (24: 14-15). Mr. Feuerstein read the passage in Hebrew and English.

“`You should not oppress the worker. He is poor and needy, whether he be thy brethren or a stranger’–and by stranger they meant all people, all faiths, all races,” he said. “`And the very day of his work, you have to pay him his wages. And the sunset should not appear upon these unpaid wages because he can’t afford it, and he would cry out against you to God, and you would have sinned.'” [“Malden Mills Owner Applies Religious Ethics to Business.”]

“THIS is how you treat people,” is based on Hebraic law. Employers everywhere still have much to learn from Mr. Feuerstein. And I, tears still filling my eyes, want everyone to know the story of Malden Mills and the Hebrew teaching that motivated one man’s care for others.

 

Subscribe to 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).

Picture Credits: Luke Renoe, Snappy Goat, Boston Globe, sfchronicle.com, list23.com, Eagle – Tribune

Afghanistan 1%

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THE TRUE 1% Thank you for 20 years of no 9-11s. These veterans represent the thousands who volunteered to stand between us and those at war with America. They protected our nation and gave us peace. American servicemen – the true 1 % of our population – deserve all the credit for American resolve, tenacity, agility, and success. Our military was victorious every day for 20 years in Afghanistan. Thank you Dan Crenshaw, Jocko Willink, David Goggins, Jonny Kim, and Chris Kyle (RIP). [From my FB and Ricochet posts from 1 September 2021. I am currently listening to Dan Crenshaw’s book Fortitude.]

One detractor to my post wrote (this is unedited, including typos, from my FB page):

I listened to a father on NPR tell his story of losing his son in Afghanistan at the Kabul airport bombing. His son was 20 years old. The father’s story saddened me a great deal, reminded me of how U.S. imperialism, 20-years of occupating a sovereign nation, has wasted over two trillion dollars, countless Afghan, American and the lives of others, ruined families, and destoryed a regional economy. Although we have not experienced another 911 in the United States, what we saw in the Taliban takeover should worry each of us every night. We are not safe. Nor should we be for acting irresponsibly and ungodly toward the Afghan people or with the vast resources God has blessed us with. Additionally, Afghans have lived with perpetual violence for a long time, escalated by our imperialism. We should be saddened for those people. We should be saddened and ashamed by the waste of American military lives, by the waste of Afghan lives. These are all God’s children! All of their lives matter. All of the lives lost over there should be remembered, but for their resolve, tenacity, and certainly not for their success. But to never forget the waste of and poor stewardship resources and people. I think that Biden, Trump, Obama, and Bush including all senior government leadership personnel who had a hand in this mess should be tried for war crimes and imprisoned for life.

My response was immediate and exacting:

