“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’” (Mark 12:28-30, ESV).
Academic excellence is another one of the four core values of North Greenville University. When Jesus asked what was the greatest commandment of all, he immediately responded by quoting a passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Jesus stated that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. What did Jesus mean by calling believers to love God with their minds? Christianity is a rational faith. It is important for believers to give a reasonable defense of the faith to the unbelievers in our culture. Since many people in the United States do not have respect for or even knowledge about God’s Word, it is increasingly important to defend the faith through apologetics that are grounded in a philosophy that is biblically faithful and addresses the key questions of life such as how did life begin, what is our identity, does life have a purpose, how do we determine what is right and what is wrong, can we find redemption, what can heal the divisions in our world, is there any hope, and how are we to live?[1]
In truth, all academic disciplines point to God, but this truth has been denied by many scholars who hold to naturalism. It seems they work their hardest to deny there is a God and teach that an educated person must move beyond a belief in the supernatural. Perhaps the primary motivation of some is that if there is no God, there is no accountability. Therefore, everyone can do what is right in his/her own eyes. The problem with this view is that such a philosophy of life invariably infringes on the rights of others and forces them to live under the authority of the voices of those who are in power. The absence of law leads to chaos.
Because North Greenville University is Christ-Centered (Weekly Walk two weeks ago) and Biblically Faithful (Weekly Walk last week), every academic discipline must integrate faith and learning. The College of Business and Entrepreneurship teaches that the best professional practices are rooted in the principles of the Bible such as treating people the way that we want to be treated, serving others, building leaders, and developing excellence. The College of Communication and Fine Arts embodies the richness of creation and beauty. They train educators, worship leaders, actors, actresses, and communicators on how to influence the culture in a positive way, bringing glory to God. Christian Studies prepares students for rigorous academic study of the Scriptures and their application. They shape hearts that are spiritually sensitive to combine with their academic studies, preparing ministers, intercultural leaders, youth ministers, educators, and others. Humanities teach the lessons of history, the richness of literature and creativity, and the use of languages to understand and reach the world. The School of Criminal Justice trains students to live out the command to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Through social research, the study of the needs of various age groups, and counseling, psychology helps students to make sense of the world and teaches ways to serve and help others. The sciences discover and affirm God’s design and purpose for creation. Students are prepared to be teachers and researchers, impacting the world for the glory of God. Education trains teachers to integrate faith through the learning process instilling biblical values in the lives of others. Teaching is a calling from Christ, the master teacher. Students are trained as teachers not only to fully equip their students academically, but to fully equip them for life through love, grace, and forgiveness. Wellness and the health sciences affirm the wonder and intricacies of the human body and teach people how to enjoy life in health through physical education and outdoor leadership. Sport management offers a platform for influence in athletics, coaching, ministry, and missions. Mathematics reveals order and consistency.[2]
Academic excellence is the goal of every institution of higher learning. What sets NGU apart from most institutions of higher learning, is our holistic approach to education, instilling the biblical faith into every academic pursuit. We feel that we prepare students for more than a career. We prepare them to impact the culture and for eternity, building transformational leaders for church and society.
[1]See Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live? (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999) and John P. Newport, Life’s Ultimate Questions (Dallas: Word, 1989).
[2]Much of this paragraph is adapted from the NGU website and other university documents.