Posted on 11/21/2007 5:13:37 PM PST by Mr. Silverback
In the months before World War II, an Oxford don by the name of C. S. Lewis wrote, “Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” Lewis’s students questioned the importance of studying the humanities and sciences with war on the horizon. But Lewis understood, as he wrote so beautifully in his classic book Weight of Glory, that “To be ignorant and simple now . . . would be to throw down our weapons and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen.”
Four years ago, I launched a distance-learning and networking program called the Centurions Program. It is designed to equip Christians to understand and defend the truth in every area of life and culture.
Sadly, bad philosophy—like relativism, naturalism, and secular humanism—runs rampant in our legislatures, schools, movie theaters, and even our churches. In the face of this, Centurions is preparing men and women not just to understand and articulate their own Christian worldview, but also to proactively teach others to be able to do so and engage the culture in every sphere of influence.
One of our Centurions graduates, Fritz Kling, has begun a Christian Leadership Institute for civic and business leaders in Richmond, Virginia. Fritz says, “My [Centurions] experience exposed me to a model for developing talented leaders. I will tell you, though, that such programs are fairly common in the U.S. But Centurions constantly pushed me to initiate and innovate—to be fairly audacious in believing that I could (and indeed should) start things.”
Fritz underscores exactly the vision we have for the program: one of exponential cultural impact.
And we have plenty of examples of Centurions doing just that: from Bill Peel in Dallas, who is equipping Christian Medical and Dental Association affiliates to view medical ethics and issues from a biblical perspective; to Stephen Dunson in West Texas, who is teaching a 12-week worldview course in a Texas prison. Then there is James Biersteker, in Ontario, Canada, who is starting a worldview academy for public high school students.
But not only are Centurions sharing the training they have received, they are also impacting the culture firsthand. Take Jim Walter, who is chairing a church committee that is reaching out to the community’s homeless, drug addicts, and ex-prisoners. Or Bonnie Crogan-Mazur and Tom Bulling, who are involved in teaching and hands-on ministry on Indian reservations. There’s Al Van Horne in New York, who is developing micro-enterprise projects to help the poor both here and overseas. And there are artists, writers, and filmmakers like Tom Hall, Jeanne Dennis, Phyllis Hammerstrom, and Greg Bandy, who incorporate Christian worldview themes and messages into their handiwork.
If you would like to find out more about how you can join the ranks of the next class of Centurions, please visit us at www.breakpoint.org. Our culture urgently needs more men and women who will rightly wield good philosophy to counter the bad philosophy of the postmodern era: men and women who can winsomely present the Christian worldview in their sphere of influence.
This commentary first aired on September 13, 2007.
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BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!
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Great Idea. Would love to do it if I could afford $2,000 and 3 trips to Washington D.C.
Maybe one of the graduates could figure out a free disciple program - sort of what Christ did. Oh wait, there is one!
I love her book. I wish she would write more. I don’t understand why she is not better known.
Practical philosophy bump
How does that old saying go? Something about being the best you can be no matter what you’re doing. Whether its plumbing or philosophy, if they’re bad, neither will hold water.
Hmm, or one could embark on what used to be called a ‘liberal’ (not in any way to be confused with the socialists who have misappropiated that name) education, and gain more than a series of talking-points.
Anyone who has read their history, knows their Bible, and has a general background in both the arts and sciences is perfectly equipped already. I suspect a good portion, perhaps a majority, of FR is in better shape than a cohort of ‘Centurions’ to defend the faith.
Sorry, but I have a suspicion of quick-learning programs founded under a single leader. They tend to teach you everything the head guy thinks you deserve to know.
“but I have a suspicion of quick-learning programs founded under a single leader. They tend to teach you everything the head guy thinks you deserve to know.”
That and having to pay 2000 bucks...its a good idea but not for that money!
Our local christian dentist, one of our church members, is giving free dentistry to folks from an inner city church. We had about 25 come last Saturday and while they were waiting, we served a continental breakfast, lunch, and had several tables with crafts they could do while they were waiting. We also had clothing, toys, and other items they could take for free. It was wonderful. He plans on continuing these free dental clinics. I could only stay two and a half hours because of dialysis, but it was a truly heartwarming experience. Not only were these folks blessed, but WE were as well.
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