I sympathize with your opening comments, especially about the father’s response. Mr. Biden’s response to those families was contentious in some cases to say the least. [I have given the WaPo article here, which does not enumerate some of the details that can be found elsewhere.] I thoroughly disagree with your use of terms such as “imperialism” and “occupying.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Ask any of the Afghans who stood with us, the girls who were able to attend school for 20 years, or the women who were protected from sexual slavery. “Ungodly?” “Irresponsibly?” Not even close. Please read my post from last week entitled “American Soldier” to see my further comments. You are right that we are “not safe.” Rep. Dan Crenshaw – a veteran of 3 tours in-country – has said we are in more danger now than since 9-11. I doubt very much that your words would be well received by the vets who served in Afghanistan: “ashamed” is not at all what they feel. Again, I would urge you to consider sources of information directly from those who served, Dan Crenshaw in particular. Pick any of his statements on Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. You will hear a very different POV from someone who was there. Your repudiation of their “success” and commitment to “waste” would not at all be welcomed, were you in veterans’ presence. Tried for war crimes? Imprisoned for life? I’m not even sure where to begin in any response. I stand by what I have written over the last two weeks. There is much more I would like to say. My view of social media communication is an attempt to be positive. For that reason, it is necessary to respond to your words here with restrained forthrightness. https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/07ecff7c-09ac-11ec…
And further, I wrote:
I grieve the awful results of human sinfulness, no matter where, no matter with whom. I agree with presidents – including President Trump – who have clearly stated “we cannot be the world’s policemen.” Why we could not carry on a permanent presence such as we have in Korea or still in Europe is beyond me. There are certain strategic moves that could have been taken (here I depend on veteran testimonies who were there and who know first hand) that would have afforded a continued umbrella of safety. Giving up Bagram AF base, for instance, was unconscionable. We have leveraged strategic advantage to our enemies. There is so much to say about this I could write for pages with copious references to intelligence provided by those who were there, who know. Can we be everywhere? Of course not. Just as much as I cannot stop killings in my own city, I cannot do much more than pray for people and situations. “Success” is true for our troops, “failure” for those making political decisions.
To another respondent I wrote:
I disagree that we are not “safer” today because of what American men and women in uniform have done over the last 20 years to destroy and debilitate terrorism. We live in relative peace and calm to practice our educational pursuits at a university because terrorists are kept at abeyance. We are safer knowing there are many working behind the scenes and on the scene to waylay those who would want to blow up our buildings or take our people for sexual exploitation or hold for ransom the most vulnerable of our community. These and other atrocities are regular fare in countries which do not have the kind of security we take for granted from those in uniform. Our presence in other countries should be debated. Political decisions in the White House or Congress about “nation building” should be debated. The abdication of a U.S. military infrastructure to support the Afghan army is another, more visceral debate; far from an empty shell. My point will always be the same. I am grateful to live in a nation where dodging AK-47 rifle fire or RPG explosives is not a regular occurrence. Whatever one believes about war, violence, or evil, one thing is always a surety: that person is always glad when it doesn’t happen to them.
One friend on FB, who has first hand knowledge of the conditions on the ground this past week, wrote:
I agree with much of what you said. As some one who served, and is very involved presently with the ongoing evacuation of American Citizens, SIV Holders, and those under great threat of death due to their gender or religion I have been working day and night to get out of the Country. War crimes is a touch sell as war with in it self is a crime, and at the same time it is at times necessary. What I will say is we need accountability from our leaders. As a junior service member I was held accountable for my gear if something had gone missing I would be in serious trouble. When I moved to intel I was held accountable for how I handled information, had it leaked I would have been held very accountable resulting in most cases with prison time. When military commanders have incidents regarding equal opportunity, sexual harassment or assault with in their command they themselves are held accountable. It hasn’t made the main stream media yet, but our Ground Commander at HKIA sent a bus load of American Citizens, Green Card Holders, and Children back after it made it into the base to evac. We have since lost contact with them all as they were most likely executed by the Taliban. Where is the accountability from that senior leader? Where is the accountability from any of our leadership in our government. The few times they have been put on trial nothing has come of it. In some cases they make jokes about it such as in the Clinton case and wiping her server with a cloth. The administration keeps blaming this on the intel community, but the intel community has known this was going to happen for over a decade as a junior enlisted I an all my brothers knew for a FACT that the Afghan Army would be defeated quickly. People in the Trump Administration as well as the Biden Administration should be held accountable instead of pushing off the blame to their subordinate organizations.
Over the next several months you will hear stories of what I feel is the darkest time in my life. I have been to Africa, I have seen first hand the evil this world has, but nothing I have ever seen compares to what my brothers in Afghanistan saw over the last week. If you want to circulate a story from some one who was on the ground please watch this interview. Nick was an Infantry Officer and former Battalion Commander of the 4th Ranger Training Battalion.
A very good example of what I am saying is LTC Scheller

The American Soldier

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For twenty years U.S. military personnel have given grace to the Afghan people and brought swift justice to their oppressors. For twenty years Afghan women have been kept from sexual slavery because of American military presence. For twenty years Afghan women have been able to go to school, protected by American servicemen; an opportunity heretofore not allowed by the male dominated society. For twenty years the American soldier has stood athwart tyranny.

