When so many have for too long found ways to live biblically without engaging the rest of the culture, it is great to see such a strong stance on continuing to engage the culture on multiple fronts. Dr. Mohler, President of Southern Seminary, has long fought to personally confront the culture of America on various issues, whether on tv as he has done on Larry King's show and others, or on the radio in his daily show, or in other public events he is a part of. Now this same passion he shares regularly with the world in bringing biblical truth to bear on the current situations that arise can be passed on to others in a greater way than ever before. Recently the Center for Theology and Science was established to allow for the education of more seminary students to understand the intersection of theology and science and how this applied to life. Now, in the most recent Trustee meeting they have established the Center for Theology and the Arts, and the Center for Theology and Law.
When the School of Social Work at Southern was closed many argued it was a bad idea for many reasons, one of them being the removal of "Christian" education in an area that needs as much help as it can get. If there are any areas that are similar, and in trut much more in need, it is the areas of science, law and the arts. Veggietales and the Passion are great, but for a long-lasting, far-reaching impact in the arts, more is needed. And just the same, if the practice of law is left only to the lost, there is no voice for reasoned, Christian responses to legal issues. There are many lawyers who are Christians, but just as Southern has shifted the focus of the counseling program to provide biblical training to increase the prevalence of true biblical counseling, this new change will, Lord willing, lead to an increase in the prevalence of true biblical legal aid.
Perhaps now this passion for engaging culture will continue to spread to new areas and the practice of theology will move beyond the pulpit, and begin spreading to the pew in all new ways. Perhaps this spells the end of the days of reserving "pastoral" training only for pastors. While a Master of Divinity is not perhaps for every person, hopefully, it will become more common for Christian professionals to seek out advanced theological training themselves for the benefit of their own lives and professions, as well as the kingdom. Perhaps, above all, this will lead to greater changes and growth in our congregations as a whole, returning to a greater committment to growth and learning beyond Sunday School and filling out sermon outlines, a committment to study the Scriptures for ourselves, pastor and member.
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