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Headed to Graduate School

Headed to Graduate School: Witness in the Academy

Thus far in two prior posts I’ve suggested that the end-point of a graduate education is to “become a person” in the Biblical sense – that is, to grow into the image of God. This holistic vision will encompass within itself more common educational ideals such as becoming an intelligent, productive citizen and serving the good of humanity.

Rick Mattson Presenting on Campus
Please join me in praying for Rick Mattson as he travels around the country to speak privately and publicly with students and faculty about Jesus. ~ Thomas B. Grosh IV

Secondly, I asked readers to integrate their faith with their field of study, and to do so in the context of Christian community. I hope you’ll take time to read these two earlier posts if you haven’t already.

This post is about witness, which can be a tall (and intimidating) order in the academy. I should know. My main job on InterVarsity staff is to travel around the country and speak privately and publicly with students and faculty about Jesus. To say the least, folks on campus are often not very receptive (though sometimes they are).

Professionally, however, I don’t have as much at stake as you – if you’re a grad student or a professor seeking tenure. This isn’t the place to rehearse the tragic stories of scholars who’ve spoken out in the name of Christ only to be “rewarded” with the ruin of their studies or professorships, but we know that it sometimes happens.

Practical Suggestions

So let me suggest some practical ways to be a witness for Christ in the academy. And no, these come with no guarantees of political safety. [Read more…] about Headed to Graduate School: Witness in the Academy

Headed to Graduate School: A Time of Re-imaging

Caravaggio_Conversion_on_the_Way_to_Damascus
Caravaggio’s “Conversion on the Way to Damascus.” 1601.

In my prior post I encouraged students who are headed toward grad school to begin their journey with a lofty end-point in mind: to grow into a person. In the Biblical sense, personhood has to do with fulfilling one’s potential as a creature who is created in the image of God. So if I stop and ask myself, Who am I? – that is, who am I at the core of my existence, the answer from scripture is that I am a representation of God, a mirror image of his being. Unfortunately, this “image” has been damaged by the Fall, yet it remains in me and is being rebuilt, gradually, through the life-long process of discipleship.

I’d like to suggest to you that grad school should be seen as a cool adventure in ­re-imaging. Of being reshaped back into the image of God. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “We . . . are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory“ (2 Cor 3:18).

Here are two practical ways such re-imaging can take place in the academy, regardless of where you are in your matriculation (or teaching): [Read more…] about Headed to Graduate School: A Time of Re-imaging

Headed to Graduate School: Begin with the End in Mind

Rick Mattson sharing wisdom with students on campus.
Rick Mattson sharing wisdom with students on campus.

In my travels to campuses around the country (40 in the past two years), I meet up with a lot of students who are headed to grad school someday. Here is what I wish I could suggest to each one of them:

Begin with the end in mind.

The “end” is the final goal, the destination of one’s schooling. For many students, that would be to get a good job in their field and make a significant contribution to the overall good of humanity. Not bad! But in my view, for the Christian it’s shooting too low. Let me suggest a goal that is more lofty than making a living and doing good – that, in fact, will encompass these lesser goals into a higher calling. I believe the ultimate goal of an education is to develop into a person. Period.

[Read more…] about Headed to Graduate School: Begin with the End in Mind