But let us not forget why America was in Afghanistan in the first place. A generation has passed since the awful day when our nation was attacked by terrorists, terrorists whose place in the world was protected by the then despotic rulers of Afghanistan. The American soldier returned fire, raining down justice so that freedom might ring. And the freedom was passed on to the Afghan people. The American soldier was the face of the American people, interested in nothing more than peace.

America’s protective, peace-keeping service continues today (long after World War II) in Europe and at the DMZ in Korea. Why American presence could not continue in a conditional advice-and-consent role in Afghanistan was not a decision made by the American soldier. Our commitment to peace in the Middle East was kept by the American soldier. It is unfortunate but true that in a sin-marred world there are times when the forces of good must face off against the forces of evil, with force. The American soldier runs toward the battle; the people that need protection are grateful for their fence of grace.

And the American soldier was triumphant every day for twenty years. The American soldier did not “lose” anything. Do not listen to the headlines from so-called journalists who insist that America “lost.” Hard fought victories were won because of American military might and the combat readiness of an all-volunteer Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force. The losses sustained in our war on terror were the lives of men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice – another marker of grace – for freedom. American soldiers leave their post in triumph, heads held high, U.S. citizens that gave of themselves, so that Afghan people could taste a bit of the freedom that so many in these 50 States have every day.

So, chalk up another American military victory. Our men and women in uniform leave Afghanistan as they came into Afghanistan, having meted out justice while giving grace to those who would receive it. For twenty years that American grace has been a shield against despotism. No matter one’s geo-political perspective, there is no dispute that American soldiers did their duty, protecting our country and caring for those in-country that could not protect themselves. Once again, as has been true over our 250-year history, America responds with force against aggression. And the American soldier, triumphant for twenty years in Afghanistan, stands ready again to go down range.

– Written with admiration and thanks from a proud American (Photo by Damir Spanic on Unsplash)

 

 

 

How I Order My Life as a Leader, Writing Out My 5 Gifts

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Leaders Need to Know Who They Are . . .

. . . Before They Know Where They’re Going.

Teaching leadership courses I always ask students to accomplish this assignment:

Outline your general philosophy of living life.

Note what forms your thinking.

Identify the source of your motivation.

Give a title and descriptor that creates interest.

Explain five gifts or strengths that order your life.

Before students accomplish the assignment, I give them my example.

Everyone will have their own approach. The ordering of one’s life should be reviewed & recast each year.

I hope that if you utilize the assignment for yourself or others you will find it beneficial for yourself and your group.

 

Status Viator: My Christian Walk and its Influence on

What I Am Made to Do as an Interdisciplinary Biblical Leader

Mark Eckel, MA ThM PhD

“Being on the way” is my lifelong condition (status viator). God’s eternal, providential plan is being disclosed as I walk along the path of my God-given life. “Roads” or “paths” are First Testament words giving the place for my feet when I am “walking” in Second Testament shoes. Saved by God’s grace at nine, I began preaching when I was thirteen, filling pulpits at sixteen, and was ordained at twenty-six. Communication abilities—writing, speaking, or teaching—have been acknowledged since my childhood. The writings of Dr. Francis Schaeffer discovered during high school cemented a perspective of common ground Christian engagement with others that has marked my life ever since.

On my Christian walk along “The Way,” I continue to be influenced by:

Discipling I believe in “with-ness,” being incarnationally present. The disciples were changed because they had been “with Jesus.” My focus in identifying future leaders is always the same. Succession planning is the first job of every leader. My responsibility is to recognize, guide, and help others toward leadership positions within their giftedness. I believe that spending time with next generation leadership is the best investment to make.

Teaching I am an enthusiastic learner who is excited to be with others who want to learn. Both preparation to communicate and the instructional experience bring a smile to my face. I love to teach Scripture, theology, faith-learning-synthesis, leadership foundations, and interdisciplinarity. I teach biblical-interdisciplinary courses for universities. I am passionate for the subject, compassionate toward the student. I believe in relational-educational contexts. Training the next generation of Christian leaders is my ardor.

Partnering I love to discuss ideas and their application with my colleagues.  As an undergraduate academic dean I incorporated discussions for collaborative faculty reflection over interdisciplinary ideas. Reading books, critiquing films, exegeting biblical texts, creating curricula are all best done with others, lending itself to peer review. Finding like-minded people with whom to vision the future based on the past is fulfilling. 

Writing A good form of communication for me is the written word. I am a creator.  Examining and explaining a topic in ways that make sense to others, gives me joy. I take pleasure in writing study manuscripts, articles, curricula, weekly essays, peer-reviewed journal articles, and an occasional book. Warp&Woof has been my personal website for a dozen years where I have published essays once a week. Cultural engagement is a delight.

Speaking The opportunity to invest in others through direct instruction is a passion at which I excel. I love to preach and deliver lectures. I instruct groups through the process of curricular development, other audiences have learned a critical-Christian analysis with movies, still others have investigated the horror genre of literature. I teach a “Theology of” series which hones apologetic-evangelistic skills. I enjoy communicating true Truth in the marketplace of ideas with believers and unbelievers.

Institutions: Why I Believe They Must Exist

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No one wants chaos.

the joker

Except The Joker.

Batman’s nemesis had a view of life well summarized by Bruce Wayne’s faithful steward, Alfred,

“Some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”

But without the institutions of government, military, or intelligence agencies, burn is what the world would do! cia seal

In The West, we tend to believe individualism is our philosophy of choice. We question authority and lampoon institutions because we see these as inhibitions. Individualists despise restriction. “The Lone Ranger” syndrome occupies our perceptions more than we know.

institutionsYet individuals make up institutions. We hate chaos for a reason: we could not function in our vocations without order, a primary result of institutions. The word “institution” literally means to set up a statue. The statue then became a memorial, a place of standing, a foundation established for organization. Both groups and individuals enjoy the benefits of organization; a statue to honor order. The word “constituent” has the same focus: a statue, a token of shared commitment. 

Institutions are simply shared commitments. We may take them for granted but depend upon police, fire, EMT, and military services. Institutions organize due process, due diligence, and due dates; the latter essential for both student and teacher! What we think is individual endeavor is most often wrapped within social fabric. We refer to marriage, universities, hospitals, and churches as institutions for good reason: we do not want to see the fabric fray. 

Five benefits of institutions may keep us from pulling on the threads of social fabric which bind us. 

1. Language. It helps to speak the same language in social settings. Further, institutions depend on similar vocabularies for ease of communication. We institutionalize language in many forms which give form to our business and living. 

2. Law. Government restraint benefits all people. Law prevents unbridled license. The famed statement Lex Rex, “the law lawis king,” constrains despots in a free society. We may not like the law when we want to do what we like, but the law also keeps others from doing what they like, to us.

3. Limitation. Every game depends on rules, boundaries, and referees. Structure creates space for freedom. Freedom governed by responsibility is actually best served within the realm of institutions. 

4. Longevity. Stability, like boredom, has its benefits. We can count on something being the same tomorrow as it is today. Institutions allow for the creation of wisdom, wealth, and work year-after-year. 

5. Legacy. We humans ask “What good will my profits do after I die?” We cannot take our contributions with us but we can leave them behind to benefit others. Institutions create the organizational structure for our ideas and ideals to be passed on to the next generation. 

Language, law, limitation, longevity, and legacy may cause us to rethink our view of institutions.

We may enjoy seeing Batman engage Joker’s chaos on the big screen but no one wants to live that way on the small screen of our lives.

Mark is grateful for the institution of instant replay when he watches football on Sunday afternoon. Dr. Mark Eckel  teaches, speaks, and writes for various educational institutions.  Written at the behest of Gideon Strauss for the Max De Pree Center for Leadership.

The Marks of a Christian Evaluator: A Vocational Description

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“Teacher,” Part One, “Scholar,” Part Two, “Mentor,” Part Three

By what means will I be evaluated?

What will someone identify to show that I am a Christian scholar-teacher-discipler?

How will I know if my professorial life conforms to a standard?

Assessment questions haunted me during my PhD research. Validation is imperative in any scientific pursuit. But how could I objectivize outcomes that would lead to quantitative proof in an obviously qualitative endeavor? The literature review provided evidence. Others had been asking the same questions.

During my tenure as dean and then vice president of academic affairs I began to establish a written essay approach to professor evaluations. We spent a good deal of time together as faculty inside and outside of school. From other reading, I added to what I had discovered from others, developing a qualitative assessment rubric for college faculty. I believe that this process could benefit our interest in developing scholar-teacher-disciplers in Christian higher education.

Christian College Faculty Yearly Assessment

Christian faculty are committed to training Christian leaders. Since Christian professors’ focus is on pedagogy (“training youth”), andragogy (“training adults”) and students (“training leaders”), any assessment of an instructor’s teaching must ultimately concern itself with development of the whole person.

“Measurement” of “performance” is not simply quantifiable (driven by numbers). From a biblical point of view, qualitative evaluation sees not only the results lived in life but wisdom born within one’s life. Faculty need to live in community to encourage personal growth as well as knowing the impact of one’s classroom teaching. Professorial assessment, then, will strive to be biblically wholistic.

The Christian faculty member, in his or her thinking-being-living, should demonstrate:

1. Content Knowledge
a. interaction with the latest thinking-writing in a field of study
b. substantive understanding of past and present practitioners, practices, discussions
c. theological foundations and assumptions of their discipline
d. understanding how a discipline’s methodology impacts a discipline’s outcomes
e. seeks to show students how biblical eschatology and teleology should frame and focus the reason and content of the teaching

2. Curricular Development
a. assessment of content (for students):
i. knowing when/why students are having trouble learning
ii. differentiation in evaluation, variation in assessment
iii. focus on the process of education so as to give students tools of learning
b. scope and sequence of content—demonstrates an overview
c. school mission permeates programs, philosophy, objectives, methods, outcomes.

3. Communication—
a. worldview comparison: clear demonstration of biblical Christianity contrasted with subject of study
b. understands how the medium may shape the message of the teaching
c. application of content to daily life and culture
d. vertical-horizontal integration, including disciplines outside the subject
e. authentic, matching methods in relation to the program or subject of study
f. discovery learning; andragogy focused on the student
g. sensitivity toward student-learning and personal learning styles
h. a safe classroom environment for discussion is maintained

4. Creativity—
a. faculty teaching is not static, rather evidences constant growth in the teaching-learning process, including methodological development
b. affective student integration focused on developing students’ interiority
c. faith-learning thoughtfulness demonstrated through writing assignments

5. Conduct—
a. biblical behavior which befits a Christian professor
b. open, forthcoming, initiated rapport with students outside of class
c. mentorship-discipleship possibilities are encouraged by professor
d. care and concern is evidenced toward all
e. office hours and appropriate time for research off campus are maintained

6. Character—
a. consistent, evident biblical growth as a Christian in community
b. “habits of the heart” are witnessed from syllabi to exams to office to life
c. seeks internal motivation for him or herself as well as students

7. Continuance (of teaching-with-learning)—

  • self- evaluation is shown through living-teaching
  • peer cooperation through cross-disciplinary engagement
  • student evaluations will be carefully calibrated within a broad evaluation scope
  • student mentoring and study groups are encouraged
  • alumni surveys are sought to consider the longevity of instructional value
  • communal interdependence encourages teachers to learn from students
  • internship programs and practicums are encouraged
  • lifelong student learning is practiced

8. Collaboration with colleagues—
a. works with administrative expectation for the furtherance of the school’s mission
b. practices co-evaluation within the faculty
c. exhibits a teachable spirit
d. learning communities are maintained for the cross-pollination of ideas
i. participation in disciplinary societies and groups
ii. addresses given, papers delivered, reviews written, books crafted
iii. online presence (website, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)

9. Collegiality—
a. interpersonal relationships with other colleagues should exude trust and joy
b. generosity of spirit toward all who support the educational process

10. Community—
a. participates with institutional events
b. takes an active part in the school culture
c. attends and is a member of good standing of an Evangelical local church
d. attends and/or participates in other churches periodically to develop a broad perspective of The Body of Christ within a multiethnic mindset

Dr. Eckel has served the Christian educational community for over 35 years; teaching junior high through graduate school.  Mark now spends time with students at The Comenius Institute (website). Find our 1 minute video here. This article was first published for The Emerging Scholars Network (site). Photos: Snappy Goat

Marks of a Christian Scholar: A Vocational Description

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“The Christian scholar-teacher must be a person who believes in Christian higher education, who is committed to the mission of his or her institution.  It is not enough to hire faculty who happen to be Christians, even if they are fine scholars.  We must find and keep faculty who are committed to the project.”[2]

“RBB,” he said. My response registered a facial question mark. “Really Big Brains,” he smiled. “That’s what you professors have: really big brains.”

“RBH,” I said. He returned the questioning look. “Really Big Heads,” I smiled. “That’s what can happen to professors: we can get really big heads.”

Humility is the essence of knowledge.  I have lost count of how many times I have intoned such a statement in classes.  The first mark of Christian scholars is that we should know we do not know how much we don’t know (Luke 14:7-11; Rom 12:3; Phil 2:3-4).  We should begin every thought where the gospel begins: we are dependent upon God.  Knowing how much we do not know measures the creature by The Creator (Isa 55:8-9).  Aseity[3] identifies our dependency (Acts 17:24-28).

Scholarship depends on dependency.  Scholars do literature reviews.  We read the latest research in our field.  Counter-arguments are heard and evaluated.  Words such as “could,” “perhaps,” and “may” dot our writing, rightfully acknowledging the sage wisdom we could be wrong.  The possibility of finding ourselves in error, however, does not diminish our responsibility to seek true Truth.[4]

Knowledge of the Creator and His creation is within sight of thinking people (cf. Pss. 64:9; 65:8; 66:1-5; 67).  Culture and context may condition how we view knowledge, but the common nature of reality is true for all people in all places at all times in all cultures (cf. Pss. 107, 117).  Our knowledge may be comparative but our “knowing is constrained . . . true to creature, creation, and Creator.”[5]  We live in a fallen world (Rom 8:19-22) which accentuates our finite, fallen, fragile limitations (Job 11:7-9).  Christian scholars know that if our knowledge is incomplete, we look forward to the day when restoration of what once was, will be again; the completion of creation (Acts 3:21; Rev 21:1-5).[6] 

Incompletion, however, does not equal stagnation.  Christian scholars continue to take responsibility for the gifts given us.[7]  We also acknowledge our assumptions in the scholarly enterprise.[8]   A Christian view of scholarship may contain the following commitments:

  1. no dichotomy exists between secular and sacred—the whole world and all of life belong to The Creator (1 Chr 29:10-16; Psalm 24:1; 50:9-12; 89:11);

  2. common grace—truth to be found within creation—can be accessed because The Personal Eternal Triune Creator was pleased to leave it there, intending delight and wonder for the discoverer (Job 26; 28:1-11; Prov 25:2);

  3. ways of knowing premised upon “the fear of The Lord” (Prov 1:7; 9:10), are given to human image bearers (Gen 1:26; Ps 8);

  4. the Christian Scriptures are the central organizing core (2 Tim 1:14; 2:15; 3:14-17) which both begin the process of evaluation, interpreting theories and data, while giving purpose to the process of education; and

  5. the Christian scholar (2 Chr 17:7-9; Prov 2:1-6; 2 Cor 10:3-5) bears the responsibility to develop a Christian theological-philosophical grid, a Christian thought process in the pursuit of true Truth.[9]

Nicholas Wolterstorff summarizes succinctly, “Faithful scholarship as a whole will be distinctive scholarship . . . But difference is to be a consequence, not an aim.”[10]

My 5-fold commitment to distinctive Christian scholarship leads to the 5-fold responsibility of my task, my craft, as a Christian scholar:[11]

  1. I submit to the Lordship of Christ in all things (integrity, scholarship, administrative shepherding, etc.).

  1. I articulate in written and verbal form the theological-philosophical assumptions that form the premise for my work as a Christian scholar.
  1. I practice faith-learning integration within my discipline, believing the wedding of belief with academic excellence to be inseparable. I master my area of content specialization while seeking collaborative interdisciplinary approaches, demonstrating the coherence of God’s world.
  1. I continue to mature in Christ through personal Bible study, prayer, fellowship with a local church family, read in and out of my content areas, participate in opportunities to grow within my vocation, and enjoy the life given me by God.

  1. I live my beliefs through loving service to those inside and outside of The Faith with robust research, rigorous rhetoric, generous spirit, relational grace, bold conviction, and personal care. 

So as to keep us from getting “big heads” because God has given us “big brains,” we live in humility before our Lord and our neighbor.  And so we pray

Dear Lord, we purpose

  • Gratefulness for our opportunities, Appreciation for our giftedness;
  • Precision in our reading, Accuracy in our writing;
  • Understanding in our discussions, Humility in our knowledge;
  • Thoughtfulness in our answers; Sanctification in our learning;
  • Investment in our assignments; Godliness in our workmanship;
  • Discipleship in our relationships; Commitment to our mission;
  • Scholarship in our schoolwork; cohesiveness in our worldview;
  • Increase for Jesus, Decrease for ourselves, Glory for our Lord.

May You make it so in us. Amen.[12]

[1]               This series was first published at Emerging Scholars Network. Dr. Eckel has served the Christian educational community for over 30 years; teaching junior high through graduate school.  Mark and Robin Eckel live in Indianapolis, IN, sharing their gifts in their local church, Crossroads Community (PCA), Fishers, IN. Mark is President of The Comenius Institute. [See our one minute video here.] Dr. Eckel practices scholarship with others in the M.A. and Ph.D. programs at Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Lancaster, PA.

[2]           C. Stephen Evans, 2003. “The Calling of the Christian Scholar-Teacher. In Faithful learning and the Christian Scholarly Vocation. (Eerdmans): 28.

[3]               “Aseity” is a theological term meaning God is independent and self-sufficient meaning humans are dependent and insufficient (of themselves).

[4]               “True Truth” was the phrase used by Francis Schaeffer to suggest that many people claim any number of multiple “truths” but the Christian “Truth” claimed exclusivity (John 14:6). See my essay on “exclusivity” here.

[5]           Hodges, Bert H. 1987. Perception is relative and veridical: Ecological and Biblical perspectives on knowing and doing the truth. In The reality of Christian learning, ed. Harold Heie and David L. Wolfe, 103-139. St. Paul, MN: Christian College Consortium, 133-34, emphasis his.

[6]              As a Christian professor, I acknowledge my total dependence in restoration from a state of separation from God because of sin through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the cross; His gift of grace through faith saving alone.

[7]               See my doctrinal essay on Spirit-gifting

[8]              Arthur F. Holmes preached, “Yet ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’…Christianity (and other worldviews) affect our thinking at other levels than explicit biblical understandings.  There is no presuppositionless science . . . Holmes, Arthur F. 1994. “Is a Christian university possible?” Faculty Dialogue 21 (Summer), 28-29, emphasis his.

[9]              On these five points see my PhD dissertation, “A Comparison of Faith-Learning Integration Between Graduates from Christian and Secular Universities in the Christian School Classroom,” Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2009, 21-22.

[10]                     Wolterstorff, Nicholas. 2004. Educating for shalom: Essays on Christian higher education. Edited by Clarence W. Joldersma and Gloria Goris Stronks. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 78, emphasis his.

[11]             This is the first in a series of four articles.  The second article will focus on my responsibility as a Christian teacher in higher education.

[12]             Mark Eckel, “The Christian Schoolman’s Prayer,” unpublished, 2006.